Clarksburg Fire Company Asks for Budget Increase to Offset Costs
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company is hoping for more financial support from the town to address increasing costs.
"The fire company would like to approach the town for our budget to grow," Fire Chief Carlyle "Chipper" Chesbro told the Select Board on Monday. "I don't want to say enormously. But just in retrospect with everything going on with costs of things, budgets ... Upon realizing our budget is ridiculous.ly low for what we do, for what we provide."
The Fire Department's budget has hovered around $20,000 annually for the past 25 years, he noted.
"We take what's given to us and we make it work," Chesbro said, adding that the company does fundraisers and fills pools to finance its needs as much as possible.
"The fire company, the last three years, has responded to an average 150 calls a year, which is extremely up. Medical calls are about way up. ... If you look at our budget, and you figure it out per hour, it's $2.28 you're paying per hour for us to be on duty for 35 firefighters. That's six cents an hour you're paying for us to be on call 24/7, 365 days a year."
In the meantime, the cost for outfitting a firefighter with gear is $4,500, servicing the trucks is about $5,000 and the SCBAs, or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, are around $1,200 and 30 need to be replaced over the coming years. That's not including unexpected truck repairs — like $21,000 for a blown turbocharger — or the $11,708 spent on equipment this year.
The company spent $25,987 in its funds to operate in 2024, and $21,463 the year before for uniforms, parts, repairs and other needs.
Those numbers don't include grant funding, such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant or a forestry grant. But grants are beginning to dry up, such as a state grant that's coming to an end.
"I'd like to put in at least 50 percent increase, maybe more, depending on how you guys feel about it," Chesbro said. "I mean, for what you're getting, for what we provide, it's pretty darn cheap ...
"We're asking our members to do more and more and more, you know, and getting things done. So at this time, I just want you to realize that at the end of the year, when we get our requests for budgets, you know, I'm going to substantially ask for more."
The chief asked about the police budget and would anything be left from that but Chair Daniel Haskins said those funds were spent last fiscal year and don't exist in this budget. The police department was dissolved a year ago.
Haskins said the company got $20,298 this fiscal year, which is up about 2 percent from the previous year.
"I think everyone the town appreciates everything the Volunteer Fire Company does for us. And I'm not opposed of trying to bump this up a little bit, because I do understand the cost of everything's gone up tremendously on everything," he said. "Right now, I'm just knowing we can't make any promises ... until we get into our budget season, which is probably we're hoping to start that in January."
The Select Board would also like to get an agreement in writing with the independent fire company about supplying it with trucks. Chesbro said there was a "handshake" understanding from the 1960s that the town would buy a firetruck every 20 years and the company would maintain it.
The most recent truck, Engine 1, was purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2023 but now Engine 2 is 33 years old and the tanker, paid for with a grant, is 20. The company also bought a 2005 rescue truck for $30,000.
"We'll definitely chat some more once we get closer to budget season," said Haskins.
The board also discussed the condition of 471 Middle Road, where the property owner has been living in a trailer since the house burned down in 2021.
Town Administrator Ronald Boucher said the Berkshire Health Alliance had spoken with the owner, who had constructed partial framing on the existing slab sometime ago.
"In our bylaws, there's a set amount of time, either you're going to rebuild the dwelling, you can't have a trailer or a mobile home on there," he said. "I didn't know if the board itself has set any kind of terms on that property. I'm not trying to force somebody out here."
According the bylaws, the Select Board can issues a temporary permit to use a camper or mobile home during the construction of a permanent dwelling for up to nine months.
The three-acre property's listed for $115,000, which the agent had considered high and not likely to sell.
Haskins said he believed some terms had been set last year to be enforced by the building inspector, though they made a point of not wanting to force someone out during the winter.
"Let's try to address the human aspect of it and see what kind of resources are available. If we can try to help this resident transition into some sort of housing," said Select Board member Colton Andrews. "The problem is, if we set any sort of terms at this point, the clock is going to run out. Because really, it has already."
The board had some discussion about how they could help the individual because he is a veteran but Boucher said it wasn't up to the town or Berkshire Health Alliance to set up resources for him. He did reach out to the veterans service agent but it would be up to the property owner to follow through.
"If you make a [exemption] for this one, then the next guy that comes in and says, 'Hey, you did it for this guy, why don't you do it for us?'" said Boucher. "That's all I'm trying to do, and I agree we need to stand by the bylaws that are set in place."
The board did not have the bylaws and hand and were not sure of the time limit. Select Board member Seth Alexander said he was uncomfortable setting a deadline until they were clear on what the bylaw states. The others agreed and postponed further discussion until the next meeting.
In other business, Boucher said the new assessor, Romana Messer, and the new administrative assistant, Markell Shea, would be starting Monday; and the board confirmed the appointment of Bonnie Cahoon to the Council on Aging with a term to expire July 2028.
• Boucher reported that the roof project at Clarksburg School should be completed next week. The school will have half-day dismissals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to accommodate completion of drains and flashing.
• The next concert at the town field will be Aug. 29 with food trucks and classic cars from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tags: Clarksburg School, fire department,
