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Personnel Board approves temporary per-diem paramedic to support ALS transition
Summary
The Concord Personnel Board voted to add a per-diem paramedic classification to the miscellaneous compensation schedule to help the town transition to ALS service; staff said the program was funded largely by a FEMA grant and the town will recruit experienced paramedics at roughly $40'045/hour (no benefits) to precept newly trained staff.
The Concord Personnel Board on June 10 approved adding a per-diem paramedic classification to the miscellaneous compensation schedule to support the town's planned transition to Advanced Life Support (ALS) service.
Chief Whitney, who briefed the board on the plan, said the ALS program "was significantly funded through a FEMA grant, just under 1,000,000 dollars," and that grant dollars were used to train existing employees from basic levels up to paramedic certification. Chief Whitney added the town needs experienced paramedics to act as preceptors while newly trained medics gain field competency.
Board members discussed operational and compensation details. Staff said the per-diem role would be limited (roughly a one-year period) and would not include benefits; the proposed pay range discussed in the meeting was approximately $40 to $45 per hour to attract experienced preceptors. Chief Whitney described the role as both a training function and a stopgap to "maintain a continuous 24/7 ALS coverage during the transition," noting the town currently has four experienced paramedics who can serve as preceptors but expects more will be needed as newly certified medics come online.
A motion to add the per-diem paramedic position to the miscellaneous compensation schedule was made and the board approved the change by voice vote with five affirmative votes. The board asked staff to note the action in the minutes and to provide comparable-pay documentation to the personnel board packet upon request.
The action authorizes recruitment for temporary, experienced paramedics whose duties will focus on precepting and stabilizing ALS coverage until newly trained town employees meet competency benchmarks. Staff said the town will reassess staffing needs after the transition period.
