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Bourne board backs FEMA SAFER grant application to restore four firefighter positions
Summary
The Bourne Select Board voted 5‑0 to support a FEMA SAFER grant application that would fund four firefighter EMT/paramedic positions (one per shift) for three years to restore around‑the‑clock engine staffing; the grant would cover about $1.1 million of an estimated $1.9 million project and require a local match of roughly $728,000.
The Bourne Select Board on June 9 authorized the fire department to apply for a U.S. FEMA SAFER grant to fund four firefighter EMT/paramedic positions, one for each shift, with the goal of restoring 24/7 dedicated engine staffing.
Fire Chief Dave Pali told the board the application responds to a sustained increase in emergency demand. "Over the past 20 years, emergency call volume has increased by approximately 54%," he said, adding that the department routinely faces multiple simultaneous incidents that strain available personnel. He described a three‑year grant proposal that would cost about $1.9 million in total, with FEMA covering roughly $1.1 million and a local match of about $728,000.
The chief said the additional positions are intended as a staffing bridge that the town would transition into the baseline model if the need and funding allow. He highlighted operational impacts when crews are committed to EMS transports or overlapping calls: "At three or more simultaneous calls, we begin to exhaust the on‑duty crew and require mutual aid and call back of off‑duty personnel to supplement," he said.
Select Board members voiced support for pursuing the grant while acknowledging longer‑term budget questions. MJ said the prior SAFER award had demonstrated both benefits and the need to plan for sustainability; she urged the town to consider multi‑year budget options if the grant is awarded. Board member Peter said residents will need to weigh the town’s willingness to fund permanent positions in the future, calling those conversations “uncomfortable but necessary.”
The board voted unanimously to support filing the SAFER application and for the chief to proceed. If awarded, the three‑year grant would provide a federal subsidy while town officials and staff plan for how to sustain the positions afterward through appropriate budget or revenue decisions.
Next steps: staff will submit the SAFER application and return to the Select Board with any award notifications and detailed budget implications for multi‑year planning.
