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Select Board raises fire warden stipend amid state rule change that increased duties
Summary
After state guidance shifted burn-permit authority and liabilities toward fire chiefs, Wallingford select board approved a one-year stipend increase to $2,000 each for the town’s fire warden and deputy while directing officers to track mileage and costs for future budgeting.
The Wallingford Select Board voted July 20 to increase the stipend for the town fire warden and deputy to $2,000 each for the coming year after hearing that recent state guidance has increased both workload and potential personal liability for those roles.
Longtime fire warden Mark (speaker identified in transcript as the current warden) told the board the change means more travel, mandatory reports and training, and a new level of personal risk: "The way the state law is written, it sounds as if somebody's fire goes uncontrolled, I can be held personally liable," he said. Residents and the board pressed for clarity on costs and options, including mileage reimbursement, a per-permit fee, or a flat stipend.
Board members acknowledged the budget challenge, but framed the increase as an interim step so the town and the wardens can track actual costs before setting a permanent amount. One member proposed a per-permit model tied to actual permit counts; the board instead approved the stipend motion and asked wardens to keep detailed mileage and expense logs. The board also asked staff to explore fee options that could offset the cost in future budgets.
