Board of Firewards — February 19, 2026
The meeting was largely routine and collegial, but the Sunapee Cove elderly care situation introduced a values-laden policy concern, the chair's likely departure signals an upcoming governance transition, and several active high-stakes warrant articles (full-time chief, $294K capital reserve, ambulance changes) loom in the background without being substantively addressed.
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**Sunapee Board of Firewards — Meeting Recap & What Residents Should Know (2/19/26)**
The Board of Firewards met Thursday, February 19th. Most of the agenda was routine — vehicle maintenance, a new fire truck inspection, dock delivery updates — but one issue stands out and directly affects some of Sunapee's most vulnerable residents.
**Sunapee Cove's new corporate director is restricting the assisted living facility to meals and medication services only.** In practice, this means fire/EMS may no longer be called for lift-assist calls — situations where a resident has fallen and needs help getting up. Residents who require that kind of help frequently could face pressure to leave the facility entirely. Board members expressed genuine concern, with one noting that many of these residents have 'been paying their taxes religiously for 65 years' and that stopping by to help them is 'the nicest thing we do.' That's a meaningful statement — but the board stopped short of establishing any firm policy or public commitment to protect service access. The Fire Chief and ambulance director were directed to meet informally to develop a protocol. Families with loved ones at Sunapee Cove should be watching this closely and asking what comes out of that meeting.
**On the fee schedule:** The board reached consensus on a new fire department fee structure — $25 for oil/gas equipment permits, tiered apparatus fees of $15–$25/hour based on vehicle weight, and firework permits at $100 (Class B) and $20 (Class C). A public hearing is scheduled before formal adoption. Worth noting: the board proactively removed a proposed fee for copies of reports after recognizing it might conflict with New Hampshire's right-to-know law (RSA 91-A). The fee was set to zero pending legal review — a straightforward and correct call.
**Looking ahead:** The board chair, who has served for approximately eight years, announced their term expires in April and expressed low enthusiasm for reappointment. No successor has been identified. The open position will be publicly announced before the March 19th meeting — which is also the first meeting after Town Vote. Fire and EMS governance touches every resident in Sunapee. If you or someone you know has the time and interest to serve, this is the moment to act.
Public impact
New fees ranging from $15–$25/hour for apparatus, $25 for oil/gas permits, $100 for Class B firework permits; public hearing pending
Corporate policy change may eliminate lift-assist EMS response to facility; affected residents risk forced relocation
8-year board chair may not seek reappointment in April; open position to be publicly announced with no identified successor
Fire station backup equipment will serve as dispatch infrastructure during Monday night software upgrade test; limited duration but touches documented prior dispatch reliability concerns
Topics discussed
Ongoing bedbug mitigation continues with pending pest inspection and specialized dog detection service. Upstairs remains off-limits while treatment process requires waiting for eggs to hatch before cleaning.
Dispatch will use fire station equipment Monday night for software upgrade testing. Equipment has been verified as functional backup option for emergency operations.
Discussion of need to inventory emergency generators and shelter locations throughout town. Library and high school have generators, but town hall (Sherburn) lacks backup power.
General vehicle status update with minor air leak repair completed. Mac truck bid deadline set for March 10th with opening March 16th.
Lakes Region representative completed formal demonstration and inspection. Minor issues identified include tire sensor leak and corrosion on pullout step mechanism due to road salt exposure.
New corporate director implementing strict assisted living policies limiting services to meals and medication only. Multiple lift-assist calls may result in resident relocation from facility.
Review of proposed fee schedule including oil/gas equipment permits ($25), fire details ($65), apparatus fees (to be tiered by vehicle weight), and firework permits (Class B $100, Class C $20).
Discussion of recent successful resuscitation of cardiac arrest patient where substance use was suspected as the cause. Team response praised by board members.
a speaker announced their term expires in April and expressed lack of enthusiasm for reappointment after approximately 8 years of service. Open position will be discussed at March meeting.
Select board approved donation for new medical equipment. Discussion of extended warranty options: $950/year for years 2-3, then $750/year for years 4-6, covering damage protection and software updates.
Dock company reported the dock extension is coming out of fabrication and will be delivered next week or the week after, ahead of expected spring timeline.
Next meeting scheduled for March 19th, which will be after town vote and any potential recount period. This timing allows for new budget implementation.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Sunapee Cove Assisted Living Policy — Lift-Assist Call Restrictions
Fire Department Fee Schedule — New Permit and Apparatus Fees
Board Chair Potential Departure After 8-Year Tenure
Dispatch Radio Software Upgrade — Use of Fire Station Backup Equipment
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
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