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Record of Proceedings

Public Safety Commission Meeting (Fire Department) - July 8, 2026

Common Council & Commissions — Wednesday, July 8, 2026

BodyMiddletown, Connecticut

SessionCommon Council & Commissions

DateWednesday, July 8, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 17:57

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

We'll get the tablet.

0:06

That's awesome.

0:07

Welcome everyone.

0:08

This is public safety commission meeting for the fire department here in 208 City Hall and also on WebEx.

0:15

It is June 15th, 2026.

0:18

And then call the meeting to order at 652.

0:21

If we could just take attendance and councilman Ford.

0:27

Councilwoman Kelly Sweeney.

0:29

Councilman Gico.

0:32

Tony General Council.

0:34

All right.

0:34

Thank you all.

0:36

Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes for the previous meeting, which was held on May 18th, 2026.

0:43

Just so you know on the agenda, just a slight scribbler error.

0:46

It is uh it says 2025, but it's actually supposed to be 2026.

0:51

So we'll just let Laurie know.

0:54

Okay.

0:55

Uh second.

1:02

All right.

1:03

Thank you.

1:04

Any discussion?

1:05

All in favor?

1:06

Aye.

1:08

All right.

1:09

Any opposed?

1:10

Any abstentions?

1:11

All right, the minutes pass.

1:13

Next is the public hearing for matters on the agenda only.

1:16

If there's anyone from the public wishing to speak, uh please use the hand raise function or raise your hand here in 208.

1:22

Check to see if there's anyone online at this moment.

1:28

Not seeing anyone online at this moment, and there's no one here in 208.

1:32

So I will close this portion of the agenda and hand it over to Chief Albert.

1:39

Good evening, everyone.

1:40

Uh for correspondence, I did not have any uh for the month.

1:44

Monthly report, we had 392 calls.

1:47

That was our highest uh call volume to date.

1:50

Um, it was our busiest month by about 40 to about 40 calls or so.

1:54

Um, we did do several mutual aid calls to South Fire District, and then we did have a drone assist um with the PD when they had an incident out in the Westlake area uh events.

2:06

We're attending all my required monthly meetings.

2:09

We've been having fireworks planning meetings as we are just over a week away from that event.

2:14

Um, I did hold a command staff meeting.

2:16

I chaired the Harbor Improvement Committee meeting.

2:19

Um I have weekly day staff meetings with my FMO and alarms.

2:23

I never really said that before, but I figured I'll start letting you guys know.

2:26

I do like to have weekly meetings with them to get a feel for what's going on throughout the city, uh any things that I need to be aware of, anything I can do to help them, any uh connects or resources that I can get in touch with.

2:37

So it's just always nice to know what they are doing on a day-to-day basis and what big projects are coming down the uh pipeline.

2:44

Um, I did attend a pride planning meeting, the Vietnam flag raising ceremony.

2:50

Uh we've had a few public safety doc meetings, myself, Chief Costa, the mayor, EDC.

2:56

Um, more information will come on that down the road.

2:58

We did have the Memorial Day parade.

3:00

Um, like Chief Costa said it was very lightly attended.

3:03

I think it was only about 20 minutes long.

3:05

It's tough to reschedule something like that on a day that you know Memorial Day is reserved for the parade, and then any other days, yeah, kids with ball games and stuff like that, but we still had a great time.

3:15

We did have uh our cookout afterwards, uh, like always, and it was a good time just to have people there and fellowship and um together.

3:23

And then we did have obviously the pride event.

3:25

I want to thank Chief Costa for the hospitality like always at the PD redo put our fire staff in that command and their command post as well.

3:33

We have our drone pilots on the roof, and uh, like always, you guys had great hospitality.

3:38

Um, we do really work very well together between the two departments.

3:42

Probably the best I've ever seen it throughout my 18 years here in the city.

3:45

Um, how cohesive it is, and I think that starts at the top.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety██████████████████████████████████████████42%

Procedural█████████████████████████25%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%

Personnel Matters███████████11%

Fiscal Sustainability███████7%

Summary of Proceedings

Public Safety Commission Meeting (Fire Department) - July 8, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on June 15, 2026, but the official record assigns it to July 8, 2026. This summary uses the date provided in the instruction.

The Public Safety Commission meeting for the Fire Department convened at 6:52 PM in 208 City Hall and via WebEx, adjourning at 7:09 PM. Chief Albert presented a detailed monthly report covering operations, staffing, apparatus, training, and financial challenges. The commission approved the previous meeting's minutes and received updates on several capital projects and equipment leases.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the May 18, 2026 meeting (corrected from 2025 to 2026) were approved unanimously with no discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during either public hearing segment.

