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Woodbury approves $134,990 for volunteer fire department; officials and residents discuss staffing and a new annex
Summary
Voters approved two major fire department appropriations including operating funds and a loan payment; the chief and department president described call volume, modest stipends for volunteers, federal earmark funding for an addition to the station, and concerns about recruiting volunteers and mutual‑aid distances.
Woodbury — Voters approved multi‑thousand dollar appropriations for the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department and heard detailed briefings on operations, staffing and facility plans.
Article 7, presented as a request to appropriate $134,990.88 for department operations (including a $35,000 capital replacement fund and $99,990.88 operating expenses), and Article 8 (a $100,100 appropriation to fund the loan payment for the fire and emergency operations center) were both adopted by the assembly.
Fire Chief Paul Soumitu and department president Bridal Dunlap addressed questions from voters about where the money will go. Chief Paul described roughly 220 calls last year, saying the department’s EMT and fire responses include overdoses, multiple vehicle crashes, severe burns and shootings in the past two years. He outlined operating costs — insurance, fuel, dispatching and modest per‑call stipends (reported as $12.50 per call) intended to offset gasoline and clothing wear. President Dunlap said an annex addition is planned to consolidate equipment after the town’s old station was destroyed by floods; that work is being paid for by a 2024 congressional earmark secured with Senator Sanders’ office and USDA involvement, and that the earmark timing meant the funds were applied to an addition rather than the original build.
Residents raised concerns about volunteer recruitment and mutual‑aid distances; speakers noted that mutual aid currently comes from neighboring towns (Hardwick, East Montpelier) and that longer response distances strain the system. Several residents related personal emergency response experiences to underline the value of local volunteers.
Why it mattered: The appropriation funds day‑to‑day response capacity, equipment maintenance and debt service for recent capital projects. Officials said federal funds and prior investments avoid charging voters directly for some of the building work, but sustainable staffing and volunteer recruitment remain open issues.
What’s next: The department continues recruitment appeals; officials said more outreach and training will be needed if run volume continues to grow.
