Newington Board of Fire Commissioners Approves Ladder Truck Recommendation, Names Acting Fire Marshal
Town Council · Meeting of June 17, 2026
CT NEWINGTON — Newington Board of Fire Commissioners votes to seek $2.6 million ladder truck and names acting fire marshal. The commission voted unanimously at its June 11 meeting to send a resolution to the Town Council recommending funding for a replacement Truck One ladder truck at an estimated $2.6 million through a five-year lease-purchase agreement, which commissioners said does not trigger a public referendum. Fire Chief Trauma noted the current truck was purchased in 2006 and that current build times of approximately four years mean a replacement ordered now would arrive just before the National Fire Protection Association's recommended 25-year frontline retirement threshold.
Commissioners also accepted the resignation of Fire Marshal D.J. Jordan, who is departing to become fire marshal for Glastonbury, with Chairman Brian Whalen noting that town-wide inspection compliance rose from roughly three to seven percent to 82 percent overall and 91 percent residential during Jordan's five-year tenure. Assistant Fire Marshal John Hoffman was appointed acting fire marshal effective June 18, 2026 at noon.
In the full story:
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Source: the Town Council meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
NEWINGTON — June 17, 2026 — The Newington Board of Fire Commissioners voted Wednesday to send a resolution to the Town Council recommending funding for a replacement ladder truck at an estimated cost of $2.6 million, and separately accepted the resignation of Fire Marshal D.J. Jordan while appointing Assistant Fire Marshal John Hoffman to serve in an acting capacity.
The two personnel and apparatus actions headlined a meeting that also addressed space needs at the historic Chapman Street firehouse, a proposed mini pumper for new high-density developments, and the tabling of a rules and regulations update until January 1, 2027.
The Full Story
Commission Chairman Brian Whalen, Commissioner Frank DeMayo, and Commissioner Ken Stoddard were all present at Wednesday's meeting, which opened with a brief correction: the agenda had listed April 8, 2026 as the prior meeting date for minutes approval; commissioners voted to correct that reference to May 14, 2026.
The apparatus discussion drew some of the evening's most substantive comment. Fire Chief Trauma briefed commissioners on the department's 20-year apparatus replacement plan, noting that the current ladder truck was purchased in 2006 and is already overdue for replacement under that schedule. Given a current manufacturer build time of approximately four years, the chief said a new truck ordered now would arrive when the existing one is roughly 24 years old — just one year short of the National Fire Protection Association's recommended 25-year frontline service limit.
"Our apparatus are on a 20-year replacement plan. The ladder truck was purchased in 2006, so technically it should have been replaced this year. The build time for our ladder truck nowadays is four years, so by the time we get this truck it'll be at the 24-year mark." [No timestamp index supplied] — Fire Chief Trauma
Commissioners voted to send a formal recommendation to the Town Council asking it to fund the $2.6 million truck through a lease-purchase agreement rather than a bond referendum, because the five-year lease structure does not meet the town's referendum threshold. A Town Council member present during public comment confirmed that apparatus replacement has not historically gone to referendum, and thanked the chief for clarifying the process.
On personnel, commissioners accepted the resignation of Fire Marshal D.J. Jordan, who is leaving to become fire marshal for the Town of Glastonbury. Chairman Whalen read a letter of gratitude into the record, noting that during Jordan's five-year tenure, inspection compliance town-wide rose from roughly three to seven percent up to 82 percent overall, with residential compliance reaching 91 percent. Commissioners then voted to appoint Hoffman as acting fire marshal effective the following day at noon, coinciding with Jordan's last day.
"During his tenure, inspection compliance has risen to 82 percent from approximately three to seven. We successfully expanded staff and provided resilience within the office." [No timestamp index supplied] — Chairman Brian Whalen, reading from the board's farewell letter
On station space needs, commissioners discussed the Chapman Street firehouse for Company Three, noting that the town's architect completed a Phase One assessment finding the building structurally sound but in need of updates. Because of its historic status, the roofline and exterior aesthetic must be preserved, though replacement windows matching the historic look are permitted. Chief Trauma said he has emailed the town manager requesting that insurance restrictions on occupying the building be revisited in light of the architect's report. Commissioner Stoddard urged a follow-up to a prior commission request — sent approximately 18 months ago — asking the Town Council to formally designate Chapman Street as a firehouse asset under fire department control.
Separately, a bond referendum for a new Station Four building is already moving through the Town Council and is targeted for the November ballot.
Chief Trauma also briefed commissioners on a proposal to seek a mini pumper — a smaller apparatus capable of fitting in low-clearance parking garages — as part of the approval process for large new downtown developments. The chief cited a planned project with roughly 600 underground parking spaces and noted the town's first parking garage is already under construction. No vote was taken; the item remains a discussion.
"With all this new development being proposed in the center of town, there's going to be 600 underground parking spaces that we're going to have to take care of, and I can't put a pumper in a garage that's seven feet high." [No timestamp index supplied] — Chief Trauma
Rules and regulations revisions were tabled to January 1, 2027, after commissioners noted that only 28 days had elapsed since the previous meeting and the commission's own rules require 30 days' notice before adoption.
Why It Matters
The ladder truck recommendation moves a $2.6 million apparatus purchase one step closer to reality. The Town Council must now decide whether to proceed by lease-purchase or bond; the chief's timeline suggests a new truck would not arrive for approximately four years, by which point the current one will be near the end of its rated service life. Separately, the Chapman Street firehouse situation has direct near-term consequences: active apparatus is currently parked outside due to insurance restrictions on the building, and commissioners want the town manager and Town Council to act before the structure's future is decided in a broader facilities process. The Station Four bond referendum is on track for November 2026.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Correction of prior meeting minutes date from April 8 to May 14, 2026 Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept communications and updated minutes reference Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Approve ledger status Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Table rules and regulations update until January 1, 2027 Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept resignation of Fire Marshal D.J. Jordan Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Appoint Assistant Fire Marshal John Hoffman as acting fire marshal effective June 18, 2026 at noon Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Send resolution to Town Council recommending funding of Truck One (ladder truck) replacement at approximately $2.6 million via lease-purchase agreement Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Schedule firehouse inspections for Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Tally: Approved unanimously
Source Newington's community access TV: Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, June 11, 2026