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Select Board approves fire-department warrant articles for Town Meeting, including burn box and equipment
Summary
The Andover Select Board voted to place several fire-department warrant articles on the Town Meeting warrant, including a proposed training burn box (no appropriation specified in the motion), $10,000 to capital improvements, SCBA bottles, apparatus funds and hose; a wages article was approved pending a detailed stipend breakdown.
The Andover Select Board voted on multiple Fire Department warrant articles at its April 21 meeting, approving placement of items on the Town Meeting warrant including a proposed training burn box, capital improvements money, and equipment purchases.
Fire Chief Jim Adler, representing the department, told the board a locally owned burn box would support training needs and that Region 9’s regional training plan did not negate the town’s potential local need. Adler said the unit would require a 15-foot setback and offered a broad cost range for setup and materials. “I can't stress how important it is. We are in a desperate straight to get the training,” Adler said, adding the department might seek funding from the capital improvement account or leave the appropriation amount to voters.
The board approved an article to add $10,000 to the Fire Department Capital Improvement account, an article for SCBA bottles in the amount of $10,560, an article requesting $10,000 for apparatus, and an article for large-diameter hose totaling $14,000. The motions to place those articles on the warrant were moved and seconded by board members and carried; the transcript does not record numerical roll-call tallies for those votes.
On a wages article for the department, the board approved placing a wages article that staff said would total approximately $4,100 to $4,500 pending a detailed breakdown. The chief outlined a tiered stipend proposal to ensure officers with supervisory responsibilities receive higher stipends than firefighters; the board asked Adler to provide the exact figures for the warrant language.
The board also heard that the Firemen’s Association has pledged $2,000 toward replacing playground equipment and that the department planned additional safety work around the station. The board recorded standard procedural approvals and indicated the warrant language and specific appropriation amounts will appear in the Town Meeting materials.
The board’s actions send the approved articles to the Town Meeting warrant; the transcript indicates the motions carried but does not list final roll-call tallies or whether any article amounts will be modified before warrant publication.
