Personnel committee forwards new hydrant maintainer job to council

The Cheshire Village Personnel Committee voted unanimously to forward a new hydrant maintainer job description (classified TH8 and budgeted in the adopted town budget) to the full town council for approval and advertisement.

Chief Jack Kasner, who led the presentation, said the position’s primary responsibility will be hydrant maintenance — scraping, wire-brushing, lubrication, painting and operation — but the description was written broadly so the new hire can perform related tasks when weather prevents outdoor hydrant work. “Hydrants need to be this person’s focus,” Kasner said, adding that the town cleared the description with the town union and has room to certify the hire for fire-safety inspections during slow months.

Don Walsh, a personnel committee member, pressed for a performance expectation such as an annual inspection goal; Kasner said the first year will likely be slower because many hydrants are in disrepair and estimated the crew might only reach about three per day initially until the town gets a “good coat of paint and everything working.” Committee members also discussed whether the town should catalogue flow rates or color-code hydrants as neighboring Southernington does; Kasner said regional water holds hydrant age and flow data and many officers already know system flow differences by location.

The committee discussed privately owned hydrants and liability. Staff noted the town maintains an existing list of town-owned hydrants but that privately owned hydrants exist in some complexes. The fire marshal has statutory enforcement authority (cited in the meeting as statute 29306), while the proposed maintainer position would not carry enforcement powers; instead, staff proposed including a line allowing the maintainer to consult with private owners for a fee and to request inspection receipts be submitted to the fire marshal’s office to document maintenance.

The committee also discussed budgetary inputs and tools. Staff said most consumables (paint, primer, grease) are modest expenses and that supervisors will work with the position during budget season; staff plans monthly reports to council showing how many hydrants are serviced once the position is up and running.

Fiona moved to place the hydrant maintainer job description on the town council agenda, Don Walsh seconded, and the committee voted 3-0 to send the item forward. The council will consider the position at its next meeting; staff said the goal is to advertise and have someone on board by early July.