Fire Chief (presenting the department budget on page 86) told the council the department’s O&M budget is level‑funded but includes targeted shifts to match needs and recent state policy changes.

Chief Dubey said reductions in medical‑services line items were possible because the state passed Senate Bill 352, which the chief described as establishing a state pilot that will cover specialized cancer screenings; that allowed the department to reduce its medical‑services request by about $11,000. He said the screenings are specialized ultrasounds and blood panels arranged through a private vendor and that the state pilot will provide funding beginning next year.

Why it matters: fire departments’ occupational health programs and personal protective equipment (PPE) are linked to firefighter cancer risk, and state legislation shifting screening costs to a state program affects local budgets.

The chief said clothing and uniform costs rose because House Bill 1352 (as cited in the presentation) prohibits offering or selling garments containing PFAS that touch the skin, effective July 1, and that the department had to audit and replace affected uniforms. He said clothing costs increased by about $17,000 to cover PFAS‑free replacements and inventory verification work.

Vehicle and equipment maintenance lines were increased to reflect rising parts prices — the chief cited costly DEF sensors and other replacement parts — and the department proposed continuing a hose- and nozzle-replacement CIP after using last year’s funds to replace 1¾‑inch attack hose.

On emergency management, the chief explained Rochester is a host community under the Seabrook Station Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program and receives quarterly payments to house the Emergency Operations Center and funding to reimburse overtime training for radiological drills; the city’s emergency-management budget and reimbursements are tied to Homeland Security approvals and the state budget.

The chief said the department had no issues-and-options requests for FY26 but requested CIP items for turnout gear replacement and hose/nozzle replacement to maintain readiness.