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Brookline Selectboard debates fire department budget after per-diem spike and unpaid truck delivery
Summary
On Dec. 3, 2024, the Brookline Selectboard reviewed a corrected Fire Department budget, questioned payment for a leased truck not yet delivered, and contested a per-diem line that grew from about $7,210 to $60,000; members proposed a $30,000 six-month trial and agreed to a March warrant article and public information packet.
BROOKLINE, N.H. — The Brookline Selectboard on Dec. 3 reviewed a corrected Fire Department budget, questioned a lease payment for a truck the town has not yet received and debated a sharp increase in a per-diem line item that town materials showed rising from about $7,210 to $60,000.
"Are we paying for a truck that we have not received?" asked Joseph DelPapa, an audience member, during the public portion of the special meeting. Selectboard members confirmed the lease payment has been made and the truck had not arrived as expected.
Town staff provided corrected budget handouts at the meeting. Finance staff reported a revised Fire Department total of $598,743 after identifying an error on a training line item. Board members also referenced earlier figures: a $676,473 proposal and a later figure of $612,572; the transcript does not specify which line-items account for the full differences.
A focal point of the discussion was a per-diem appropriation that appeared in meeting materials as roughly $7,210 before being shown as $60,000. "Taxes have gone up significantly the past few years," said Selectboard member Brian Rater, urging a more moderate request. Selectboard member Bill Atkinson and others said per-diem staffing supports faster response times but conceded the town lacks detailed data tying the higher per-diem level to measured improvements in response times.
Dave Joki, a town staff member who supplied the corrected handouts, said the town spent "just under $24,000" on per diems this year and recommended a trial at the higher amount to cover operational needs. Selectboard members proposed a compromise: reduce the request to $30,000 for a six-month trial and re-evaluate, which would lower the overall budget increase to about 10.9% as presented at the meeting.
Residents also pressed for data to justify staffing and cost increases. "How can per-diem and budget be made without knowing that information?" asked Derek Gagnon, who requested call-response data. Another resident, Dave Michaud, asked whether the budget factored in paid leave while Chief Corey was on leave; the transcript records the question but does not show a full accounting of leave costs.
Following the budget discussion and procedural items from a recent special town meeting, the Selectboard agreed the board will draft a specific warrant article for the March town meeting to address the fire department structure and that the town will prepare a neutral information packet for residents rather than convene a public panel before March.
At 7:08 p.m., Selectboard member Brian Rater moved to enter non-public session; Ed Perry seconded, and the board voted 4–0 to do so. The minutes for the meeting were submitted by Lisa Scalia.
The Selectboard did not take a recorded, roll-call public vote on the budget line at this meeting; further deliberations and any final budget votes are expected in upcoming budget meetings and at the March town meeting.
