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Fayetteville board approves probationary firefighter/EMT hire amid staffing concerns
Summary
Board approved hiring an EMT into a probationary firefighter/EMT role to provide staffing flexibility for EMS and fire operations; the board discussed an estimated $14,000 annual pension cost and long-term retention benefits versus recruitment uncertainty.
The Fayetteville Village Board voted to hire an EMT into a probationary firefighter/EMT position intended to give the department flexibility to fill both EMS and fire shifts. The motion, moved from the floor and seconded, specified a starting wage package presented by a trustee that included a probationary period and stepped pay once paramedic certification is achieved.
In discussion, the fire official outlined expected fiscal impacts, saying the primary recurring cost would be an estimated $14,000 annually tied to pension contributions. Board members and the official framed the hire as a retention strategy amid declining volunteer numbers and difficulties filling shifts. A member who had overseen a similar hire previously described it as “an insurance policy” for continuity of coverage and urged the board to approve the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote.
The official noted the hire could be revisited annually and that the department will continue recruitment efforts for additional candidates. The board recorded the motion and adopted the employment action; specific personnel records and civil-service documentation will be completed through the village’s personnel process.
