Eye on Town Government

By Susan MacEachron

At the Board of Finance meeting on Nov. 10, First Selectman Matt Riiska reported on several projects that will impact the town’s future budgets. 

Riiska described impending state legislation that will increase the incentive for EMS volunteers from $1,000 per year up to $2,000. The town’s current budget includes $37,500 for the incentive, paid either by check or by tax abatement. The incentive is intended to retain volunteers and attract new members. A town meeting and vote would be required to make the change.

Riiska reviewed several capital projects in the town’s current fiscal year budget as well as projects that would have an impact on the budget in future years. He explained a proposal to accelerate a payment of $91,000 for town equipment from the 2023-24 budget to the current year. He proposed that the funds come from the town’s capital reserve. The town has approximately $724,000 in its capital reserve. 

Payment in the current year will provide additional capacity in next year’s budget for the Maple Avenue refurbishment, with an estimated cost of $2.3 million. Riiska intends to obtain bids for the project soon and noted that the selectmen would like to get this project in process for the next fiscal year, after a town meeting is held to approve it. Riiska said the town had been awarded a $500,000 grant from the state Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) for the project. 

The new fire department tanker truck will be ready for delivery in December, a month earlier than anticipated. Riiska said the plan is to use $212,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay for the truck.