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Safety Board hears staffing shortfalls; chiefs propose part-time firefighter-paramedic hires as stopgap
Summary
Safety Board and fire leadership described growing staffing pressures, presented 21-day staffing outlooks showing recurring mandatory vacancies, and proposed hiring up to six part-time firefighter-paramedics to reduce mandatory overtime and expand training capacity; councilors and board members discussed funding, timelines and long-term staffing needs.
Fire department leaders told the Safety Board on April 26 that the department is facing staffing shortages that are producing repeated mandatory coverage days and reducing capacity for training.
Chief Gibbons and department staff presented 21-day staffing outlooks showing multiple days with mandatory shortfalls. The department reported three operational firefighters currently unavailable because of off-duty injuries and said two vacancies cannot be filled until January because of training timelines. The department expects six recruits to graduate in June; in the near term, leaders proposed hiring up to six part-time firefighter-paramedics (two per shift) as a stopgap to reduce mandatory overtime and create opportunities for incumbent staff to pursue training.
Board members asked about funding and remedies if coverage remains low. Chief leadership said they will reallocate existing departmental funds where possible and return budget proposals during the town’s budget process; they also described coordination with the union and use of hiring lists and a paramedic-only hiring process. The board emphasized the ongoing nature of staffing challenges and the need to monitor trends as recruits complete training and part-time staffing is deployed.
