Steering Committee asks staff to revise fire cost‑recovery ordinance, debates insurance billing options

Coventry's Steering Committee reviewed a revised draft of a Fire Prevention and Protection Cost Recovery ordinance and a proposed fee schedule at its May 26 meeting and directed staff to return with revisions.

The committee, led by Chair Jonathan Hand, discussed edits incorporated from an earlier meeting including clearer definitions of “resident” and billing procedures for people without insurance. Member Mark Wheaton urged the draft to either reference defined terms in Section (f)(1) or add a subsection spelling out that “The Town may use insurance‑only billing or balance billing,” language the group asked staff to draft for the next version.

Town Manager James Drumm explained the ordinance separates billing procedures because the town cannot force an insurer to pay; the individual insured remains liable unless the department elects to waive liability for hardship cases. Alex Taylor told the committee he compared the proposed fee schedule to those used by other communities and recommended adding an underwater‑rescue fee to the next draft.

The committee reached consensus to send the ordinance and fee schedule back to staff for the suggested changes and asked Taylor to request a review by Chief Meyers. Taylor also clarified the fee schedule would be adopted by a separate council resolution and could be amended later if insurance pricing or other circumstances change.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the Steering edits, obtain Chief Meyers’s review, and return the revised ordinance and fee schedule to Steering for further consideration.