Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
New Milford council authorizes SAFER grant application to fund multiyear volunteer recruitment plan
Summary
After a detailed presentation from the borough’s fire leadership, the council voted to authorize staff to apply for a FEMA SAFER grant that would fund a four-year recruitment and retention program including targeted marketing, stipends and new gear.
At a council work session this month, New Milford’s mayor and council authorized borough staff to apply for a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant after an extended presentation from fire department leadership about long‑term recruitment and retention needs.
The presentation, led by the department’s chief, laid out a multi‑year plan that pairs a marketing and recruitment campaign with financial incentives and training to try to reverse years of volunteer attrition. The grant application described about $476,550 in potential funding across categories that include marketing and outreach, recruit physicals and personal protective equipment, leadership training, a part‑time recruitment coordinator stipend and a monthly stipend program for operational responders.
The chief told the council volunteer manpower has fallen and that housing costs, work schedules and competing nearby departments have contributed to losses of members…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
