Some finance board members want to resurrect a proposal they made last year to form an ad hoc committee to evaluate fire service management and other issues.
Waterford-- Firefighters and finance officials hoping to collaborate on long-term planning for the fire service were at odds again after a fire chief approved cost overruns for restroom renovations without informing the Board of Finance.
Cohanzie Fire Chief Bill Henderson authorized $3,800 in unexpected expenses to meet handicapped-access code requirements in connection with a $54,000 restroom renovation at the Cohanzie fire station. He apologized for not telling finance officials about the additional cost.
At its meeting last week, the board voted 4-3 not to pay the extra $3,800. The panel is willing to be reasonable in such situations but needs to have a sense of them in advance, members said.
“I'm sure you're sincere and you mean what you say, but it happens again and again,” finance board member George A. Peteros told Henderson.
The finance board then considered the latest revisions to the fire service's long-range plan, which outlines accomplishments and goals for the department but still contains conflicting data about such critical matters as response times to fires.
Some finance board members want to resurrect a proposal they made last year to form an ad hoc committee to evaluate fire service management and other issues. The committee could then hire an outside consultant to recommend long-range cost savings for major expenses like rebuilding firehouses.
Waterford's five fire companies are run by an independent Board of Fire Commissioners but also rely on town funding.
Finance board member John Sheehan said there may be more cost-effective ways to manage the fire service, and that such methods should be investigated by someone with experience who has no vested interest in the outcome.
Finance board member Ron Fedor called the approach “meddling” and “micromanagement.”
Fire commission Chairman Richard Morgan and commission member Eric Munsell, who also holds a seat on the Representative Town Meeting, said firefighters are working hard to justify expenses properly and chart their own growth.
All firefighters want, Morgan said, is to “make the headway in-house, with your help.”
The panel did not act on the proposal, but could formally consider it at its next meeting Feb. 8.
p.daddona@theday.com
© The Day Publishing Co., 2006
For home delivery, please call 1-866-846-9099