The Glen Arbor Township Board approved a 3.6% raise for fire Chief Bryan Ferguson during their monthly meeting last. The raise increases Ferguson’s salary from $114,000 to $118,004, matching the cost-of-living adjustment and the raise percentage approved for the township board resolutions adopted in February.
The board also discussed Ferguson’s contract, deciding to keep the number of paid time off (PTO) at 25 per year. Unused PTO can be rolled over into the next year or converted to cash. Ferguson has typically used around five or six days of PTO each year.
Ferguson received very positive yearly evaluations, with Township Supervisor Tom Laureto stating that “things are going very well.” Over the past year, Ferguson has overseen a FEMA grant, is working on a new FEMA grant, utilized a tribal grant, and successfully managed new hires within the fire station. Laureto noted that the fire department’s prestige grows each year.
In February, the Fire Department received 39 calls, matching the number from the previous month, which is considered rare. The department has submitted a FEMA grant for new air packs and issued a request for proposals for a new mini pumper truck. The new firetruck, engine 212 for Empire Station, is expected to arrive by the end of the month.
The proposed budget for the fire department remains unchanged, with vehicle maintenance being the largest expenditure. Nearly $100,000 was spent on fire and EMS vehicle maintenance. The fleet’s age is approaching 20 years, and the department has about $7 million worth of equipment. There has been an increase in revenue due to bank interest, and over $110,000 in ambulance revenue is expected.
The vendor that installed Wi-Fi equipment on American Tower has decided not to renew the contract, which means the township will no longer have public Wi-Fi. Board members expressed that was not a major concern, as most people can access Wi-Fi through their phones. However, the police department uses Wi-Fi for the cameras at the Glen Arbor public bathrooms. A special meeting will be held on March 30 at 10 a.m. to discuss general final budget amendments and approve the fiscal 2025 budget.
