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Litchfield fire commissioners approve minutes, review $150,000 radio upgrades and warn of vehicle-repair budget pressure
Summary
At the March 12 meeting the Board of Fire Commissioners & EMS approved minutes and accepted Fire Marshal reports, were briefed on a $150,000 radio-upgrade allocation and raised concern about recent vehicle repairs—including a $16,000 ladder-truck bill—that are straining the department's maintenance budget.
Chairman John Campbell opened the Board of Fire Commissioners & EMS meeting at 5:04 p.m. on March 12, 2026, at the Litchfield Fire Department and recorded members present, including Commissioners Michael Castelli, Sean Fogarty, Jack Hodges, James Koser and Jon Torrant, and Fire Marshal Dave Rogers.
Commissioner James Koser moved to approve the Jan. 8, 2026 minutes; Commissioner Michael Castelli seconded. The board approved the minutes, with Commissioner Jon Torrant abstaining because he did not attend the January meeting.
Fire Marshal Dave Rogers presented January and February activity. He reported January had 26 inspections, 14 open-burning permits, four fire investigations and one smoke alarm installation; February had 27 inspections, three open-burning permits and two fire investigations. Rogers said the department’s fire-call reporting has moved from NFIRS to the NERIS system; once NERIS setup is complete, data will automatically download to FEMA. Commissioners voted to accept the January and February Fire Marshal reports.
A primary operational item discussed was a planned $150,000 allocation this year for radio upgrades. Commissioners noted the funding covers both state-mandated upgrades and equipment needed to communicate with neighboring towns; Northfield specifically needs tri-band radios to communicate with Thomaston. The commission also noted that 120 updated radios could be worth more than $6,000 each and agreed to add a radio-insurance discussion to an upcoming agenda.
Budget pressures were raised after staff reported multiple, unplanned vehicle expenses. The Litchfield Fire Department recorded recent vehicle repairs costing approximately $4,000 and $16,000 for the ladder truck. Commissioners said those repairs, combined with sending DOT inspections to Public Works and only performing required pump tests on three engines, will leave little remaining in this year’s vehicle-maintenance budget. The department also spent about $4,800 on the boiler and said replacement could be needed earlier than previously scheduled.
Commissioners discussed protocol questions that arose from a recent incident: whether, in an after‑hours emergency that requires construction equipment (for example, to remove an electric vehicle on fire), a town contractor should be summoned and reimbursed or whether a town employee or volunteer may use public-works equipment. Fire Marshal Rogers reported Town Engineer R. Alexe and Public Works Supervisor B. Seaman assisted with the removal of a garage from the fire department parking lot and have provided support for capital projects; the commission extended its thanks to Public Works staff and to Ryan Litwin and John Cattey for ongoing leadership on mutual-capability ventures.
The meeting also included routine administrative items: a pensions update noting no change to the Merit Service Pension and a reminder that departments must submit Pay Per Call documents to the First Selectman's office by March 1, 2026; an update that all departmental, capital and operating budgets have been submitted; and an announcement that volunteers delivered six truckloads of water to fill the town’s new ice rink.
Commissioner Jon Torrant moved to adjourn at 5:31 p.m.; Commissioner Michael Castelli seconded and the vote was unanimous. Chairman John Campbell signed the minutes.
