Fire chief outlines staffing, aging apparatus and rising costs; Select Board asks for follow‑up

The interim fire chief informed the Select Board that the department has transitioned substantially from a volunteer/call model to a staffed model and that personnel and per‑diem costs have increased accordingly. The chief said the department added two full-time firefighter positions, a 32-hour EMS coordinator and additional administrative support since 2022, and that per‑diem wages and coverage levels also rose.

Staff described multiple operational concerns: aging apparatus (one engine around 15 years old with recurring repair costs), expensive parts-and-repair bills for heavy equipment (backhoe and dump truck repairs discussed), the need for catch-basin and guardrail work, and high call volumes with automatic mutual-aid dispatch to and from neighboring towns. The chief said the department currently operates with two persons on station 24/7 (the minimum for ambulance and response) and that three-person initial response would be preferable for many fire calls.

Board members questioned the newly created deputy chief position and whether the town should reclassify, eliminate or fill it; the chief said he had discussed downgrading the job to lieutenant or captain to reduce cost and to meet operational needs, but the board noted that eliminating a funded position requires formal action. The Select Board did not adopt final budget cuts at the meeting and asked the chief and staff to return with more detail on personnel costs, vehicle maintenance estimates, and options (including possible warrant approaches) to ensure public safety while staying within budget constraints.