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FinCom flags errors and permanent cost risks in Fire Department budget
Summary
FinCom identified multiple line-item inconsistencies in the Fire Department budget—correcting Chief Rolston's salary and other line items—and discussed a proposed Fire Prevention Officer position costing roughly $100,933 that would add permanent personnel costs.
FinCom members and Fire Chief Patrick Rolston reviewed the Fire Department budget and identified several line-item inconsistencies that reduced the preliminary increase estimate. "Chief Patrick Rolston’s salary was corrected to $308,373 (- $7,000)," the meeting record shows; other corrections included an Admin. Secretary salary adjustment (about $3,000) and a shift-coverage total that may have double-counted a $16,800 shift-leader line.
Committee members noted the department budget has risen roughly 50% over five years, raising concern about adding permanent staff and long-term benefit costs in a year where an override could be required. The FinCom offered to assist with regionalization options and with drafting language for potential inspection fee or nuisance-fee bylaws to offset inspection-related costs.
Chief Rolston outlined a warrant article to establish a Fire Prevention Officer (article amount recorded at $100,933.20) to handle inspections (including new short-term rental inspection requirements referenced as "Maggie’s Law"), shift fill-ins, truck maintenance and EMS support. FinCom discussed tracking inspection fee revenues (which are cycled through the Building Department) and noted that increasing fees above a State $50 standard would require a local bylaw change.
