The Fire Department presented moderate increases to its operating funds with a 3.17 percent increase to its administrative expenses, from $208,247 budgeted in 08-09 to $214,534 in 09-10; a 4.13 percent increase to fire suppression and rescue operations, increasing the total from $321,828 to $335,440; and a a 1.01 percent increase, from $179,040 to $180,840, for maintenance and support.

Fire Chief Larry Black provided an itemized overview, noting 3.5 percent raises to the fire chief and fire marshal in their negotiated contract, and a 10.87 percent increase to the administrative assistant for the same reason. The salaries for these positions comprise a substantial amount of the administrative funding. Therefore, most subsequent line items pertaining to office supplies, postage, etc., were held at existing levels, or were diminished significantly. As none of the items surpass $2,000, they carried limited influence on the Fire Department funding as a whole.

One of the two increases will be in maintenance agreements, which is not open for change, at 56.25 percent, increasing the line item to $1,250. Printing and binding was proposed at a 40 percent increase to $1,400. Chief Black noted the Fire Department has already expended the $1,000 allotted for the current fiscal year.

In the fire suppression and rescue operations budget, Chief Black first noted the reduction of volunteer fire fighter funding from $200,000 to $188,000.

Chief Black explained, "After speaking with Chuck [Frigon] about the situation with the budget, we brought the figure $200,000 to $188,000. Last year, we spend $178,000; five years ago, it was $210,000. It depends on the number of alarms and what manpower is required to respond. We're taking an educated guess that we can get away with $188,000."

The largest percentage increase to the budget came to civil preparedness, increasing 600 percent, from $1,500 to $9,000. However, Deputy Chief David Hardt explained that the increase was from money acquired by Homeland Security Grants.

CodeRed, the town-wide emergency notification system, and the new emergency control center in the Fire House are part of this line item.

Costs for a new auto defibrillator have decreased 12.07 percent due to price reductions.

New expenses include $3,100 for body work on fire engine one, and $15,350 for the replacement of a command car; this cost represents the first year of lease payments.

Maintenance and support funding is mostly unchanged, with the few significant adjustments coming to smaller items. The largest cost drivers for this category include vehicle maintenance, unchanged at $55,000 and fire fighting equipment, also holding at $25,000.

Deputy Chief Hardt informed the committee that, "All of our vehicles go through preventative maintenance twice a year, a large preventative maintenance once a year and an oil change and a check. Preventative maintenance costs about $2,800 per truck; our ladder trucks are even more."

Communication equipment is proposed at a 20 percent increase, from $5,000 to $6,000.

Deputy Chief Hardt stated, "This repairs all of our pagers, or radio equipment we have a problem with."

Laundry and dry cleaning has been reduced 40 percent, as the Fire Department now has its own laundry facility, saving $200.

At the conclusion of the Fire Departments budget review, Finance Subcommittee member Richard Fusco stated, "If the budget doesn't pass and you have to come back to us, and this is a bare bones budget, you'll have to do a lot of thinking."

Chief Black responded, "It will probably effect the type of service we provide," after noting, "We're going to have a hard time working with what's here."