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Montgomery Township board authorizes manager to seek consultant for proposed transition to paid 24/7 fire staffing
Summary
After weeks of discussion and public comment, the board voted to authorize staff to solicit consultant proposals and directed the chief to prepare a budget assuming new hires to transition toward expanded career fire staffing. Residents and volunteer firefighters were sharply divided over urgency vs. a third-party study.
Montgomery Township supervisors voted to authorize the township manager to solicit proposals from independent consultants to assess a proposed expansion of the township’s fire services and to proceed with budget preparations as if additional paid hires will be included.
The move follows weeks of debate and a lengthy public-comment period in which residents and volunteer firefighters urged both caution and urgency. Resident Eric Pelletier said the proposal’s goal—improving response times and safety—was sound but argued: "I fully I fully support that township needs, fire protection and safety." Volunteer Lieutenant Rachel Bridal, who said she often arrives on calls understaffed, told the board: "I am begging you to please consider the health and safety of all of the members of this township because that is your responsibility." Deputy Chief Vinay Sarri urged faster action: "The safety of the residents is number 1."
Why it matters: the chief’s proposal would shift to larger paid staffing levels that the board and staff say will reduce understaffing and improve response, but it also carries long-term costs that would affect property-tax rates. Multiple supervisors said they want a better forecast for facilities, long-range operating costs and the phased-versus-all-at-once question before final budget votes. Supervisor comments repeatedly raised the need to clearly present tax impacts for year 1 and subsequent years.
What the board decided: the board gave staff direction to obtain three consultant proposals (scope, price and schedule) and authorized the manager to move forward, within board-set parameters, to select and execute an agreement if the cost and scope align with that direction. Staff said an initial consultant turnaround was estimated at two to three months and that the township has funds in this year’s consultant line. The motion carried with a majority; one supervisor registered dissent during the roll call on the floor.
Public input and staff notes: dozens of residents and volunteer department members addressed the board at the meeting. Multiple speakers called for an independent review to validate staffing assumptions and forecast multi-year financial impacts; others—on the front lines—expressed that volunteers are exhausted and pressed for immediate hiring. Staff said they will continue preparing the budget as if hires will be added so budget materials are ready for the upcoming cycle and that the manager will return with cost estimates, firm proposals and a recommended scope.
Next steps: staff will request proposals from three firms, present cost and time-frame estimates to supervisors and may be authorized to execute an agreement subject to the majority’s approval or subsequent ratification. The board scheduled live public outreach (a town hall was noted as upcoming) and indicated the budget workshop and the formal advertisement and adoption timeline will follow the usual municipal budget cycle.
