SA-5-27 Assistance to Firefighters Grant

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.

What: Supplemental appropriation SA-5-27 accepts a federal (FEMA / Department of Homeland Security) FY27 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the fire department, an increase of about 43,000 dollars over the amount budgeted (total about 151,000 dollars).
Where it stands: Favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee on 2026-10-21 by voice vote, no opposition.
What it buys: Three cardiac monitor-defibrillators (over 60,000 dollars each) and up to 15 automated external defibrillators for vehicles; the match is already in the fire department budget.

The fire chief said the purchases were already planned and the federal award came in higher than expected, so more units can be bought.
Alderman Thorp said he would support it but asked for more budget discipline: when the city takes extra grant money, say what is not being bought and whether it is the best use of city funds. Staff said finance meets departments regularly and agreed to put short statements about those conversations, and the marginal benefit of each grant, into the written budget revision.

About 9 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-21 - Finance Committee	9

2026-10-21 - Public Safety Committee - Fire chief told the Public Safety Committee the item goes to the full council Monday (46:10-48:58).
2026-10-21 - Finance Committee - Chief's briefing and a broader exchange on how grant-funded purchases are justified (12:51-22:08). Favorable recommendation, voice vote. Alderman Thorp asked for more detail in future budget revisions.
2026-10-26 - City Council (Special Meeting) Meeting - Business item: increase from $108,000 to $151,409.31 (+$43,409.31). Vote not recorded.