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Lynchburg council OKs $310,800 to start fire staffing assessment after debate over NFPA standard
Summary
After hours of debate over whether to require the consultant to compare findings to NFPA standards, Lynchburg City Council voted unanimously to appropriate up to $310,800 to fund a detailed staffing assessment, a civilian HR position and a sworn training coordinator for the fire department.
Lynchburg City Council voted unanimously June 23 to appropriate up to $310,800 from FY2027 contingency funds to pay for a detailed staffing assessment of the Lynchburg Fire Department, plus a full-time civilian human-resources leadership position and a full-time sworn training coordinator.
The finance-committee recommendation was summarized by Donna Witt, the city’s chief financial officer, who said the appropriation is written as “up to $310,800” to reflect hiring timing and the possibility that the full amount may not be required. "This addresses three recommendations that came out of that assessment," Witt said, describing the need for a staffing study, a civilian HR role and a dedicated training coordinator.
The request prompted extended debate after a council member (S2) moved to amend the ordinance to require that the consultant’s staffing assessment include a comparison to NFPA 1750, the National Fire Protection Association standard addressing organization and deployment of fire suppression and emergency medical services. Supporters of the amendment said the comparison would give council a measurable benchmark for staffing and deployment. "If the standard says we need more people, that information could be the difference between life or death," S2 said.
Opponents contended the amendment broadened the study beyond what the consultant recommended — a shift study — and risked imposing extra scope and cost without staff and department input. Several council members suggested approving the ordinance as presented and allowing staff and the incoming fire chief to review whether NFPA language should be included on the adoption vote scheduled in July.
Council voted down the NFPA amendment 3-4 and then approved the main motion 7-0 to move forward with the assessment and the two positions. Councilmembers said the NFPA-related language can be revisited as a supplemental item or at the forthcoming second vote once staff and the fire department have provided feedback.
The ordinance is an introduction and will return for formal adoption on the council’s next available meeting agenda, at which time council may consider any revised language or supplemental motions.
