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Marlborough fire commissioners approve minutes, order gear; chief reports $30,000 state grant and training plans
Summary
At the May 18, 2026 Marlborough Fire Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved April minutes and a commissioner gear order; Fire Chief Kevin Asklar reported a $30,000 state grant, training updates and scheduled a Station 1 walkthrough for June 1. Executive session followed for Fire Marshal evaluations.
At their May 18, 2026 regular meeting at Fire Station No. 2, the Marlborough Fire Commission voted unanimously to accept the April 27 minutes and to place an order for commissioner gear, and heard a report from Fire Chief Kevin Asklar that the department received $30,000 in state grant funds and is planning several trainings and meetings.
Chief Kevin Asklar told commissioners that hose testing was completed the previous week (with some 3-inch hose lost), that rescue vehicle body repairs are finished but a replacement part will take about four to five weeks, and that the department received $30,000 from the State drawn from prior grant funds. Asklar said he will coordinate with State Comptroller Kevin Scanlon and nearby fire commissions following passage of a Joint Council bill related to a fire protection plan.
Asklar also presented bills and purchase requests and reported 92 people had signed up for the department awards night. He noted contracted services are over budget—citing cable TV at 147 percent of the line item—and said commissioners plan to discuss that overrun with the town manager. Equipment and operations updates included that unit HD517 has not been placed in front of Public Works for sale, a golf tournament is scheduled for May 22, routine trainings with Glastonbury and Colchester went well, June pumping training is planned for next month, and RHAM High School is starting a fire department program.
On unfinished business, Chair Alan Laliberte asked Fire Chief Asklar whether the previously discussed change to the Knox box ordinance had been made; the minutes record that Deputy Chief Spike Daniel will prepare the change for a vote next month. Commissioners agreed to a walkthrough at Fire Station 1 to inspect a wall and measure access-route width on Monday, June 1, 2026 at 18:00.
Procedurally, Commissioner David Blish moved to accept the April 27 minutes; Commissioner David LeBlanc seconded and the motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Later, Blish moved and LeBlanc seconded a motion to order commissioner gear; the motion carried unanimously. Near the end of the public meeting, Commissioner Kevin Gentile moved and Commissioner David Blish seconded to close the public meeting and enter executive session to continue Fire Marshal evaluations; the public meeting ended at 18:49 and the executive session began. Alan Laliberte adjourned the executive session at 19:30.
The commission’s next steps include presenting the amended Knox box language for a vote next month, completing the Station 1 walkthrough on June 1, and following up with the town manager about contracted-services budget overruns.
