The town’s three fire districts will each hold their annual meetings in the next few weeks to approve new budgets and other items, including the possibility of more full-time firefighters in District 2 and a vehicle replacement for District 3.

The annual meetings are held once a year. Registered voters may attend the meeting of their home district. Voters can weigh in on the budget by voting via a show of hands.

Here’s what’s in store for each district:

Voters in Fire District No. 1 will be asked to approve a budget of $1,358,715 , representing a $448 increase from fiscal year 2022.

If approved, the majority of funds would go toward updating salaries and stipends for the district’s firefighters and other personnel. 

The highest value appropriation is $655,000 for the support of the district, which includes bills and insurance.

The district also plans to appropriate $50,000 for the replacement of two outboard motors that currently power the department’s fire boat.

The annual meeting for Fire District No. 1 is Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. inside the engine house located at 10 Bridge St.

Fire District No. 2 is looking to make some big changes this year, as new Chief Greg Edgcomb is hoping to add six full-time firefighters to the department.

Aside from the chief, the department currently has two full-time firefighters.

Under article 8 of the warrant, the department is seeking to appropriate $251,200 to hire the new staff, this would include $159,000 in salaries, $40,000 for overtime, $45,000 toward health insurance, an EMT stipend of $1,200, and $6,000 for new uniforms.

Additionally, under article 9, the district is asking to appropriate $15,000 for call firefighters and $20,000 toward details and station coverage, drills, and EMT stipends.

If approved, the new positions would take effect Feb. 1, 2023 and the department’s FY23 budget would be $1,097,814 — representing a $189,000 increase from last year.

If article 8 fails, article 9 is stricken, and article 10 passes, the budget would then total $891,614 — representing a $17,000 decrease.

Under Article 10, the district would instead raise and appropriate $40,000 for call Firefighters and $40,000 toward details and station coverage, drills, and EMT stipends.

The district also plans to appropriate $103,000 toward operational expenses, including $20,000 for fire gear and uniforms.

District 2 voters will meet to approve the budget on Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. The District will host two informational meetings on Tuesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. All residents within the district are invited to attend.

District 3’s voters will be asked to approve a $3,602,367.94 budget for this coming fiscal year.

The new budget represents a roughly $300,000 decrease from last year.

According to the warrant, $173,720 would go toward operational expenses such as equipment, training, and vehicle repair and maintenance.

Also on the docket is a request to take $300,000 from the district’s surplus revenue for vehicle replacement.

The annual meeting for Fire District No. 3 is Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m. and will be held at the fire station located at 140 Cross Road.

Copies of each district’s meeting warrant are attached to this story.