Hanson Fire Department Seeks Override for Staffing Increase
Fire Chief cites rising call volume, multiple emergencies as reasons for adding fifth firefighter per shift
HANSON - February 11 - Hanson Fire Chief Robert O'Brien presented a case to the Select Board Tuesday night for a staffing increase that would add a fifth firefighter to each shift, citing a rise in call volume and multiple simultaneous emergencies.
The proposed override would cost taxpayers approximately $82.54 annually or $20.64 per quarter, O'Brien said.
"We are having a staffing issue," O'Brien told the board. "We get around it, we think people sit home and once they hear the siren, everybody starts calling."
O'Brien said the department currently staffs four firefighter paramedics per shift, 365 days a year. He noted that 46% of the time in 2024, multiple calls were happening simultaneously, and that percentage is tracking even higher so far in 2025.
"Time is muscle if it's a heart attack. It's a huge issue if you're at a fire and it's just one of you," O'Brien said.
The chief cited several recent incidents where staffing was stretched thin, including two fires where only one call firefighter arrived with the engine. He also mentioned a person injured in the woods that required six responders to extract.
O'Brien is seeking $344,000 for the override, which would cover salaries and benefits for the additional staffing. He said the town has approximately 4,378 residential and commercial tax bills that would be impacted.
The fire department currently brings in about $800,000 annually from ambulance billing, with over $700,000 of that used to fund department operations, according to O'Brien.
He argued the staffing increase would allow quicker response times for second ambulance calls and potentially generate additional revenue, though likely not enough to fully cover the override cost.
O'Brien plans to hold informational coffee meetings with residents and an open house in April to explain the proposal further before it potentially goes to voters.
Select Board members were generally receptive to the idea, though some expressed concerns about the financial impact on residents.
In other business, the board debated submitting an MBTA Community Action Plan to secure over $300,000 in state grants for town projects.
Town Administrator Lisa Green said the grants include $237,000 for environmental cleanup at the Light Control property and $70,000 for permitting work on town-owned land in the industrial park.
However, submitting the plan would indicate the town's intention to comply with MBTA zoning requirements, which has been controversial locally.
After discussion, the board voted 3-1 to submit the action plan by the Feb. 13 deadline to maintain interim compliance and eligibility for the grants.
Board member Ed Heal voted against, saying he couldn't "in good conscience" support the move.
Other items from the meeting:
- The board approved deficit spending for snow and ice removal due to recent storms depleting the budget.
- Highway Director Richard Jasmin received approval to enter a state-funded program to make an intersection at County Road, West Washington Street and Holmes Street an all-way stop.
- The board dissolved the Private Road Oversight Committee and Street Safety and Development Committee, with those duties now falling under the highway director.
- A business summit hosted by the Economic Development Committee was announced for Feb. 27 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Camp Kiwanee.
Does the Hanson FD ascribe to the 4 on an engine “rule”. Did mutual aid assist in the mentioned calls. Is he saying 3 calls is sufficient to add a FTE to the career firefighters staff? Please question and ask for real data and not anecdotal stories.