Brookline Selectboard raises fire inspection fees; residents press questions about truck equipment and per‑diem shifts

The Brookline Selectboard voted 3-0 on Aug. 19 to increase fire sprinkler inspection fees, and residents used the meeting’s public-input period to press the board and town officials about Fire Ward authority, per‑diem staffing and the possible removal of equipment from a town‑approved fire truck.

At a 7:01 p.m. public hearing, Chair Eddie Arnold said the town proposes raising the residential inspection fee from $350 to $415 and the commercial fee from $500 to $565, with the existing charge of $100 per hour applying after five hours for commercial inspections. Town staff explained the proposed increases reflect Captain Inspector Royea’s hourly rate multiplied by 1.5 plus fuel and other town administration costs. The hearing closed at 7:05 p.m., and a motion by Selectboard member Steve Russo, seconded by Ed Perry, to adopt the new fees passed unanimously.

The fee vote followed public comments urging fees be limited to covering actual costs. Resident Dave Santuccio said fees should "cover the expenses only" and expressed support for the change if Fire Chief Corey supported it. Resident Buddy Dougherty, participating by Zoom, also said he agreed with Fire Chief Corey’s position. Chair Arnold and staff framed the change as cost recovery for inspection labor and related expenses.

Separately in public input, resident Derek Gagnon asked whether Fire Wards control scheduling of per‑diem firefighters and whether they could reduce the total approved cost for a fire truck by removing equipment that had been included in the warrant article. Chair Arnold said the Selectboard does not set Fire Department personnel policy and noted the town needs clarification from the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) on whether the warrant article’s approved amount allows reductions. Resident Buddy Dougherty said the part in question — which a Fire Ward has proposed removing and which he placed at roughly $60,000 — had failed on a prior truck and was the reason for the suggested removal.

Resident Brenda Hooper urged an investigation, saying that a Fire Ward acting as interim fire chief while per‑diem firefighters staff the station and also respond to calls for additional pay presents a potential conflict of interest.

The Selectboard did not take formal action on Fire Ward authority, truck equipment removal or discipline; Chair Arnold indicated those governance and legal questions would require separate review and, where appropriate, clarification from the DRA about the scope of the warrant article. The fee increase will take effect per routine town administrative procedures.

What’s next: The board did not schedule a policy vote on Fire Ward authority at this meeting; residents who raised governance concerns requested follow-up and investigation by town officials.