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Fire chief warns of steep overtime, equipment costs; consultant recommends paramedic-only model
Summary
Fire Chief Lutes told the joint Select Board and Finance Committee that severe summer staffing shortages mean projected FY27 overtime of $700,000–$750,000, rising apparatus replacement costs and potential ISO-rating impacts; Consultant Chief Wire recommended hiring dedicated paramedics using a fly-car ALS model.
Fire Chief Lutes reported to the joint Select Board and Finance Committee on March 24 that the Fire Department faces severe staffing shortages heading into the summer, leaving only 17 firefighters available for summer shifts and producing unavoidable overtime estimated at $700,000 to $750,000 for FY27.
"Severe staffing shortages leading to projected $700k-$750k overtime," Lutes stated, and he said annual call volume remains about 3,500 to 3,700 calls a year, driven largely by EMS responses. Lutes told the board that a fire prevention office has been started but one prevention officer is not adequate for long-term workload.
Lutes cautioned about rising equipment costs and lead times, saying a pumper replacement is now estimated at about $1 million and would carry a lead time of more than three years. He also flagged aging apparatus as a factor that could affect the department's ISO rating.
Consultant Chief Wire recommended a paramedic-only staffing model to address statewide shortages of firefighter-paramedics. "Paramedics would be integrated into EMS response using the fly car model, reducing burnout among firefighters and improving ALS coverage," Wire said. Lutes noted the department has already purchased a fly car and acquired an ARPA-funded monitor to support ALS readiness.
Lutes also reported about $70,000 in mutual-aid payments to neighboring towns this year, a material line in the FY27 outlook. The meeting record shows the Select Board adjourned later that evening at 7:37 p.m. following a motion by Select Board member Sean Kerrigan, seconded by Select Board member Mary Rose Dickhaut; a Select Board roll-call vote was recorded with all five Select Board members voting "Aye."
