Newton board approves biometric narcotics safes for ambulances and pay step for firefighter

The Board of Selectmen on Feb. 3 approved a purchase of two biometric narcotics safes for the town ambulances and authorized a step pay increase for firefighter/EMT Brian Parker.

Chief (Newton Fire Department) described the safes as biometric with individual pin codes so “we will know who opens it, who closes it, when it's open. It has date and time stamp all the way down,” and said one unit is intended for each ambulance. The board approved Purchase Order 26-01, payable to Medsafe Company, for $4,789 to be paid from the Fire & Rescue ambulance program fund (ending in 4396). The motion was made by Joe and seconded by Dan and passed unanimously by roll call.

The chief also announced that Brian Parker earned national Firefighter I and II certifications and that his status had changed from EMT to firefighter/EMT. The board voted to increase Parker’s hourly pay from $20.00 to $21.50 based on that certification, effective the next pay period; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

The chief earlier gave the department’s January activity report, listing 26 dispatches for the month across categories including building fires, EMS responses (including motor-vehicle accidents), smoke scares and mutual-aid calls with neighboring towns. He told the board the department had assisted Kingston, East Kingston, Atkinson and other nearby departments on multiple incidents during January.

The board’s actions on the supply purchase and personnel step were handled as separate motions and recorded by roll call; both passed unanimously. The chief asked that congratulations be passed along to Parker for his certifications and service.