Judge Orders Vote on CCFD Budget Plan

Written by Patrick Luce

Superior Court Judge Brian Stern ordered the Central Coventry Fire District Board of Directors to vote on a proposed budget plan after the board failed to consider one of three proposals as scheduled Thursday night.

Stern granted a continuation on a budget decision until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, while voicing concerns over the board's ability to agree on a budget in time for the Oct. 21 financial town meeting, where the public will vote on a tax rate.

"The court specifically orders to board to vote on a tax levy and assessment Tuesday evening," Stern said during a hearing in Kent County Superior Court Friday morning. "This is a very tight timeframe. It must happen at Tuesday's meeting."

Stern voiced further concerns over the ability of the board and firefighters union to come to agreement on any concessions to the Collective Bargaining Agreement necessary to comply with whichever budget proposal the board ultimately adopts. The judge ordered representatives of the board and union to meet daily between today and Tuesday, and provide him with a daily written report detailing the progress of negotiations.

"It's difficult for the court to present a budget unless it's very clear that if there is no agreement, there is the possibility of closure," Stern said.

The CCFD Board of Directors must decide among three budget proposals to keep the Central Coventry Fire District operational — $7 million, $5.9 million and $5 million. Operational expenses are fixed at $1.6 million in all proposals, but personnel costs vary greatly in the plans.

The largest budget — with a tax rate of $3.25 per thousand dollars of value for residential and $4.88 for commercial — includes salary and benefits for 41 employees spread over four crews. The smallest proposal — with a tax rate of $2.25 residential and $3.37 commercial — would pay for 25 employees in two or three shifts. 

CCFD Board attorney David D'Agostino told Judge Stern the board needed more time to "crunch the numbers" and expected a weekend of work would provide more clarification ahead of Tuesday's meeting. He said the board was trying to schedule meetings with the union before then.

Union attorney Marc Gursky sad the board's tactics and delays have "created a crisis with the limited time remaining. The real problem is the board started with what it wanted to levy taxpayers and tried to fit that square peg into the round hole that is funding the district."

The board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall annex to consider the CCFD budget.