Madison board approves fire certification, parking code changes and hazard plan in unanimous votes

The Madison Board of Aldermen approved several administrative and policy items Feb. 12, passing motions on fire certification, parking code revisions, hazard planning and a budget amendment.

Key approvals: the board voted to allow Madison Fire to pursue 'light rescue' certification, enabling the department to apply for related grants and benefits; staff and the chief told the board 12 roster members already hold technical-rescue certifications. The board approved updates to Town Code Chapter 10 (stopping, standing and parking), and adopted the Northern Piedmont Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve eligibility for state and federal hazard-mitigation funds. Members also approved a budget amendment for fiscal year 2025–26.

Most motions passed on voice votes with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript. For example, the Chapter 10 amendment was moved by S4 and seconded by S1, and the hazard mitigation resolution passed following brief board questions about plan duration (the plan is updated roughly every five years). "It's a lot of fancy words to say we're gonna do what the county does," S10 said while asking for clarification on the plan's practical effect.

What passed (summary): approval of meeting agenda; consent agenda (minutes and budget report); Madison Fire light-rescue certification paperwork; dismissal of downtown two-hour parking signs; amendment to Town Code Chapter 10; adoption of the Northern Piedmont Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; FY25–26 budget amendment. Where specifics (roll-call vote tallies or exact ordinance text) were not read aloud in the meeting, the board approved items by voice vote and staff will provide final ordinance language for record.