Easton Board of Finance presses public-safety departments on staffing as EMS billing yields $212,000

The Easton Board of Finance spent the bulk of its March 3 meeting reviewing public-safety budgets and pressing department leaders on staffing levels and costs.

Chair Art Laske asked emergency services to increase reliance on volunteers — including college students — and to look for ways to reduce paid staffing costs. The board heard that EMS operations have benefited from recent facility renovations and a rise in volunteer participation. Jon Arnold reported on the renovated EMS building and volunteer growth; Art Laske said the town received an EMS billing payment last week for “over $212,000” and praised staff progress on collections and billing processes.

Police Chief Foti Koskinas outlined staffing shortages and “sick-day” pressures that are straining scheduling. He also described recent equipment upgrades, including vehicles, body cameras and communications hardware, and answered questions about speed cameras and signage. Schuyler Sherwood, chair of the Police Commission, said the region’s new dispatch system is scheduled to go live on May 11, 2026, and that the transition is on time and on budget.

Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director Rob Klem reviewed the fire marshal budget and discussed radio replacement timing and capital planning for fire apparatus. Board members questioned an increased stipend for the fire chief and raised concerns about sustaining a volunteer culture amid recruitment and retention pressures.

The meeting featured no formal changes to police, fire or EMS appropriations. Board members flagged several follow-ups for staff, including continued review of EMS billing collections and additional outreach on volunteer recruitment.

What’s next: the board scheduled a special meeting (March 5) to continue work on outstanding budget and agreement items; no final appropriation votes on public-safety budgets took place at the March 3 meeting.