Hopkinton News : Fire Department

Hopkinton Selectmen appoint full-time fire chief

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:09:00 GMT

At a recent Hopkinton selectmen meeting, part-time Fire Chief Richard Schaefer was appointed full-time acting fire chief. He will assume the full-time duties July 13.

Schaefer has been a member of the Hopkinton Fire Department and ambulance squad for 30 years. He served as the part-time chief in 1999 and also served as full-time facilities director for the Hopkinton School District since 1999.

The full-time deputy fire chief position has been vacant since the retirement of John Pianka. Funding will be transferred to support the full-time acting chief’s salary. Two part-time call firefighters with the deputy chief designation will assist Schaefer with command and administrative duties.

The total 2009 budget for the Fire Department remains unchanged.

Private ambulance service for Hopkinton under review

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:20:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Supporters of the Hopkinton ambulance service crowded Town Hall during a recent selectmen’s meeting after getting word that board members were considering privatizing the department.

About 40 emergency service personnel and department supporters came to the Monday, July 14, meeting after selectmen decided to discuss whether that move could potentially save money out of the budget.

“I don’t think it’s any big surprise that all towns are looking to balance budgets given costs and increases,” said Selectmen Chairman Scott Flood. “Fuel is going to triple, and the cost of supplies has gone up, including salt.”

As a result, Flood said board members are looking to find any ways to lower the budget, and the ambulance service is one of those areas they are looking at.

“This Board of Selectmen is trying to look at all the processes the town participates in and validate whether we’re getting the best value for the dollar we’re spending,” said Flood. “It’s our obligation for the taxpayer dollar.”

Fire Chief Rick Schaefer, who is also in charge of the ambulance service, said he felt blind-sided by the discussion, as he was not consulted prior to the meeting.

Schaefer read that the ambulance service would be on the agenda for the meeting, and heard what the discussion would be about.

“I asked three questions at the meeting, and didn’t really get answers on all of them,” he said. “Why wasn’t I consulted? What are they trying to accomplish? Finally, I just wanted to know where they were at in the process.”

In addition, Schaefer said the comparisons to town EMT services and privatized service are difficult to make.

“It isn’t comparing apples to apples,” said Schaefer. “I can’t stress enough that the ambulance workers we have are more than that, they are also certified career-level firefighters. We count on them. They know if there’s a fire, they will be some of the first people in there.”

Flood said the budget discussions are not meant to be geared at only the ambulance service.

“The ambulance service is one piece, and we’re looking at a bunch of other stuff,” he said. “Once we get that information, we will see if there are areas that make sense. It’s not like we’re sitting down and saying we want to do that. It’s the reality of it. The economy -- we have an unprecedented downturn facing us. I personally believe it will get much worse before it gets better.”

Selectmen are receiving bids from private services, and will assess the decision.

“It sounds like when they get the bids in, I will get called down and we’ll look at them. That’s how I took it to see what’s what,” said Schaefer.

Schaefer said the ambulance services currently cost the town less than $100,000 for 365 days of 24-hour coverage.

Schaefer also said he was glad to see the high turnout of support at the meeting, even from those not involved with the department.

“I think the board now obviously understands that we’re very concerned and want to be included,” said Schaefer. “There were past members on hand and people who have used the service with otherwise no connection at all.”

Flood said the budget discussions are for the benefit of Hopkinton residents.

“You’ve got to be proactive and look at these things to see how we’re going to plan so we don’t have to double or triple the tax bills,” he said. “There are people who are concerned about it. We’re looking very hard at the things the town is doing to see where we can economize and work smarter with the dollars we get, instead of simply wasting them.”

Hopkinton Fire chief asks for a full-time EMT/firefighter

Bow Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:50:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

After six members of his department left in September, Hopkinton Fire Chief Rick Schaefer is now looking for the town to approve money for a new full-time paramedic.

During a Monday, Jan. 7, selectmen meeting, Schaefer asked board members to bring a warrant article to voters, saying he needs the extra position to keep ambulance services running smoothly.

Selectmen voted 5-0 to present the article at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 15. The draft version of the warrant article asks, “to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $52,846 and authorize the Fire Department ambulance to recruit and hire an additional full-time paramedic/firefighter.”

Currently, the department includes five full-time ambulance workers, seven total for the department. The department is structured so that Monday through Thursday evenings are covered by on-call workers, who need to be within three miles of the station between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Schaefer said the new position is a necessity for his department to continue providing reliable services to the town.

“I can’t guarantee the ambulance is going to go all the time without this position. It would be delayed, and it would come from another town,” he said. “Without this, we would be relying on mutual aid for night calls. We still have some dedicated people, but some people do it for so long that they don’t necessarily want to do it any more.”

Schaefer would ideally like to ask for one more full-time position at some point in the future.

“My job is to provide service 24 hours a day, and this is the only way to do that. If this (warrant article) goes through, the next time we ask for one, the department will be 24/7. It gives me a lot more resources,” said Schaefer. “Hopefully, it will go through, and last for a long time.”

The biggest issue is finding people willing to volunteer, a problem many fire and ambulance departments are having around the country, said Schaefer.

“The problem is that no matter what area it’s in, people just aren’t necessarily able to find the time to volunteer as much lately,” he said. “I’ve discussed this issue with people and gone to seminars. Not that it makes you feel any better about it, but it’s a problem people are having everywhere.”

If the warrant article is approved, it would include a salary of about $33,000, with the remainder of the $52,846 made up of benefits, uniforms and other items.

Hopkinton’s Town Meeting is Saturday, March 15, at Hopkinton High School, beginning at 9 a.m.