The Newburgh City Council approved to apply and accept an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $35,000 with a 10% match by the city in the amount of $3,500 and to set two public hearings for amendments to the Department of Fire articles and Fire Department Chapter.

According to Fire Chief Francis Spinelli, the 10% match would come from the auction account for surplus equipment sold that the fire department maintains. The funding would go towards equipment for the firefighters as the current equipment is old and dated.

In reference to the two public hearings, Chief of Staff Michael Neppl provided the following information for clarification: “The City Council created the position of Fire Commissioner in the FY23 budget, adopted on November 28, 2022 after months of public budget hearings,” said Neppl. “The City Council is now considering amendments to the Charter and City Code to reflect the creation of the position. The process will continue moving forward throughout the 2023 fiscal year.”

With the creation of the new commissioner position in the previous budget season, no official announcement from the city has been made on a candidate search or process. Neppl was sent a followup inquiry to speak with the fire chief about the position. A response was waiting to be received.