Deep River fire commissioners approve 2026 officer slate, discuss recruitment, training and equipment maintenance

The Deep River Board of Fire Commissioners on March 2 accepted the fire department's 2026 officer slate, approved routine motions and heard updates on recruitment, training and equipment maintenance.

The meeting, held at 57 Union Street, was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairperson David Berardis. Present were Berardis; Member Gary Elliott; Chief Tim Lee; Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Adam Kerop; and Joyce Berardis. Sean Scott and Chief Engineer Tom Lee were noted absent. The board adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

The board first approved the minutes of the Feb. 2, 2026 meeting after a motion from Chief Tim Lee and a second from Gary Elliott. The vote on that procedural motion was recorded as approved unanimously.

Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Adam Kerop presented the financial report and said there are no current budget concerns, though apparatus maintenance invoices remain outstanding. Kerop told the board there are funds available in the current budget to cover outside training and highlighted work to improve tracking of line items.

Chief Tim Lee reported members attended a budget workshop and the board discussed the potential duties of a proposed part-time administrative assistant. Lee said the department is planning a recruitment letter campaign and an in-person event for potential recruits and asked about videotaping the event for the department website; Chairperson Berardis said he will draft a formal letter to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance regarding the administrative assistant proposal.

Deputy Chief Kerop said the Mount St. John property has been sold but the fire department may continue to use it for training until advised otherwise; he also reported ongoing work on compliance training.

Fire Marshal Kerop provided operational details for February, reporting 15 calls that month, including fire alarm activations, motor-vehicle accidents and a structure fire. Kerop said he continues to support the JW security project and complete inspections, and noted that FEMA’s NERIS (National Emergency Response Information System) software is now operational after retraining for a member helping with data entry.

On apparatus, Chief Tim Lee said wheels have been placed on the ladder truck and it is undergoing alignment and scheduled for annual maintenance. He said there were no new updates on the new engine or the brush truck currently on order.

Under old business the board reviewed the Deep River Fire Department election results and agreed to accept the presented slate of officers for 2026: Chief Tim Lee; Deputy Chief Adam Kerop; Assistant Chiefs Barry Luff and John Ely; Secretary Christine Nowak; Treasurer John R. Kollmer Sr.; Chief Engineer Tom Lee; and Trustee Rich Sypher. Chairperson Berardis moved to accept the slate and Gary Elliott seconded; the board approved the slate unanimously.

In new business the board formalized internal positions for the commission. Chief Tim Lee moved, and Deputy Chief Kerop seconded, to appoint David Berardis as Chairperson of the Deep River Board of Fire Commissioners; the motion was approved unanimously. Chairperson Berardis then moved, and Chief Lee seconded, to appoint Gary Elliott as Board Secretary; that motion was also approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Next steps noted during the meeting include Berardis preparing a letter to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance about the proposed part-time administrative assistant and continued follow-up on training logistics, recruitment outreach and planned apparatus maintenance.