Fire chief: new central station nearly ready but testing, timekeeping and utility questions remain

The fire chief said on May 11 that the town's new central fire station is largely complete and on track for project closeout, but several operational and budget questions remain.

The chief told the select board and residents that contractor punch-list items — roof gasket repairs, door-track adjustments, tank-alarm installation and landscaping — are being addressed and that the new truck-fill system is operational. "I drained water out of the tank, put 250 back in. It took about 3 minutes to put 250 gallons back in the truck," the chief said, noting staff will publish step-by-step directions for the non-automatic fill process.

Why it matters: The department must finish testing, repair work and paperwork before the June 30 project closeout deadline. The chief said the open house for the new station is scheduled for June 20 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Budget and testing pressure: The chief reported that routine budget lines are largely on track but singled out several pressure points. "We are pretty much right on track," he said of the March 31 finance report, but added that fire-related expenses are trending above a defaulted allowance (the chief noted $6,000 asked vs. a $4,300 default). The chief also said repeated biomix tests have failed and that the department is running out of testing funds: "I'm not paying for any more testing," he said, explaining the contractor's repeated sampling has consumed available funds.

Utility-account uncertainty: Public comment raised a $36,566 line item for additional utilities. The chief explained the complication: Terracell Corporation previously held the Eversource account and notified Eversource it no longer owned the building. "We have not received a bill from Eversource yet for this building," the chief said, and finance is working to transfer service and set up the account.

Time-sheet rollout and effect on per-diem responders: Staff described a townwide time-sheet/timekeeping system configured initially for office environments; the system uses geofencing so employees must be on site to clock in. The chief and other speakers warned the system may not fit emergency responders who are frequently dispatched from home or in the field. "I don't think it's gonna work well for us," the chief said, citing administrative burden from after-the-fact edits, differences in pay rounding (department pays by full hour while system records 15-minute intervals) and privacy concerns about requiring personal phones. Finance is testing customizations and has asked departments for specific input.

Operational details and readiness: The chief said tank alarms and exterior landscaping are nearing completion, the well/pump improvements corrected past pressure issues and the apparatus bay roof repairs are under warranty. Fuel reserves were reported at roughly 82% gasoline and 78% diesel.

Votes at a glance: The board approved a motion to enter a non-public session (motion text recorded in the minutes as "request for non public for RSA91A32XCABC" in the transcript) and later voted to seal those minutes; a procedural motion to adjourn also carried. (See actions array for roll-call details.)

What happens next: Staff will return with updates on the Eversource account transfer and any FEMA or grant closeout determinations; the chief said project paperwork must be submitted by June 30 to complete the grant closeout process.