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Norwich moves to a unified fire command amid council debate over volunteer roles
Summary
City Manager John Salomon announced a citywide unified command structure for Norwich fire services; council members and the mayor debated its timing, costs and effects on volunteer departments.
Norwich City Manager John Salomon told the City Council on Aug. 18 that the city has established a unified command structure to integrate career and volunteer fire personnel, aiming to standardize training, communications and emergency response protocols across Norwich.
The proposal drew sharp debate during the meeting. Mayor Pierre Robert Nystrom said he opposed the decision and called it “rushed,” noting a February 1, 2023 referendum he said rejected a similar policy. "I don't agree with it. I think it was wrong," the mayor said during council discussion. He warned the change could lead to higher costs and diminished volunteer participation based on experiences in other towns.
The report from the city manager described the unified command as a way to create “a single chain of command, consistent operating guidelines” and to define expectations for response times,…
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