North sounds budget alarm
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 2:19 AM EDT
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Proposed staffing cuts to the fire department will mean longer response times as staffing of the town's second ambulance is reduced and occasional rolling closures of fire stations become necessary, Fire Chief Peter Lamb said on Tuesday.
While the figures are not yet solid, Lamb said the department is facing cuts of between $400,000 to $500,000 out of its $4.5 million annual budget for the coming fiscal year. As many as six firefighters could be laid off to make up that money, and another vacant position will not be filled.
The fire department has 60 employees currently, counting its administrative and secretarial staff. "Next to the school department, we are losing the largest number of people," Lamb said. "The fire department is taking a significant hit. This is the worst economy I've ever seen, and I realize that cuts have to be made. My concern is these cuts are too deep."
Since the firefighters with less seniority will be laid off, the department will be losing individuals who serve as both firefighters and paramedics.
In addition to the staff losses, Lamb said he has reduced overtime by the equivalent of two and a quarter positions.
The fire department currently runs with 11 firefighters on duty, separated amongst the three stations. He optimum level for staffing in North Attleboro is 13 - though national recommendations for a community of North Attleboro's size is 17.
"With the reduction in overtime, I'm going to be restricted when firefighters are out sick or on vacation and we won't always be able to have 11 people on duty," Lamb said. "We will have some rolling station closures on an as needed basis depending on our staffing levels."
Lamb - who declined to take a pay raise in both 2009 and 2010, said he and Deputy Chief Michael Brousseau have been working diligently to search the budget for other areas to make cuts. However, the department was already very lean.
"I don't want to portray this as a scary situation but it certainly is a concern," he said. "Some departments that are getting cuts are seeing a reduced workload but we will still have the same amount of runs. It's not something that is based on the economy. I just want people to know what we're facing."
The loss of staff will likely mean slightly longer response times for emergencies, especially when multiple calls come in at once and the department needs to rely on mutual aid from other communities for assistance.
"We get 10 to 12 calls for service each day. That means that every two hours a North Attleboro resident has an emergency. With these cuts, those residents may have to wait a little longer for an Attleboro or Plainville ambulance to show up," he said.
Lamb has asked the town to reconsider some of the cuts to his budget, but said reconsideration was declined in part because it is too early for firm numbers to be available. The town is still hoping to negotiate some concessions with town unions to help improve the budget situation and state aid figures are not yet finalized.
AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at
ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.
