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Brookline Fire Department outlines multiyear station renovation plan; union warns cuts to crew minimums would be dangerous
Summary
Fire Chief John Sullivan updated the Select Board on a multiyear station renovation program funded in part by a 2021 override and warned of rising call volumes; union leaders urged the board not to reduce minimum crew sizes citing firefighter safety and rising 911 call counts.
The Brookline Fire Department presented its FY26 priorities and long-term station renovation plan at the Select Board meeting on April 8. Chief John Sullivan said the department is implementing a multiyear renovation of its five-station system; the 2021 override originally appropriated $65 million for four stations with the expectation it would cover most of the first four renovations but rising construction costs mean that estimates for individual stations have exceeded earlier projections.
Chief Sullivan said the department expects to complete Station 4 renovations first, then move to Station 1, Station 5 (a full rebuild), Station 6 and Station 7. He said the town is still likely to complete four stations within the $65 million authorization but anticipates budget shortfalls for later work and will return with augmentation requests as the program progresses.
Operationally the department pointed to continuing increases in service demand: call volume rose from about 7,873 responses in 2015 to 10,068 in 2024, roughly a 37% increase over the decade. Chief Sullivan highlighted recent investments including a new records-management platform (First Due), a Smart911 public profile program and use of ARPA funds to buy PFAS‑free three‑season jackets to reduce occupational exposures.
Union concerns: Justin Robinson, president of Brookline Firefighters Local 950 and a 27‑year department veteran, addressed the board during public comment and warned that a proposed plan discussed at an advisory meeting — to reduce minimum crew size on apparatus from four to three — would be unsafe and a false economy. He urged the board to review a GIS analysis the union compiled and offered to hold an informational meeting on the report.
Why it matters: Station renovations are large, multiyear capital projects with significant cost and operational implications. Rising call volumes and union safety warnings underscore the trade-off between potential short‑term budget savings and long‑term operational risk.
Next steps: Chief and union representatives said they will continue technical and budget conversations with the town; staff indicated they will seek grant opportunities and monitor costs as projects move into construction phases.
