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Meriden council freezes and sets termination date for South Meriden volunteer service awards after public outcry
Summary
After weeks of concern from volunteers and public comment, Meriden’s City Council voted unanimously to amend and then adopt a resolution that freezes the South Meriden Volunteer Firefighters Award Program on Dec. 31 and schedules termination with distributions by June 30, 2026, giving recipients six months to plan.
Meriden’s City Council on Dec. 15 approved a revised resolution to freeze the South Meriden Volunteer Firefighters Award Program on Dec. 31 and to terminate the plan with distributions set for June 30, 2026, after councilors and volunteers pressed for a short delay to reduce immediate tax burdens.
The action followed public comment from current and former South Meriden volunteer firefighters and their advocates, who said recent notices from the finance department left members facing sudden, taxable lump‑sum payouts that could not be rolled into retirement accounts. "Do not force a payout after December 31," said Stephanie Timmick, secretary of the South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department, citing members' need to consult financial advisers before proceeds are distributed.
City Manager Brian Daniels…
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