Discussion Items

Chief Albert's Monthly Report: The department handled 392 calls in the month, the highest volume on record, about 40 calls more than the previous busiest month. Mutual aid was provided to South Fire District, and a drone assisted the police department in the Westlake area.
Staffing and Overtime: Overtime remains extremely heavy due to two light-duty assignments, two workers’ compensation cases, one FMLA leave, and one 400-day military deployment. The department has used over 1,500 hours of Connecticut Paid Sick Leave in the first full year of the program, representing approximately $100,000 in firefighter pay alone. Chief Albert commended members for stepping up during vacation season.
Apparatus Update – Engine 1: Engine 1 has been out of service for nearly two months awaiting custom-ordered leaf spring shackles. The spare apparatus (Engine 4, a 2008 model) is now accumulating wear. Chief Albert noted the supply chain issue persists despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apparatus Replacement Program: Chief Albert discussed the need to replace Engine 3 (2008) soon. Custom-built engines cost ~$1.1 million with a three-year delivery time, while ready-made engines are available for $750,000–$800,000 with a few months’ lead time. He recommended exploring stock models to avoid further delays and inflation-driven price increases. The previous two engines were purchased through ARPA and CDBG grants; no dedicated replacement fund currently exists.
Cross Street Fire Station Bond: The bond was approved. Chief Albert thanked the commission and is working with the chief of staff to form a formal building committee.
Training Building: The purchase order has been posted, and an additional $100,000 in state funding (identified by Red Belton and earmarked in the state budget) was secured. The funds will be available in August or September and will come before the committee and finance department for a change order.
Gas Meter Lease Program: The department spends ~$5,000 annually on repairs for aging gas detection meters. A trial of a cloud-based lease program (also $5,000/year) includes self-calibrating meters, immediate replacement of broken units, and data logging to reduce liability. The trial runs through July 1, and a year-to-year contract is being considered.
Telecommunications Report: The dispatch center has 19 dispatchers, one vacant position released, and a deputy director position in background checks. They handled approximately 7,600 incidents, including 2,427 911 calls and 5,488 routine calls.

Key Outcomes

Minutes Approved: Unanimous.
Apparatus Planning: The commission acknowledged the need to establish a long-term apparatus replacement program and to consider ready-made engines to control costs and delivery times.
Training Building Funding: The additional $100,000 in state funding will be formally presented to the commission and finance department for approval when available.
Gas Meter Lease: The trial phase will be evaluated after July 1; a decision on a lease contract will follow.
Cross Street Fire Station: Next steps include forming a building committee.
Meeting Adjourned: Motion to adjourn carried unanimously at 7:09 PM.

Meeting Transcript

We'll get the tablet. That's awesome. Welcome everyone. This is public safety commission meeting for the fire department here in 208 City Hall and also on WebEx. It is June 15th, 2026. And then call the meeting to order at 652. If we could just take attendance and councilman Ford. Councilwoman Kelly Sweeney. Councilman Gico. Tony General Council. All right. Thank you all. Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes for the previous meeting, which was held on May 18th, 2026. Just so you know on the agenda, just a slight scribbler error. It is uh it says 2025, but it's actually supposed to be 2026. So we'll just let Laurie know. Okay. Uh second. All right. Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. All right. Any opposed? Any abstentions? All right, the minutes pass. Next is the public hearing for matters on the agenda only. If there's anyone from the public wishing to speak, uh please use the hand raise function or raise your hand here in 208. Check to see if there's anyone online at this moment. Not seeing anyone online at this moment, and there's no one here in 208. So I will close this portion of the agenda and hand it over to Chief Albert. Good evening, everyone. Uh for correspondence, I did not have any uh for the month. Monthly report, we had 392 calls. That was our highest uh call volume to date. Um, it was our busiest month by about 40 to about 40 calls or so. Um, we did do several mutual aid calls to South Fire District, and then we did have a drone assist um with the PD when they had an incident out in the Westlake area uh events. We're attending all my required monthly meetings. We've been having fireworks planning meetings as we are just over a week away from that event. Um, I did hold a command staff meeting. I chaired the Harbor Improvement Committee meeting. Um I have weekly day staff meetings with my FMO and alarms. I never really said that before, but I figured I'll start letting you guys know. I do like to have weekly meetings with them to get a feel for what's going on throughout the city, uh any things that I need to be aware of, anything I can do to help them, any uh connects or resources that I can get in touch with. So it's just always nice to know what they are doing on a day-to-day basis and what big projects are coming down the uh pipeline. Um, I did attend a pride planning meeting, the Vietnam flag raising ceremony. Uh we've had a few public safety doc meetings, myself, Chief Costa, the mayor, EDC. Um, more information will come on that down the road. We did have the Memorial Day parade.

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