Minutes of Village East Fire Regular Meeting Held 7/1/26

Minutes of Village East Fire Regular Meeting Held 7/1/26 The board of Village East Fire Protection District met in regular session at its regular meeting place, Village East Fire Station, 100 Development St., Houma, LA, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Attendance Present: Nigel Hodgson (President) Cody Ritchey Roy Desmore Lydell Crochet Thomas Guidry (Treasurer) Absent: None Employees/Guests: Armond Triche (Chief), Scott (Accountant). The Board of Village East Fire Protection District was duly convened as the governing authority of said Fire District by Nigel Hodgson, President. The Board then led those in attendance with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. The Board President called for public comment on any agenda items. There were no members of the public present wishing to speak. Approval of Minutes The minutes from the previous board meeting held on April 27, 2026, were reviewed by the board. On a motion by Thomas Guidry, seconded by Cody Ritchey, the board accepted the minutes as presented. The motion carried with all present in favor. Financial Report Scott presented the summary financial reports as of July 1, 2026, marking the mid-year point for the district: Balance Sheet: The district holds $137,000 in checking accounts alongside $1.18 million in the investment LAMP account, totaling approximately $1,336,000 in total assets. These funds include necessary operational reserves for the remainder of the year. Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual: The district has collected 89.4% of its budgeted revenue for the year. Compliance with state law requires finishing above 95%, which the district historically meets via mid-year or late-year budget amendments. Total expenses reached 61.4% of the annual budget, slightly ahead of projections due to capital outlay expenditures ($93,000 spent against an $84,000 budget) rather than day-to-day operations. Previous Year Comparison: Year-to-date total income stands at $514,000 compared to $495,000 at the same point last year (a positive increase of $18,000). Total expenses increased by $89,000 over the prior year, driven primarily by capital outlay and necessary vehicle maintenance, including a comprehensive service of all department trucks. Operating costs for the month of June were $35,000 compared to $28,000 last year. Macroeconomic Outlook: The board discussed potential revenue impacts from recently passed state legislation concerning the inventory property tax. If Terrebonne Parish implements changes, the district could face an annual revenue decrease of $70,000 to $80,000. Additionally, a warning was noted for potential future fluctuations in LAMP interest earnings if macroeconomic conditions shift in 2027 or 2028. On a motion by Cody Ritchey, seconded by Roy Desmore, the financial report was accepted as presented. The motion carried with all present in favor. Old Business Ladder Truck Evaluation: Chief Triche reported on a virtual follow-up regarding the used ladder truck in Fort Worth, Texas, discussed at the last meeting. Upon physical inspection via a garage representative, the truck was found located in a grass field at a used car lot, completely misaligned with its advertised condition and lacking verifiable maintenance records. As the district cannot legally purchase under these conditions, the matter was entirely dismissed, and the listing has since been removed from the website. New Business Consider and take action on future equipment purchases via State Appropriations: The board reviewed proposed capital outlay items utilizing an anticipated $42,000 state appropriation facilitated by State Representative Jessica Domingue, expected in mid-to-late July. Chief Triche presented a prioritized quote summary totaling $43,198.73, which includes: A new 3-ton common area upstairs AC unit and closet conversion to replace a 25-year-old unit: $13,881.00 Full head-to-toe bunker gear fitting for one individual: $4,011.00 20 department pagers (previously discussed): $15,335.85 Four SCBA masks integrated with thermal imaging cameras: $9,170.00 On a motion by Thomas Guidry, seconded by Cody Ritchey, the board authorized Chief Triche to proceed with the purchases as presented, contingent upon receipt of the state funds. The motion limits spending to the exact allocation received up to $42,000, with the board explicitly authorizing up to $1,500 of its own operational funds to cover any overages. The motion carried with all present in favor. Consider and take action on Employee Health Insurance Benefits Policy: The board reviewed a personnel request regarding health insurance coverage structures for full-time staff. Scott presented structural options detailing the financial impacts of expanding family premium contributions. Wiping out the current employee out-of-pocket obligation ($1,130 per month) increases annual district expenditures by approximately $12,000 to $15,000, bringing total annual health insurance costs to $37,000. Following discussion on financial sustainability and structural benefit adjustments, a motion was made by Cody Ritchey, seconded by Thomas Guidry, to officially amend Health Insurance Policy 1.10. The amendment authorizes 100% employee coverage and 100% family coverage through the end of the 2026 fiscal year, effective immediately for the upcoming payroll cycle, subject to explicit board review for 2027. Should the board not revisit the 100% coverage, the policy remains in affect until such time the board reviews for continuance of 100% family coverage. The motion carried with all present in favor. Adjournment On a motion by Roy Desmore, seconded by Thomas Guidry, the meeting was adjourned. The motion carried with all present in favor. Nigel Hodgson (President) July 10 2026 LLOU0553291 $194.40