Fire Chief Larry Fisher says ambulance staffing shortfall may require override

Fire Chief Larry Fisher told the Merrimac Finance Committee on Feb. 3 that the town’s fire and ambulance services are strained by staffing shortfalls and that addressing them could require a budget override.

Fisher said retaining on‑call and per‑diem responders has become difficult because many move to higher‑paying, full‑time positions. For calendar year 2024 the department recorded $407,325.08 in ambulance revenue from 571 transports, yielding an average reimbursement of $713.36 per transport while he estimated the cost to respond at roughly $818 per call. He also identified a potential new revenue stream — described in the meeting as a Medicaid Supplement/Ambulance Certified Public Expenditure Program — that, if it holds up, would reimburse about $23,900.82 this year.

Fisher described operational constraints tied to licensing and mutual‑aid arrangements. The ambulance licensing requirement, he said, obliges the town to either staff ambulances 24/7/365 or have a formal agreement with another community; Merrimac’s current agreement is with Amesbury, which Fisher said has a call volume roughly three times Merrimac’s and is not always available to respond. He also cited mutual aid with Plaistow, Newton and Kingston and noted that mutual aid partnerships create joint grant‑seeking opportunities.

The chief flagged national standards and local response expectations as factors in staffing calculations. He noted NFPA guidance that fire engines and ladder companies should operate with a minimum of four firefighters and said Merrimac’s suburban classification — roughly 500–1,000 people per square mile, per his remarks — implies a need to assemble about 10 staff within 10 minutes. Fisher estimated that hiring four additional full‑time firefighters would add roughly $500,000 in annual cost, an amount the current budget could not absorb without voter approval through an override.

Fisher said the department would consider creative staffing options and that regionalization — a more structured partnership among neighboring towns — is being discussed as a feasible but budget‑dependent option. He framed the choice between local staffing increases and pursuing a regional model as ultimately driven by budget decisions and intermunicipal agreements.

The Finance Committee did not take a substantive vote on staffing at the meeting; discussion focused on the budget implications and potential next steps, including pursuing grants, evaluating the emerging Medicaid supplement reimbursement, and further study of regional arrangements. The committee adjourned by unanimous motion at the close of the session.