Southbridge Subcommittee Approves Four New Firefighters, $3.26 Million Fire Budget

SOUTHBRIDGE — April 21, 2026 — Southbridge's Protections of Persons and Property Subcommittee approved four new firefighter/EMT appointments and a $3.26 million Fire Department budget at its April 21 joint meeting with Town Council. The subcommittee unanimously forwarded the appointments of Brayden Jarvis of Southbridge, Hunter Moon of Grafton, Aiden Ronain of Worcester, and Colin Dennis Manuel of Woodstock, Connecticut, to the full Town Council, filling all four current vacancies in the department. The town manager, identified on audio only as Jack, called the candidate pool strong and praised the applicants' candor: "They didn't tell us what we wanted to hear — they were actually very honest about it." The FY 2027 budget of $3,257,806 holds all collective-bargaining salaries flat pending an unresolved contract, with overtime budgeted at $225,000 and equipment maintenance jumping from $27,000 to $44,000. The subcommittee also approved two overtime budget transfers totaling $75,000 to cover short-staffing costs, authorized a contract up to $7,400 with Badge Quest Public Safety Consultants for a lieutenant promotional assessment, and accepted a $13,350 firefighter safety equipment grant for a single APX radio — with members visibly surprised the unit costs nearly $10,000.