TURNERS FALLS — A $3.1 million budget for fire and water services was approved at the Turners Falls Fire District’s annual meeting Tuesday, including a $295,000 upgrade to streetlights making them more energy efficient.
The meeting was held outdoors (like many town meetings this spring) in the parking lot of Turners Falls High School. It took about 45 minutes to pass the 18 articles on the warrant.
The approved budget of $3,102,529 included an amendment increasing the amount by $4,000, proposed by Turners Falls Fire Chief John Zellmann, which he explained was to cover recent equipment repairs that were not in the originally proposed budget.
The streetlight upgrade project in the budget will be to replace all streetlights in Turners Falls, Montague City, Millers Falls and Lake Pleasant with new LED lights. (Montague Center is the only village not in the Turners Falls Fire District.)
“We’re trying to bring the district up to the 21st century,” said district Prudential Committee Chair David Zamojski.
LED lights, which are more efficient than other types, were estimated by a consultant to save the district about $55,000 a year in energy costs, according to District Accountant Eileen Tela. Even when accounting for the cost of borrowing money to fund the project, tax rates are expected to decrease, she said.
There is no definite timeline for the streetlight project, Tela said, but it will likely be completed in fiscal year 2021 (July 2020 to June 2021).
An ambulance replacement worth $50,000 was also approved. The ambulance to be replaced is a 2001 model. Zellmann said he does not necessarily expect to buy a replacement immediately, but now has the money ready in case a suitable ambulance does become available.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.