Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Coventry council hears request to boost Hopkins Hill dispatch funding during budget hearing
Summary
During a public hearing on the municipal and school budgets, the council heard from Hopkins Hill Fire District about dispatch staffing and a request to increase dispatch funding; the discussion centered on whether the cost should be covered by fire-district taxes or the town budget.
Coventry — The Town Council on Thursday opened a public hearing on the municipal and school capital budgets, then heard from Hopkins Hill Fire District about a proposed increase in funding for the town’s shared dispatch service.
Town Manager (who presented the change) said the budget currently underfunded the Hopkins Hill dispatch line by about 1.5, roughly $6,700, and recommended moving that amount from contingency to the dispatch line. “Instead of a $100,000 being in contingency, we'll make that $93,000 and give Chief Potvin what he needs for his contract with Hopkins Hill dispatchers,” the manager said.
Chief Potvin described the dispatch operation, saying the district “has been administering the Coventry fire alarm for the town” for 21 years and staffs four positions — three dispatchers and one supervisor. He said the district had requested a 3 percent increase (about $13,500) while the proposed budget included 1.5 percent (roughly $6,000). “Most of this money goes towards salaries, benefits, health insurance, and workers' comp insurance,” Potvin said.
Several council members questioned why the service is not funded through fire-district taxes rather than the town’s budget. Councilwoman Capaldi asked, “If it's for the entire town, why doesn't this come from the fire taxes?” Chief Potvin and Vice President Brown responded that the dispatch service is a shared town service funded outside individual district tax rates and that the town owns related infrastructure.
Council members also raised oversight concerns about contracting with a fire district rather than employing dispatchers directly. One councilman said he was “concerned about paying someone. We have no oversight. We can't control anything, any of it.” Potvin acknowledged the arrangement and noted other communities have similar shared services.
No vote on the budget line was taken at the hearing; town staff said the proposed adjustment would be handled administratively as part of the budget-development cycle and attendees were invited to raise further questions before adoption.
The public hearing remained open through the evening and closed later without a final budget vote; councilors encouraged staff to return with any requested clarifications before final action.
