VERNON — The Selectboard has voted to allow Vernon Fire Association, Inc., to continue operating as the fundraising arm for the Vernon Fire Department and other area emergency services after having questioned the appropriateness of VFAI's fundraising strategies.
Fire Chief Tom Fox and Assistant Fire Chief David Andrews appeared at the March 15 Selectboard meeting to address the board's main concern: the use of taxpayer money to generate income by an organization that was not legally associated with the town.
In one fundraising measure, VFAI raises money by charging residents to fill their swimming pools.
“I agree with the idea of VFAI,” Selectboard member Mike Ball said. “[But] you're using Fire Department equipment and fuel [paid for] by taxpayers. Only the Selectboard can authorize the spending of [taxpayer] money,” said Ball, adding that VFAI must somehow reimburse the cost of using the equipment and fuel.
“It seems like a money-laundering scheme,” Ball added, describing the financial structure of the organization.
“There are no attempts here at 'circumvention,'” said Assistant Fire Chief David Andrews, referring to an e-mail exchange in which Selectboard members, according to Andrews, implied that VFAI acted to the detriment of taxpayers.
Andrews explained that all funds raised by VFAI are earmarked for the Vernon Fire Department and area emergency services and therefore benefit the town.
According to Andrews, the Fire Department cannot act as its own fundraiser because it is a municipal department and therefore subject to the town's accounting rule that any funds the department raises must go into the town's general fund and cannot be kept by the department itself.
VFAI was organized as a response to liability and fundraising complications in recent years.
In August 2008 the Selectboard voted to disassociate the town from what was then the Vernon Fire Company. The Company had no legal standing, a status that raised liability issues for the town, explained Andrews.
To solve the issues of liability, the Fire Department became a municipal department in the summer of 2009. Andrews stated that the Fire Department's first serious fundraising efforts - which raised approximately $9,000 - “added a whole new wrinkle.”
VFAI, a separate organization comprised of five board members, was thus formed with the sole purpose of raising funds. VFAI incorporated as an organization in November 2009 and has applied to be recognized as a nonprofit organization under the federal tax code to be eligible for state and federal grants.
VFAI skirts the liability issue because any projects carried out by the Fire Department are covered by the town's insurance.
“I see VFAI as a John Deere tractor with a hook on it [which] shakes trees and collects the money,” said Andrews with a smile.
He added that VFAI's benefits extend beyond the Fire Department, including projects such as a Vernon Police Explorers program, currently in the early development stage.
Selectboard members at the meeting voiced support for VFAI.
“These guys [VFAI's board members] are volunteers,” said Selectboard member Leonard Howard. “There's more gain to this town letting them use the fuel and equipment. We should let these guys proceed.”
Treasurer Sally Brassor added, “VFAI is supposed to improve the Fire Department. I don't think taxpayers will have a problem as long as they can see this.”
The Selectboard voted to allow VFAI to continue operations without the need to reimburse the town for use of Fire Department equipment and fuel.
Andrews said that VFAI operates with transparency and that the group will post all financial records on its website, www.vfai.info, as they become available.