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Tuesday's Internet Edition, January 06, 2009.
WFD board approves budget for fiscal year 2008-09
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Photo by Fran Soto
Wilton Fire District board staff and directors (from left) clerk Andrea Adams, Chief Tom Dark, Mike Archambault, Dan Speer, Obe Brown and Al Iaccopucci discuss the budget before voting unanimously to approve it.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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With a minimum of discussion at the Wednesday, Sept. 17 meeting, the Wilton Fire District (WFD) board of directors unanimously approved the district’s budget of $1,190,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009.
Director Dan Speer reported that he and Director Mike Archambault had met previously with WFD Chief Tom Dark for a detailed analysis of the budget. “I am happy to say we have a balanced budget,” Speer said. “Under Tom’s leadership, we’ve tightened our belt on expenses so they equal revenues. He’s done a good job.”
During the discussion, the board explored the option of transferring funds held in reserve to CDs for a higher rate of return. “I think it would be a good idea,” Chief Dark said. “If we earmark the funds, it would show we have plans.”
Speer agreed, saying the reserve funds were for improving the facilities at Station 81 and placing them in a CD would insure a higher rate of interest and a safer place to hold the district’s money. No final decision was reached at the meeting.
In his report to the board, Robert Merritt, C.P.A, brought the directors up to date on his progress preparing the district’s books for audit. He reported that he was close to completing the first fiscal year.
Speer questioned Merritt on the necessity of going back to 2001 and asked why they couldn’t start with fiscal year 2005-06. “You can go back to 2005-06, but you won’t be ready for an audit,” Merritt said, explaining that he needed to go back to the last audit to gather information that affected later financial statements.
In other business, Chief Dark said that calls in comparison to the previous year were up for the month of August.
Director Al Iaccopucci requested that a letter of transfer of ownership for Station 82 be drafted for a tin shed that is no longer needed or used by the WFD. Speer suggested that he would prefer the district check with their legal counsel.
On a lighter note, Archambault read a letter to the district from Wilton resident Giovanni Giammona thanking firefighters for attending his fourth birthday and arriving in a fire engine. In his note, Giammona said he had most enjoyed learning to "shoot the fire hose."
The next meeting of the WFD board will be Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. at Station 81 at the corner of Dillard and Wilton roads.
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