Fire Chief Gregory provided a detailed update on the fire department’s financial situation, emphasizing the impact of staffing shortages and the unusually severe brush fire season on overtime expenditures. The committee learned that the allocated $200,000 budget for overtime has been exceeded due to the unprecedented demand for manpower, driven largely by the state-wide drought conditions that led to numerous major brush fires. Chief Gregory noted that in typical years, the number of brush fires during this period is minimal.

Despite the budget overages in overtime, Chief Gregory explained that unspent salary line items, resulting from vacant positions, have partially offset these expenditures. However, he acknowledged that additional funds might be needed to cover the overtime overages. The chief explained the department’s staffing difficulties, highlighting that several firefighters are currently on extended leave due to various reasons, including injuries, sickness, or military deployment. He also mentioned that three recruits are currently in training at the Massachusetts fire academy, with their graduation slated to help alleviate some staffing pressures.

The discussion around the fire department’s budgetary constraints led to a council member suggesting that it might be prudent to allocate additional funds to address the upward trend in overtime spending, rather than relying on subsequent free cash requests. They expressed concern about the lower than usual appropriation for overtime, given the observed trends. Another council member highlighted the financial implications of mutual aid provided during the brush fires, explaining that under a state agreement, such assistance does not involve reimbursement. This agreement is important for understanding the financial burden on local departments when assisting in statewide emergencies.

The chief also clarified that, under the collective bargaining agreement, injured firefighters are assigned modified duty tasks around the station to maintain minimum staffing levels and ensure the fire department can respond effectively to emergencies.

In addition to the fire department discussions, the committee addressed infrastructure needs, specifically focusing on the sewer and water departments. An appropriation order of $100,000 from sewer retained earnings was proposed for improvements to sewer pump stations, particularly at the solid waste and sludge landfill sites. The director outlined that these funds would contribute to a larger project, estimated at $760,000, which includes significant contingency planning. The committee inquired about the capacity of the upgraded pump stations to accommodate future expansions, receiving confirmation that the pumps are adequately sized, with the force main identified as the limiting factor.

Moreover, the committee considered an order to appropriate $150,000 from water retained earnings for a valve exercising program. This preventative measure aims to address issues such as those experienced during a previous significant water loss when valves were found frozen open. The director explained that the plan involves systematically exercising about 50 valves annually to ensure proper functionality, with a long-term goal of maintaining the integrity of over a thousand valves within the system. The committee discussed the necessity of this measure, especially given that some valves had not been exercised in over a century. The director assured that funding is available to repair any valves found to be broken during the exercise process, emphasizing the importance of having a reliable system during emergencies.

The committee also discussed the efficiency of the valve exercising program, considering the potential need for contractor assistance if multiple valves required repair. It was clarified that the water department intends to manage as much of the work in-house as possible, resorting to external contractors only when necessary. Updates were provided on the new transmission main project, which is progressing well with connections to the water system expected to be completed soon. The committee expressed satisfaction with the rapid progress of this project, funded through a federal grant.