BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
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PLAINFIELD — Although fire coverage in Plainfield has been provided by charitable organizations for more than 60 years, a recent town vote triggered the countdown for Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department Inc. and Meriden Volunteer Fire Department Inc. to become part of the municipal framework.
Following the passage of a fire department incorporation article at Plainfield’s annual town meeting, officials have one year to turn over fire department assets and liabilities to the town.
The proposal passed with overwhelming support from voters, 131-2, opening the door for the town to begin the changeover process.
“It would still essentially run in the way that it has but we’re giving them the protection of being a municipal fire department,” Selectboard Chair Rob Taylor said. “We’re eliminating some of those risks that the fire departments have.”
Currently, the town of Plainfield and the village of Meriden are served by separate volunteer fire departments that hold service agreements with their respective villages.
Selectboard members say they are pleased with the service but that a recent town insurance change means that the nonmunicipal departments have higher rates and less coverage, opening the town and departments to greater risk.
“A long time ago, these good folks at the time got together and decided that it was high time that we had some fire protection more organized than people just running from their houses with buckets,” Taylor said. “They created these organizations out of nothing and today those firehouses are essentially being run by… charitable organizations.”
The incorporation of the organizations into a single municipal department — to be called the Plainfield Fire Department — will result in little day-to-day change, Chief Bill Taylor said. The two stations will remain open, and the volunteers will have autonomy to recommend leaders. However, the selectboard will have ultimate discretion over choosing the chief, who will act as a municipal department head.
“This was a really important subject for the firefighters,” Rob Taylor said, referring to department autonomy. “They’ve run this show for 60 plus years and they’ve done a great job. They know about firefighting and how to run a fire department much better than people at this table.”
Town meeting voters also passed several monetary items, including a $2,335,085 main budget. Due in large part to regular wage increases for town employees, the budget will increase the tax rate by 40 cents. The main budget passed 129-15. Other items included: $192,500 appropriations for capital reserve funds, which passed 134 to 5; $25,000 for a fire department equipment fund, which passed 137 to 5; $25,000 for a Meriden library building fund, which passed 121 to 22.
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