East Bethel council approves daytime duty crew, promotion and call‑type changes for fire department

The East Bethel City Council on April 28 approved a package of changes to the city’s fire service that moves the department toward a daytime duty‑crew model, reclassifies the current fire inspector to a deputy‑chief pay schedule and reduces responses to non‑emergent medical calls.

City staff presented the proposals as a set of three linked changes intended to improve daytime staffing and firefighter safety while keeping the city’s levy unchanged. Acting Fire Department staff member Jerry Scribe said the goal is to “balance out the volunteer model so we can hold this model as long as possible.”

The council’s motion, described at the meeting as a combined approval of (1) establishing a duty crew for daytime hours, (2) transitioning the position now held by Ben (job title referenced in the packet) from a fire inspector to a deputy‑chief classification with a step schedule, and (3) reducing non‑emergent medical responses, passed on a voice vote. The motion text was recorded as approved; no roll‑call tally was given in the public minutes.

Scribe and other staff framed the change as a response to rising call volume and safety concerns. Scribe said rapid on‑site availability reduces turnout time compared with volunteer firefighters responding from home, noting that “they’re out the door in one minute” when on duty at the station. The packet presented at the meeting showed the duty‑crew model’s gross cost at about $93,000 and an overall budgetary impact of roughly $15,000 after line reallocations; staff said overtime savings and shifting current budget lines would cover the change without increasing the levy.

Council members who spoke supported the move as a tradeoff to improve safety and response times. One councilmember said seeing only “one firefighter show up with one vehicle on a fire” was unacceptable and supported the duty crew as a safety measure for both firefighters and residents.

The personnel reclassification includes hourly rates shown in the materials: the affected position’s current hourly rate was listed as $38.92, with a promoted rate of $40.48 and a step system to follow. Staff said that the reclassification more accurately reflects duties the employee already performs and provides continuity should the city need a deputy to step into the chief role.

Staff described the implementation as phased and monitorable; the council directed staff to prepare resident communications and to provide progress updates, with councilmembers requesting a six‑month check‑in on results and impacts.

The council also approved staff authority to draft public education materials explaining the change and to adjust implementation if the model proves ineffective.

The decision followed a presentation by staff and a series of questions from council members about costs, coverage and resident notification. The new duty‑crew arrangement will take effect as staff completes the implementation steps and coordinates with the incoming permanent fire chief.