Grant to aid wellness effort for Houlton firefighters

HOULTON – Putting a little muscle into writing a grant paid big dividends for Houlton firefighters on Monday evening, as Town Councilors accepted a $53,300 grant to develop a fitness and wellness program for the Fire Department.

The award comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The town will provide $2,600 in matching funds.

The money will purchase exercise equipment, provide for job-related immunizations, and finance the renovation of space for the exercise equipment. A small portion of the grant will also pay for training sessions and physicals for firefighters.

Fire Chief Milton Cone received permission from the council to submit the grant application in March.

The chief said at the time that the wellness program could help the town curb workers’ compensation claims and lower the amount that the municipality has to pay for health care.

Work on the project is expected to begin soon.

In other business, councilors:

. Appointed Noreen Foster to a five-year term as the nonresident member of the Houlton planning board. Foster lives in Ludlow.

. Honored Councilors Mike Blanchard and John Fitzpatrick for their service. Both councilors’ terms are up and neither is running for re-election. The group also honored Chairman Gerald Adams, who has served a three-year term on the council and spent a year as chairman. Adams is running for re-election.