Somers Backs Radio Plan After Equipment Fails Inside Fire

SOMERS, CT — Somers officials have backed a $151,672 plan to replace aging Fire Department radios after the equipment repeatedly failed, including during a recent structure fire in Ellington.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to approve the department's capital request. The radios are expected to be included in the town's proposed fiscal 2028 capital improvement budget.

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Fire Chief John Stovall told selectmen that most of the department's portable radios are more than 17 years old and are no longer dependable.

"I've grabbed a radio off the apparatus more than once, went to key it up, and it just doesn't work," Stovall said. "It shuts off and it beeps at you. Extremely frustrating and extremely dangerous."

The department recently experienced another failure while assisting at a structure fire in Ellington, Stovall said. A Somers firefighter was inside the building when his radio battery died. Another firefighter was able to make the necessary transmission, and nobody was injured.

Somers currently has 84 portable radios, but only 13 are newer models. The department also needs to replace several radios installed in ambulances, rescue squads and command vehicles.

The proposed purchase includes 40 Kenwood VP5000 portable radios for firefighters and apparatus, five tri-band portable radios for chief officers, four tri-band vehicle radios and three additional vehicle radios. The remaining money would cover batteries, chargers and other supplies.

Stovall said the department previously sought federal funding through a joint grant application with the Tolland and Bolton fire departments, but the application was unsuccessful. Somers later spent about $4,000 on 40 replacement batteries in an effort to extend the life of its existing equipment.

The new request was reduced from an earlier proposal of approximately $180,000. Stovall said the revised package would address the department's immediate radio needs and allow replacements to be handled gradually in future years.

The town does not currently have money available to make the purchase, Chief Financial Officer Brian Wissinger told the board. Unless another funding source becomes available, the request will go through the fiscal 2028 capital budget process.

The selectmen's vote approved the request for inclusion in capital planning. It did not authorize an immediate purchase.

The full discussion can be viewed on the town's meeting video. The radio proposal was among several items included on the Sept. 24 Board of Selectmen agenda.

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