SOUTHINGTON, CT — At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Southington Town Council votes on accepting $3.03 million in federal funding for 12 firefighter hires.
It is an old-business item at the council's regular meeting, set for the Assembly Room of the John Weichsel Municipal Center at 196 N. Main St. Patch reported that observance of Columbus Day led officials to move the meeting from Monday.
FEMA's Award Leaves a Local Cost to Resolve
Southington received $3.03 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, the Southington Fire Department announced Sept. 28. Fire officials say no other fiscal year 2025 SAFER award in Connecticut has been announced to date, and Southington’s award ranks 11th-largest nationally.
The Board of Fire Commissioners says FEMA applied a funding cap after the award, leaving the town with an added share of salary and benefit costs. The commissioners say the cap was not advertised, explained or listed before the award package. They believe the added town cost “can be offset by the projected overtime savings” from the 12 hires.
The 2020 and 2024 SAFER applications were funded at full salary and benefit cost, the commissioners said. They pointed residents to a June 8 presentation by Deputy Chief Daniel Comen and Chief Scott Lee, which begins about 44 minutes into the recording.