This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

POLL: Fickle Feelings on Fire Dept. Funding

Shelton's Fire Commissioners have already spent $55,000 of their $65,000 budget

Shelton's volunteer firefighters and Board of Fire Commissioners say they are fed up with the lack of attention their department needs from the city.

Earlier in October, they to fix faulty equipment that then-Board Chairman Tim Manion claimed to be “inoperable 50 percent of the time.”

Mayor Mark A. Lauretti and Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman responded with documents proving the city has already . Hurliman also noted that major problems reported dealt with individual pieces of equipment, not the entire communications system.

Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Then, Aldermanic president John Anglace wrote explaining that upgrading and fixing the fire department's equipment is a process that takes time and formalities.

At the Board of Fire Commissioner's monthly meeting, held November 1, the following bits of information were brought up:

Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Manion said the fire department has already spent $55,000 of their $65,000 budget for vehicle maintenance
  • The fire department wants to be notified about the public safety council meetings, so that they can send a representative to discuss the bid for a new radio system
  • The Deputy Fire Chief job description was approved years ago and sent to the mayor. The Board passed a motion to post for the position
  • There are five employees in the Fire Marshal office and two vehicles. Employees are using their personal vehicles. "I’d like to see them in a city vehicle," said commissioner Ben McGorty. The Board passed a motion to ask the fire marshal to purchase or acquire three vehicles.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?