(May 25, 2017) Berlin Fire Company President David Fitzgerald addressed the Town Council on Monday night regarding a recent article in this paper.
“The board of directors met last night. They were very shocked at the article that we read in the Bayside Gazette,” Fitzgerald said. “All the council members and the mayor met with the board of directors … and one of the things we did discuss was about making comments about each other in the press.
“We’ve done a good job of that and you’ve done a good job of that up until Friday’s article. And we were very shocked,” Fitzgerald said.
In the article, published May 18, Mayor Gee Williams said the town was budgeting $250,000 for the Berlin Fire Company, plus an additional $150,000 if the fire company agrees to third-party funding study that would help determine future needs.
Williams said fire company officials did not show up for town budget hearings this year, despite being invited to do so.
Fitzgerald, however, said he had an email exchange between himself and Town Administrator Laura Allen in which he offered to attend a public meeting on April 24.
“The stipulation was, if the audit was done,” Fitzgerald said. “I have a copy of the agenda. There is no agenda where the Berlin Fire Company was listed. I monitor them.”
Fitzgerald was on the meeting agenda for the regular session on Monday, May 8. Item 3.b. read, “Application for Special One Day Permit – Berlin Fire Company – David Fitzgerald.”
“I’m not sure if there’s anybody here from the fire company,” Allen said during that meeting.
Fitzgerald, on Monday, continued that he was “very disappointed to read that we missed a meeting.”
“We followed the direction of the town administrator,” he said. “We are prepared, again, to make a presentation when you tell us.”
He said a meeting took place between he and councilmen Thom Gulyas and Troy Purnell earlier in the year.
“We had a very productive meeting … [and] exchanged a lot of information,” he said. “We were looking forward on April 24 [to] updating that information with balances, current balance sheets and more details of the budget.
“We are still prepared with that presentation, as we told you all, you just have to work with us a little bit,” Fitzgerald continued. “We followed the direction … we monitor the online the agendas and we did not miss a meeting.”
Fitzgerald added the fire company board met on Sunday and decided they were “fine with the funding study.”
“However, to remove $150,000 for our capital budget is very detrimental to us,” he said. “We are very fortunate that we did not sign a contract 30 days ago on a fire truck knowing this new information.
“There is no dispute that we have discussed the funding agreement, but there was no mention of removing $150,000 out of the budget to fund that study,” Fitzgerald added.
Williams said he apologized if it was indicated the company did not need to be at a town meeting and asked Fitzgerald to share a copy of the email exchange.
“We’re not here to replay the past, but … we very much look forward to having a meeting with you,” Williams said.
He said the budget was essentially set and the funding study would come from $150,000 withheld, but added it would likely not cost the entire balance.
“We welcome the opportunity to talk. That’s what’s a shame that didn’t happen,” Williams said. “We’ve got now and we’ve got the future to work on that.
“Where we are trying to get to is a place like we deal with all of our other departments, all of our other major financial obligations,” he continued. “We can’t just wing it when we’re talking about … the ballpark of half a million dollars. That’s real money.
“We want to work this out and I’m glad you’re here tonight. We want to continue this dialogue,” Williams said. “That $150,000 is not being kept away from the fire company. It’s just being saved [for the study]. Let’s get the study done and let that study guide us as to how to apply the balance for this year and come up with a longer-range plan.”
Fitzgerald said he would like to make a presentation before the June 12 meeting, when the town is expected to vote to finalize the fiscal year 2018 budget.
Williams said it was the position of the mayor and council that an independent third-party study needed to be completed before the budget could be altered.
“That’s the position and it’s not a new position,” he said.
Councilman Zack Tyndall asked Fitzgerald to turn in capital funding requests by Jan. 1 next year. He also extended an invitation to the fire company to make a presentation during the general fund workshop, next year.
“It’s there for the record for everyone to know,” Williams said.
“The board of directors met last night. They were very shocked at the article that we read in the Bayside Gazette,” Fitzgerald said. “All the council members and the mayor met with the board of directors … and one of the things we did discuss was about making comments about each other in the press.
“We’ve done a good job of that and you’ve done a good job of that up until Friday’s article. And we were very shocked,” Fitzgerald said.
In the article, published May 18, Mayor Gee Williams said the town was budgeting $250,000 for the Berlin Fire Company, plus an additional $150,000 if the fire company agrees to third-party funding study that would help determine future needs.
Williams said fire company officials did not show up for town budget hearings this year, despite being invited to do so.
Fitzgerald, however, said he had an email exchange between himself and Town Administrator Laura Allen in which he offered to attend a public meeting on April 24.
“The stipulation was, if the audit was done,” Fitzgerald said. “I have a copy of the agenda. There is no agenda where the Berlin Fire Company was listed. I monitor them.”
Fitzgerald was on the meeting agenda for the regular session on Monday, May 8. Item 3.b. read, “Application for Special One Day Permit – Berlin Fire Company – David Fitzgerald.”
“I’m not sure if there’s anybody here from the fire company,” Allen said during that meeting.
Fitzgerald, on Monday, continued that he was “very disappointed to read that we missed a meeting.”
“We followed the direction of the town administrator,” he said. “We are prepared, again, to make a presentation when you tell us.”
He said a meeting took place between he and councilmen Thom Gulyas and Troy Purnell earlier in the year.
“We had a very productive meeting … [and] exchanged a lot of information,” he said. “We were looking forward on April 24 [to] updating that information with balances, current balance sheets and more details of the budget.
“We are still prepared with that presentation, as we told you all, you just have to work with us a little bit,” Fitzgerald continued. “We followed the direction … we monitor the online the agendas and we did not miss a meeting.”
Fitzgerald added the fire company board met on Sunday and decided they were “fine with the funding study.”
“However, to remove $150,000 for our capital budget is very detrimental to us,” he said. “We are very fortunate that we did not sign a contract 30 days ago on a fire truck knowing this new information.
“There is no dispute that we have discussed the funding agreement, but there was no mention of removing $150,000 out of the budget to fund that study,” Fitzgerald added.
Williams said he apologized if it was indicated the company did not need to be at a town meeting and asked Fitzgerald to share a copy of the email exchange.
“We’re not here to replay the past, but … we very much look forward to having a meeting with you,” Williams said.
He said the budget was essentially set and the funding study would come from $150,000 withheld, but added it would likely not cost the entire balance.
“We welcome the opportunity to talk. That’s what’s a shame that didn’t happen,” Williams said. “We’ve got now and we’ve got the future to work on that.
“Where we are trying to get to is a place like we deal with all of our other departments, all of our other major financial obligations,” he continued. “We can’t just wing it when we’re talking about … the ballpark of half a million dollars. That’s real money.
“We want to work this out and I’m glad you’re here tonight. We want to continue this dialogue,” Williams said. “That $150,000 is not being kept away from the fire company. It’s just being saved [for the study]. Let’s get the study done and let that study guide us as to how to apply the balance for this year and come up with a longer-range plan.”
Fitzgerald said he would like to make a presentation before the June 12 meeting, when the town is expected to vote to finalize the fiscal year 2018 budget.
Williams said it was the position of the mayor and council that an independent third-party study needed to be completed before the budget could be altered.
“That’s the position and it’s not a new position,” he said.
Councilman Zack Tyndall asked Fitzgerald to turn in capital funding requests by Jan. 1 next year. He also extended an invitation to the fire company to make a presentation during the general fund workshop, next year.
“It’s there for the record for everyone to know,” Williams said.