The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a contract with Lexipol on Sept. 10 to provide a wellness platform for the fire department, including anonymous access, crisis lines, behavioral-health toolkits and peer-support training.

The approval matters because the platform offers firefighters and their families a centralized set of behavioral-health resources and training that the department says will support peer support certification and crisis response.

Fire Chief Miller described the service as an anonymous wellness solution tied to the department’s existing Lexipol standard operating procedures platform. “It’s a anonymous platform to, for wellness for, to seek help,” Miller said, adding that the program includes “one-touch crisis lines” and toolkits covering behavioral-health guidelines. Miller told the board the cost will come from his existing budget and will not require an additional appropriation.

Board members moved and seconded the contract approval; the board voted unanimously. The contract was presented as an outlay within the fire department’s operating budget and paired with the department’s plan to pursue peer-support certification for personnel. The board did not vote on specific personnel changes or training schedules during the meeting.

The Lexipol agreement was described by Miller as available to firefighters’ family members as well. There was no discussion of contract term length or renewal terms during the meeting; those details were contained in the written agreement submitted to the board.