DALTON, Mass. — With new members joining the Fire District's Prudential Committee, these elected officials are eager to revitalize the committee's involvement by making it more active than it has been in recent years. 

 

The committee met on last week, with an ambitious agenda that garnered some criticism and confusion surrounding procedural processes. 

 

The, at times tense, meeting started with the swearing in of the committee's newest member David Pugh. Vice Chair Dennis Croughwell was elected onto the committee in May 2025, and Chair Daniel Filiault has served for several years. 

 

The committee previously only met for financial discussions, mostly during budget season prior to town meeting. Under this new leadership, the committee plans to meet the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30. 

 

The agenda item included policy and operational items that had previously not been in the committee's scope of duties, including a potential support person policy, proposal to establish working groups, and an update on recent legislative efforts that could impact the district. 

 

Fire Chief Ryan Foley expressed concern over the inclusion of what he described as "several controversial operational topics" on the agenda without prior discussion with other district leadership or department members. 

 

He specifically cited items including the potential financial separation of the emergency medical services and fire department budgets, fire department collaboration between the town and district, capital planning, mutual aid agreements, and fire department policies and reporting.