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Chester fire board accepts chief’s resignation, appoints acting chief and approves 2026–27 budget
Summary
At a March 17 special meeting the Chester Board of Fire Commissioners accepted Chief Benjamin Belisle’s resignation, appointed Deputy Chief Charles Greeney acting chief through June 30, 2026, and approved a $565,610 operating budget and $230,000 in capital expenditures to forward to town finance officials.
The Chester Board of Fire Commissioners on March 17 accepted the resignation of Chief Benjamin Belisle, appointed Deputy Chief Charles Greeney as acting chief for the remainder of the term and approved the Chester Hose Company’s proposed 2026–27 budget to forward to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance.
Chair Bettie Perreault called the special meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the Fire House, 6 High Street, saying the session was scheduled so the budget could be ready for the Board of Finance’s review on March 18. Commissioners in attendance included Bob Banezes, Charlene Janecek, Bob Quale and Rick Schreiber; department staff included Deputy Chief Charles Greeney, Fire Marshal Dick Leighton, Lt. Rich Tsou and Deputy EMS Chief Parker Divis.
Per the minutes, Benjamin Belisle submitted his resignation for personal reasons and Deputy Chief Charles Greeney immediately began functioning as acting chief. The Chester Hose Company’s executive board later voted to elect Greeney to serve as chief for the remainder of the term through June 30 (the minutes contain a typographical year error that lists 2926; the intended term end is June 30, 2026).
The board reviewed proposed changes to the 2026–27 budget before voting. Highlights noted in the minutes include an approximately $35,000 increase in the department’s operating budget driven largely by added personnel to improve coverage and cost-of-living adjustments; an increase in payroll to fund additional hours; higher electrical costs to cover actual usage and outage responses; ongoing equipment maintenance for aging apparatus; and growing ambulance responses. The minutes also state that some ambulance reimbursements are offset by charges to those served and “do not show up in the line item.” The proposed capital expenditures total $230,000.
On a motion by Charlene Janecek, seconded by Rick Schreiber, the board approved the proposed totals: $565,610 for the Chester Hose Company operating budget and $230,000 for capital expenditures. The motion passed unanimously and the budget will be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance for further review.
The board also took a separate, formal motion to appoint Charles Greeney acting chief for the remainder of the term. That motion, moved by Bob Quale and seconded by Charlene Janecek, passed unanimously.
Fire Marshal Dick Leighton distributed the February 2026 activity report and told the board that activity had increased in February. Leighton said planning for the town’s Sunday Market is ongoing, personnel will be available to support Market operations, certain event-related insurance matters were discussed and that employees are required to complete 30 hours of training yearly.
No resident state trooper attended in person; the submitted police report showed increased coverage and patrols at Chester Elementary School and places of worship and participation in local events during February. Emergency Management Director James Grzybowski told the board one person used the municipal shelter during a recent blizzard and that Public Works provided equipment and personnel during the event.
Procedurally, the board approved the minutes of Feb. 18, 2026, and noted the Chester Hose Company’s annual Recognition Dinner is scheduled for April 25, 2026; commissioners were asked to RSVP by March 31. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m. and the minutes were signed by Chair Bettie Perreault.
