Fire department requests two day‑shift hires to address overlapping calls; committee discusses timing

Assistant Fire Chief David Nadeau and fire leadership presented Article 15 asking for funding to add two firefighters to increase daytime staffing. Nadeau said the department has a rotating 24‑hour shift schedule and that daytime hours are the busiest; the request would add rotating day‑shift personnel so each station would reach an eight‑person daytime complement (four at each station).

Nadeau said call volumes have grown significantly compared with 2007 and that in 2024 about 52% of calls overlapped—meaning a second call arrived while personnel were already committed—resulting in increased mutual‑aid requests. He said the staffing request aimed to reduce reliance on mutual aid and to maintain response capability when multiple calls occur. Committee members asked about recruitment, pension and retirement impacts, and whether hiring three rather than two would better match minimum crew standards; presenters said the request focuses on day‑shift hires to match daytime demand and that union and retirement rules influence staffing options.

Committee members noted the town council did not recommend the article and asked the fire department to provide further justification and data at the public hearing. No committee vote was taken; the item will be on the ballot and discussed further in public testimony.