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Bolton Fire Commission reports 534 emergency responses in 2018, submits 2019–20 budget; minutes approval tabled
Summary
At the Jan. 28, 2019 Bolton Fire Commission meeting, Chief Dixon reported the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department responded to 534 emergency calls in 2018 and the department submitted its 2019–20 budget to the town; approval of Dec. 17 minutes was tabled until Feb. 25, 2019.
Chief Dixon told the Bolton Fire Commission on Jan. 28 that the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) responded to 534 emergency calls in 2018 and had answered 38 calls so far in January, including structure fires, motor vehicle crashes, a car fire, emergency medical calls and storm-related incidents.
The report came as the commission received the department’s proposed 2019–20 budget, which Dixon said has been submitted to the town. A meeting to discuss the budget is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2019, between the Selectmen, the town administrative officer, fire officers and the Fire Commission, the chief said.
The commission also heard updates on personnel and training. Dixon said five members were enrolled in an EMT/EMR recertification class and another member began an ECFS Firefighter I class in Columbia. The minutes note that Deputy Chief Morra has been handling day-to-day operations during the chief’s absence for the past four months and praise his "49 years of experience and knowledge" and his commitment to the department and the community.
Fire Marshal James Rupert presented the fire marshal’s report, describing recent inspections, follow-ups and plan reviews. Rupert said inspections and re-inspections were completed at Georgina’s for a liquor permit renewal, a commercial alarm at Villa Louisa was a false alarm, and the department responded to several false alarms at a group home on Volpi Road; the fire marshal asked that the manager be contacted for follow-up. He also reported that an investigation of a structure fire on Notch Road found the cause to be accidental and that he had communicated with the owner and the insurance company.
Rupert said he attended regional fire marshal meetings and training on "tall wood" buildings and completed plan reviews for the Able Coil renovation at the Barrels Boxes and More building. He reported inspections tied to filling-station renovations on Boston Turnpike, a walkthrough at St. George’s Church to discuss smoke and heat detector placement and a meeting with the owner and architect for renovations at the Net Source building on West Street to review applicable code issues. Rupert also noted a final inspection was scheduled for the firehouse generator and that his office would begin inspections at the Lake House and continue residential-occupancy inspections over the next months.
Commission business included administrative items: payment of December bills was circulated, there was no correspondence or new business reported, and the commission briefly discussed the fire marshal job description and the agreement between the Fire Commission and the Town of Bolton.
The commission tabled approval of the Dec. 17, 2018 minutes until the Feb. 25, 2019 meeting because Cheryl Udin and Chris Moquin had not attended the December meeting. A motion to adjourn was recorded with initials (CU/CM), and the meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.; the minutes note the motion carried ("C.U."). The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, 2019.
The minutes were respectfully submitted by Janet Kurys Assard, Board Clerk.
