Winfall Town Council is offering the Winfall Firefighters Association a 10-year agreement that leases the town’s firehouse and fire equipment to the volunteer fire department for $1 a year through June 30, 2034.
The lease proposal, which town officials unveiled Monday night, is much different from the contract proposal the volunteer firefighters presented to town officials in May.
Under that proposal, the town would pay the firefighters association $40,000 a year for five years for fire protection services. Then, at the end of the contract on June 30, 2029, the town would transfer ownership of the firehouse, four fire trucks and other fire protection equipment at the firehouse to the WFA “for the furtherance of fire protection services.”
Under the lease agreement the town is proposing, the volunteer fire department can arrange, at its expense, the interior of the firehouse, placing equipment, shelving and interior walls as it chooses. It also can remove any improvements before ending the lease but would have to make payments to the town for any repair or reconstruction costs needed because of the removal.
The VFD can only use the leased building as as a fire/emergency medical services facility, and has to maintain insurance to cover any injury claims arising from its use of the firehouse property. The town would insure the building against damages from wind, flood or other hazards.
The VFD also would have to pay any charges for electricity, natural gas, water, sewer and other utilities. The fire department also would be responsible for paying for repair and maintenance of any electrical, air-conditioning, heating or plumbing systems, while the town would pay for any needed repairs to the roof, outer walls and foundation of the building.
Under the contract the Winfall Firefighters Association proposed in May, $20,000 of the $40,000 annual payment from the town would go to the fire department no later than July 15 of each fiscal year. The other $20,000 would be allocated as a “payment back” by the firefighters to the town and go toward the purchase of fire protection equipment currently owned by the town. According to the contract, “fire protection equipment” includes the firehouse building, four fire trucks and other fire equipment at the firehouse.
Until the title to the firehouse, fire trucks and fire equipment would be transferred to the Winfall Firefighters Association, its proposed contract calls for the town to pay for insuring that equipment. After the VFD takes ownership of the building and equipment, it would be responsible for those payments.
The firefighters’ proposal also states that after the end of the five-year period, the WFA would be responsible for payment of all building utility and maintenance costs and insurance premiums for the station and its fire equipment.
If the town’s lease agreement is accepted, the firefighters would be expected by April 1, 2025, to present to the town a long-term, 10-year strategic plan outlining projected dates when they believe construction of a replacement firehouse should occur and include the projected costs. The plan would be updated annually by the fire department and presented to the town no later than April 1 of each year.
At Monday’s Town Council meeting Winfall Fire Chief Steven Murray, Assistant Fire Chief Craig Trueblood and Lt. Jeff Lalonde spoke during the public comment section and urged councilors to agree to the firefighters’ proposal.
“This is a two-part contract that addresses the yearly budget and the second piece addresses the lease agreement,” Murray said.
Regarding the town’s lease proposal, he said: “We’ll review it after the lawyer has seen it. Hopefully we can come to some common ground. We are working on finding a common ground and this is huge step.”
Prior to Monday’s meeting, Trueblood said the Winfall VFD has been trying to separate “financially” from the town for years.
“We would like to be able to handle our own finances,” he said. “That way we can save money that might be left over at the end of a year. Now, if you don’t spend (money) it goes back to the general fund.”
The Winfall VFD currently operates with two fire engines, one tanker truck and one brush truck. A brush truck is a pickup truck with a tank and a small pump used to respond to grass fires and other small emergencies.
“Our latest truck is aging and it was purchased in 2007,” Trueblood said. “You really should try to have a main engine that is less than 20 years old.”
One of the volunteer fire agency’s concerns is being able to purchase new equipment like fire trucks on a more timely schedule, particularly given the long lead time for getting a new vehicle delivered.
“We had a stock truck in mind, one currently built by the manufacturer just to show off to prospective customers,” Trueblood said. “The paperwork didn’t get completed in time to purchase it.”
After the meeting, Winfall Mayor Preston White acknowledged the firefighters’ concerns about getting replacement fire equipment in a more timely manner.
“This is a new board, a new mayor and we are trying to be transparent and fair. In the contract, the town will give them is pretty much what they ask for regarding controlling their finances,” he said.
But the town isn’t prepared to give up ownership of its firehouse or equipment, he said.
“The town doesn’t want to release or sign over the building or the title to it,” White said. “We are willing to lease them the equipment.”
On its Facebook page, the town said the firefighting equipment and firehouse building are valued in excess of $700,000.
No date had been set for the two parties to meet again and discuss the competing proposals.
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