A new three-year contract between the town and call firefighters provides financial incentive to those who respond to emergency calls often, officials say.
Fire Chief Thomas Daige said Monday under the deal - which the Board of Selectmen ratified last week - volunteer firefighters who do not respond to at least 50 percent of calls each month can have their stipend withheld.
“The contract gives me and the town flexibility to withhold or not give out their stipend if they don’t show up to enough calls,” he said.
The new rules create a greater penalty than under previous conditions, according to Daige, who said firefighters would have to pay a $5 fine for each emergency call they missed without being excused.