Council approves ordinance defining 'lift assist' responses and gives police, fire a tool to address misuse

The Watertown Common Council on April 6 adopted Ordinance 26-08, a measure that defines ‘‘lift assist’’ services and adds enforcement language intended to curb misuse of fire department responses. The action was taken on the ordinance’s second reading and carried on the council’s vote.

Alder (council) members and staff framed the change as clarification rather than a limit on routine assistance. Council member Berg asked whether the ordinance is intended to restrict appropriate assistance or to provide remedies when the service is abused; Berg referenced roughly 295 lift-assist calls last year as context for concerns about resource strain.

The Fire Chief said the department ‘‘has a lot of lift assist that we do in the community and we’re totally fine helping the citizens and folks as we need to. This is just defining it a little bit further as to, the abuse and stuff, the potential there. It’s giving us a tool that we can have if that happens.’’ The chief added that lift-assist responses can tie up engines and delay response to other emergencies, citing a recent West Main fire when an engine was delayed while crews handled a lift assist.

Council discussed a provision that, in justified cases of misuse involving a care facility, would allow the city to recover costs from the facility. Berg said he liked the provision in the draft that allows cost recovery to ‘‘help deter and discourage misuse.’’ The Fire Chief said the department still intends to assist residents as needed.

The ordinance, sponsored by Alder Davis and the Public Safety and Welfare Committee, passed on the council vote and was recorded as carried. The measure takes effect per ordinance rules and gives responders an additional enforcement option if lift-assist resources are being misused.

The council recorded the vote during the meeting; the ordinance passed and the clerk announced the motion carried.