Fire Committee Minutes 2-25-2025

Fire Committee Minutes 2-25-2025

RUTLAND TOWN SELECTBOARD COMMITTEE MEETING

FIRE COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 25^th, 2025

The Fire Committee of the Rutland Town Selectboard met at 5:00 PM on Tuesday February 25^th, 2025, at the Municipal Town Hall. Present was Selectboard Chair Mary Ashcroft, Selectboard Member Sharon Russell, Town Fire Chief Chris Clark, Town Assistant Fire Chief Larry Dell Veneri , and Town Administraotr Bill Sweet.

The committee discussed the new Public Safety Building.

1. Discussed informational signs at the building for the public. Some are being created to help identify where the departments are.
2. More donations have been received for the cascade system but there is still a large funding gap.
3. There are some other things still needed.
   1. There is a data cable which is broken in the line and needs to be replaced.
   2. The current door locks are not what was needed.
   3. The hose tower needs ropes and holders to hold hose for drying. The ropes have been ordered. The holders are being created by the welding class at Stafford. The total cost is less than $1000.
   4. The alarm setting for the CO detectors is set too low. Starting the trucks has set them off.
   5. The range of garage door openers once outside is very poor. The door vendor has installed some additional antennas.
   6. The new radios and antennas are in at CVC and should be installed in a few weeks.
   7. The kitchen is done except for a missing panel to protect the pipes under the kitchen sink.
   8. Some interior doors need adjustments, so they latch correctly.
   9. Investigated the possible roof leak. It may just be condensation by a roof drain.
   10. The fire pump will be delivered soon and installed by next week.

Discussed the depreciation account and anticipated upcoming expenses.

1. The current balance is $745,932.21.
2. The next truck will likely be around $1M and is scheduled to be replaced in about 7 years.

Discussed the purchase of a new tank and pump for our pickup. The current one was built for a Ford Ranger and does not fit well in the new truck, which is an F350. Depending on the status of the budget toward the end of the fiscal year, we may look at purchasing it then. The anticipated cost is around $10,000.

The Department is reviewing a large update to its bylaws. A large portion of what is done is being moved to a standard operating guideline. A full copy of the updates will be given to the committee when they are done. The update was necessary to comply with various regulations and requirements.

Reviewed a draft of the fire alarm ordinance. There is a separate ordinance which requires key boxes on buildings with a fire alarm system. Discussed incorporating it into this ordinance. Also added a requirement for all alarm systems to have specified alarm panel keys.  Discussed removing

 

references to the Police Department. We will check with them to make sure they don’t need this.  This new draft incorporates the Abatement of Fire Hazards ordinance.

Discussed the long-term plans for the meeting room space at the new building. The Fire Department plans to resume alternating stations for meetings. Discussed space for the emergency manager. This will be discussed at a future meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 5:49PM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet