As the Fire District No. 1 Prudential Committee works its way through next year’s budget proposal, one item the committee has yet to weigh in on is the future of Chief Brad Ellis’s contract. 

The committee spent a large portion of the meeting going through a draft of the warrant for the annual fire district meeting, set to take place in May. When the Prudential Committee reached the article which appropriates a sum of money for the Chief’s salary, the committee fell silent for several moments.

Member Jeff Costa asked for clarification to confirm that the article was not in itself a contract, but merely enabled the district to appropriate the funds for the chief’s salary.

There was some confusion about whether or not the contract had to be agreed upon ahead of the district meeting.

John Foster, the district treasurer, said that the article should appropriate the fund for the contract in full, if at all possible. If the contract is not finalized until after the district meeting and the agreed-upon salary is larger than the amount appropriated, funds would have to be pulled from elsewhere in the budget.

A committee member suggested keeping the salary at $95,000 “for now.”

Ellis reminded the committee that when he was first hired three years ago, he was offered a yearly salary of $100,000. He negotiated and accepted  a salary of $85,000 the first year, $90,000 the second year, and $95,000 for the third year — thereby saving the district $30,000 over three years.

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be reasonable to go up another $5,000 since I’ve saved you $30,000 over a three year period,” Ellis said. “I think that’s unfair.”

Melissa Ellis, an attorney and Brad Ellis’ wife, asked if the committee would be engaging in contract negotiations with the current chief. 

“I don’t think this is on today’s agenda,” board chairman John Haran replied.

“Are you planning on negotiating a contract with me?” Brad Ellis asked.

Haran responded by stating: “I don’t know. I can’t answer that until our attorney gets back. I’d like to have advice from our attorney.”

Melissa Ellis emphasised the good faith provision of every contract.

“I think the public needs to know what you intend to do sooner rather than later so that my family, and the chief, and the public, can know what your intentions are,” Melissa Ellis said.

“Good faith, without prejudice, John,” Brad Ellis said.

The Prudential Committee’s next meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at the Fire Station, 10 Bridge Street.