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Fire director says transfers freed earlier staffing at Quaker Hill; board approves multiple fire funding shifts
Summary
The director of fire services requested and the meeting approved several FY26 transfers that the director said funded additional firefighters and allowed Monday–Friday coverage at Quaker Hill earlier than planned; board members pressed on volunteer declines and generator/inspection contingencies.
Director of Fire Services Christopher Haley outlined a series of FY26 in‑series transfers the department requested to cover additional staff, full‑time firefighter positions and incident cover overages.
Haley said funds repurposed from lower‑use line items allowed the town to move Quaker Hill to Monday–Friday full‑time coverage ahead of schedule. “Earlier in the year when we increased the full time staffing to support station 4 going online, which as of Monday is now full time,” Haley said, adding that careful internal audits (for example of telephones and data plans) and reallocation of some CNR project funds freed money for staffing. He also said certain FEMA reimbursement requests for storm costs were not approved because the region did not qualify.
Board members asked about volunteer numbers and incentive programs. Haley said the stipend program includes fire police; depending on the definition, stipend recipients might number 25–40, but the count of actively responding certified firefighters or EMTs is “probably around 10” and in single digits for those certified in both fire and EMS. The board discussed outreach and state efforts to integrate emergency‑services training into high‑school programs.
The motions to approve the transfers — which totaled multiple line items including $16,100, $18,973, $20,483 and $5,700 for different staffing and equipment needs — were approved by voice vote and will be forwarded to the board of finance.
