The Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) held a work session on the proposed about $1.34 million budget for 2015 on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
This proposed budget represents a 4.4-percent increase over the about $1.285 million 2014 budget.
The largest increase would be in the capital line item. According to Chief Jim Payeur’s budget statement, “This is an account requiring serious consideration. We are recommending an increase from $12,511 to $20,000. We are at a point where we need to replace our SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) units. We have tried for the last couple of years to get a federal grant, and to date it has not happened.”
Payeur said that CAFA’s current SCBA equipment is very old, and replacement parts cannot be obtained anymore. CAFA’s two thermal imaging cameras also need replacing, and the air-filling compressor also needs upgrading.
Aspects of the 2015 budget are still up in the air, as union negotiations are still being conducted, and some numbers will not be known until those negotiations are complete.
According to Payeur’s report, “We are currently negotiating a contract with our full-time and paid on-call fire staff. For the purposes of this proposed budget, we are assuming 3-percent increases for wages.”
During the regularly scheduled CAFA board meeting, it was decided that the proposed 2015 budget be kept as is for now, and reviewed at another work session prior to the regular November CAFA board meeting. The board expects it to be finalized in December. CAFA’s budget is based on the calendar year.
It was announced that work has finally begun on CAFA’s Lima substation. Dexter Block has been doing work on the building, and has removed the old sidewalk. There is still no estimated completion date, but “progress is being made” according to Board Member Craig Maier.
In other news, a motion was passed to have Summit Engineering provide an estimate on repairs to the CAFA Middle Street fire station. The northwest corner of the building is sinking, and needs to repaired and stabilized.
The next budget work session/review will be on Nov. 18, at 8 a.m., followed by the CAFA board meeting at 9 a.m. These meetings will take place in the basement of the Chelsea City offices building.
