Fire Services Review Special Committee - Minutes - 06/18/2025

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Fire Services Review Special Committee *AMENDED* Minutes—June 18, 2025
Members Present: Robert Tuneski (BoF); Susan Driscoll (RTM); Tim Condon (RTM Public Protection & Safety Comm.);
Matthew Keatley (RTM); Richard Muckle (BoS); Ronnie Williams (WFD); Chris Haley (Director, Fire Services);
Steven Sinagra (Director, Emergency Management)
Members Absent: Todd Patton (Chief, Goshen Fire Co.); Mark Greczkowski (WAS Director of Operations)
Also present: John Mariano (Chief, Cohanzie Fire Co.)
1. Call to order: Chair Tuneski called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
2. Public comment:
3. Previous Minutes: Motion by Condon,
Voice Vote: Unanimous.
Motion by Condon, second by Driscoll, to approve the May 29, 2025, minutes as presented. Voice Vote: Unanimous.
second by Driscoll, to approve the May 1, 2025, minutes as presented.
4. Consideration of FSRSC’s charge from the RTM (6/7/21):
a. Review/discuss Director’s comments: Haley read from his brief written statement
communications and feedback as work continues on the final re
version will be complete by the end of this fiscal year (FY25).
(attached) and promised ongoing
port. He and the Chair are both optimistic that the final
Brief discussion on the 300+ pages of response time records Willia
that the records show response times and the number /names of re:
years. The system does not allow for creation of electronic files,
have a searchable pdf. Sinagra confirmed that the data in the ha
Haley cautioned that earlier recordkeeping was not as accurate as that done in the past year, the years around Covid
present anomalies, and that in his first weeks on the Job, he put Fire Services on the townwide Fleetio system. Sinagra
noted there are changes planned for the federal incident reporting system (NFIRS) that will incorporate EMS into the
system, and while the transition will take some time, the updated system will allow users to ask specific questions and
customize reports to provide relevant information.
Haley also offered to provide information promised by his predecessor during meetings last year—the latest ISO
report (either 2016 or 2021), amended volunteer incentive plan quarterly reports that will include the number and type
of calls responded to by incentive payment recipients, and updated records for rolling stock, including the volume of
budget transfers required for unexpected repairs in the second half of FY25.
ms received just before the meeting. He explained
ponders for each fire incident during the last six
so Condon will scan the pages so the committee will
rd copy also exists online in other town systems.
In response to questions about our current status, Haley noted that we have 22 apparatus but three are out of service
and one of them is a ladder truck that’s been out of Service, with costly repairs, for the last 7 months. He added that
with our current staffing setup that restricts 24/7 coverage and the bulk of responses to just two stations, there are great
deviations (of up to 800%) between usage and mileage of individual apparatus. As an example, he cited two apparatus of
similar age that are stationed at Jordan and Goshen, with mileage of 88,000 and 33,000 respectively. He is looking to

FSRSC Minutes: June 18, 2025 page 2 of 2
extend life and replacement timelines by rotating lower-mileage apparatus into the core stations and fleet management,
and believes we can meet ISO standards by utilizing other “elevatable” apparatus as temporary replacement. As we
move forward to staffing a third station 24/7, he would like to utilize the certified mechanic on staff in Public Works for
annual inspections and smaller repairs/maintenance to save dollars and reduce down time. * Haley will write up his
rolling stock plan, and added that he is talking to New London about establishing automatic mutual aid to QH. Condon
cautioned that such accreditation aid (requiring response by certified crews) would be billable to the town.
Discussion segued to the town’s fleet management plan overall, with Condon and Driscoll noting that the plan was a
huge improvement over previous practices and provides some budget stability but it has not been reviewed or updated
since its implementation in 2011. Cost projections have not kept up with inflation, presumed lifespans and repair cycles
have not been validated, allowances for higher costs and delivery timelines for fire apparatus have not been
incorporated, and the annual $1 million budget allotment may no longer be sufficient or realistic. Condon explained to
Haley that a case for revision could be part of the final report and that FSRSC members would advocate to their
respective boards for fleet management plan revisions.
Sinagra provided an update on the progress of the communications/radios upgrades. The town submitted a bonding
request for the balance of the upgrade costs; at this time, he’s hoping the State Bonding Commission meeting scheduled
for June 27 will not be cancelled—and that Waterford’s request will be on the agenda. He explained that we will only
need three towers with the new and the state will be upgrading the tower on Miner Lane, which will provide a boost in
service to Goshen and that while the new system requires a contract with Motorola, which tends to have higher prices,
the $800,000 for the new mobiles is offset by $570,000 incentive for the Motorola package. He also explained that we
are building a separate system that will tie in to the state system, so that we'll still be okay if the state system goes down.
5. Next meeting: Consensus to tentatively schedule next meeting for Wednesday, June 25, at 6:00 p.m, Location thd.
6. Adjournment: Motion by Muckle; second by Condon to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. Voice vote: Unanimous,
Submitted by
Susan Driscoll, FSRSC Secretary
encl: Haley Comments
*Amended 6/25/25; deletion of sentence beginning with “Committee consensus” due to inaccuracy.