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Upton Select Board endorses Public Safety Transition Plan after fire chief’s staffing update
Summary
The Select Board unanimously endorsed a Public Safety Transition Plan after Fire Chief Bradley reported recent hires, training completions, and recommended internal promotions. The FY27 budget will include staffing requests to maintain two full‑time firefighter‑paramedics on duty.
On March 3, 2026, the Upton Select Board unanimously endorsed the town’s Public Safety Transition Plan after Fire Chief Bradley reported recent personnel changes and requested formal board support.
Chief Bradley told the board that the department’s SAFER grant application was not selected but that two new paramedics were hired and two firefighter–EMTs completed paramedic training. He said the department’s full‑time roster now includes six paramedics and one firefighter–EMT, and that additional staffing requests are included in the FY27 budget to support maintaining two full‑time firefighter‑paramedics on duty at all times.
Bradley also outlined the completion of a multi‑year Company Lieutenant promotional process that had been delayed by union negotiations and organizational discussions. He recommended promoting Captain Daniel Lazarz to Assistant Chief and filling funded Company Lieutenant positions with Call Firefighter/EMT Connor Schults and Fire Lieutenant Douglas Cook.
Member Brett Simas moved to endorse the Public Safety Transition Plan; Member Maureen Dwinnell seconded the motion, which Chair Laura Hebb noted was unanimous.
Board members expressed appreciation for Chief Bradley’s leadership through the department’s organizational transition. The endorsement means the Select Board has formally recorded its support; staffing and promotion details will be implemented according to departmental procedures and as funded in the FY27 budget.
The board’s action was a procedural endorsement rather than a personnel appointment vote; later implementation of recommended promotions and staffing rests with department hiring and any applicable collective‑bargaining processes.
