MURFREESBORO — The town of Murfreesboro has agreed to a fire protection mutual aid agreement with a neighboring Northampton County town.

At Tuesday’s Murfreesboro Town Council meeting, council members along with Public Safety Director and Police Chief Darrell Rowe discussed the issue.

The mutual aid agreement would allow fire personnel from both the towns of Murfreesboro and Woodland to respond to emergencies outside of the departments’ territorial limits.

The Woodland Town Council has already approved the agreement.

Rowe said the agreement is similar to what the police department has in place with surrounding law enforcement agencies.

The fire department is currently beginning the process of putting in place agreements with surrounding fire departments.

Council members questioned why there was no renewal date on the agreement, which includes a 30-day notice to disband the agreement.

Councilman Lloyd Hill motioned to approve the mutual aid pact contingent upon Rowe bringing back a report about the agreement being renewed annually; it was seconded by Mayor Pro-tem Molly Eubank.

The motion passed without objection.

In other council news, a motion was approved to allow the authorization of a grant application for $12,985 to be submitted to the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission in order for the police department to purchase equipment for their interview room.

Rowe said the purchase of the audio and recording equipment would satisfy the unfunded state mandate that homicide interrogations be recorded. The town’s match for the grant would be $3,205.

Rowe reported the fire department received a $500 donation from Pine Grove Baptist Church.

Public Works Director Gene Byrd reported work on the fire department is moving along.

Town Administrator Cathy Davison said the town’s audit for the general ledger and water and sewer fund is scheduled to begin February 17 and last until February 20.

Decisions made by the council after a closed session for personnel and attorney/client privilege, include the following:

To hire Jimmy Collier for the vacant police officer position contingent on him passing applicable tests and requirements based on the North Carolina General Statutes.

A motion was passed to reject Alton White’s offer to purchase 1.68 acres at the end of Washington Avenue for $1,000.