The Fire Department got the nod from selectmen to pursue a federal grant that will add four more firefighters/paramedics to its ranks.
Selectmen authorized Fire Chief Brian Legendre to apply for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response — also known as the SAFER grant.
Selectmen warned that after the grant funding is expended — the town might not be able to sustain the new positions. Legendre countered that he does not want to “lay off” staff and would look for ways of long-term retention of these positions
“The savings to the town over the three-year grant would be $473,600,” Legendre said. “This would be four much needed new positions for the department, and the department would be ‘fully staffed.’”
Legendre and town officials have been mulling over ways to better staff the department, which has been undermanned.