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Fire chief cites rising calls and SAFER grant as key to staffing plan
Summary
Fire Chief Ted Stranahan said calls exceed 900 annually and credited a SAFER grant (about $80,000 a year) with helping daytime staffing; he proposed per-call pay ($15) for volunteers and discussed inspection certification and potential shared services with neighboring towns.
Fire Chief Ted Stranahan told the committee that the department's calls have risen sharply: "There has been over 900 calls a year." He said a SAFER grant "is around 80,000 a year" and helps recruit and support personnel, particularly to cover daytime hours when volunteers are hardest to find.
Stranahan proposed several operational adjustments to improve coverage. He said certification for conducting fire inspections takes about three months and is difficult for volunteers who have full-time jobs; the committee discussed phasing inspections in one certified person per year. Stranahan also proposed a per-call stipend for volunteers, suggesting "$15.00 per call made," which he estimated would total about $46,500 using 2025 call volumes. He additionally proposed $10 per call for fire police and referenced guidance that "POSHA said there should be 18 firefighters at fire calls."
