By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Town Council this week approved the FY2026 operating budget for the Fire Department, but not without an occasional moment of tension when questions arose over staffing and equipment costs.
Assistant Town Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Kevin Gill presented the budget breakdown with Fire Chief Michael Sullivan and Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Purcell alongside.
The total budget request for the Fire Department was $7,826,406, which included an increase of $358,045, Gill reported. There was also a $50,000 increase in the overtime line item, from $630,000 to $680,000.
Councilor Jonathan Chines observed that the majority of the costs were in personnel. “This is fundamentally a staffing budget,” he said.
Town Councilor Edward Dombroski noted that the Fire Department budget reflects the fact that the town is growing and is adding housing. He called the staffing levels “lean.”
Dombroski said that he was less concerned with the operating budget than he was with the department’s capital needs. He urged Chief Sullivan and staff to think about the best ways to phase in future equipment costs.
Although not part of the operating budget, the discussion turned to the cost and logistics of purchasing new fire engines.
Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio pointed out that there is a two to three-year lead time between ordering and receiving a new fire engine. He said that he plans to put an article requesting a new pumper on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant.
Councilor Robert Vincent noted that, based on a 20-year life expectancy, several fire engines, including a ladder truck, will be coming due for replacement in the next few years.
But Town Councilor Douglas Butler said that the 20-year life expectancy is a manufacturer’s figure and most departments probably hold on to fire trucks for closer to 30 years.
Butler also questioned the overtime line item as well as overall staffing levels, which were increased in recent years. He was also not impressed with the latest firefighter contract agreement.
Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio took exception to Butler’s comments.
“The safety of the citizens of Wakefield and my firefighters are number one,” Maio said.
Chief Sullivan also pointed out that the department had to deal with a high number of long-term injuries as well as firefighters out on military leave, driving up the overtime figure. He noted that injuries are a variable that’s hard to predict.
Sullivan also pushed back on the life expectancy of fire engines.
“It’s not realistic to expect a fire truck to last 30 years,” he said. “It just isn’t.”
Councilor John Carney stressed the importance of funding public safety, adding that he “supports the budget 100 percent.”
Dombroski pointed out that the town’s growing population also takes a toll of equipment longevity, with more calls resulting in more wear and tear on fire engines.
Ultimately, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department budget.
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The Town Council also approved two other budgets this week.
The Accounting Department budget was approved at $488,814.
The $493,500 Cable Television budget was also approved. Gill noted that the Cable TV budget is based on a percentage of revenues of the local cable providers.
All budgets are also scrutinized by the Finance Committee before going to Annual Town Meeting in May.
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