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SPENCER – The recent failure of the Proposition 2 ½ override means the fire department will likely lose its career personnel and night coverage, go back to either an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule on weekdays or 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, according to Fire Chief Robert Parsons.
Parsons discussed the impact to his department at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting on May 21.
The override question included a request for 368,390 to pay for four firefighters currently funded by a grant that expires in February 2027.
Parsons said he cannot apply to renew the funding because it was granted with the expectation the town would take over responsibility to pay for the firefighters in year four. It is also strictly to hire personnel and the town is supposed to maintain the department’s roster.
The fire chief said he anticipates five or six layoffs of full-time firefighters and the return to relying on call firefighters. That setup is difficult because the on-call people work out of town, there are fewer of them and response times will be slower because they must drive to the station, put gear on and then travel to the fire location. That is if they answer the call.
Parsons said he may retire. “When the layoff stuff comes about, I don’t want to be here when the fire department gets dismantled,” he said.
He added that it would be difficult to keep people, knowing their positions are going away in a year and a half.
Finding his replacement will not be easy either, Parsons said, noting that he loses pay annually because the price of health insurance keeps going up.
Employees pay 40% of their health insurance and the rate increases five to 10 percent per year, according to Town Administrator Jeff Bridges. “Salaries are unable to compensate and our ability to be competitive (for talent) is challenging.”
Selectman Ralph Hicks said they must respect the voters’ wishes but he feels they did not understand the fiscal dilemma the town is experiencing.
“I don’t want to go back to the yahoo days of the 80s or 90s where we had a part-time police force and other services that were Mickey Mouse,” Hicks said. “You have a low property tax but you get what you pay for.”
Hicks said the most important thing they do in town is public safety. “Everyone at some point is going to need an ambulance or a fire truck. Same thing with police. It’s guaranteed.”
He acknowledged that people have fears about tariffs and inflation but thinks they still want basic services.
“They don’t want a Cadillac but they want a good running Ford or Chevy,” Hicks added.
Selectman Jared Griggs said he believes “wholeheartedly,” in Spencer’s form of government. “It allows people to direct us in the way they want to and have a say.”
Of the override, he noted, “They spoke very clearly. It’s unfortunate and not something I agree with but that’s the way it goes.”
Parsons noted that several people he talked to did not vote, know there was an election in town the previous week and in general, are not interested in town politics.
Selectman Gary Woodbury said, “There is no excuse for not voting.”
Regionalization of dispatch considered
Woodbury brought up the idea of regionalization, which the town administrator said would start with the dispatch system.
The fire chief said he is in favor of regionalization but the key is getting other communities on board.
“Other towns are hurting for firefighters, other people,” Parsons said.
Further discussion centered on the possibility of joining Rutland’s regional dispatch center, which the fire chief said would be advantageous because every town gets a vote and Spencer’s dispatchers would get hired there if they so choose.
The state is encouraging towns to join existing centers rather than forming new ones. Centers in Webster, Holden and Dudley are less desirable because the member communities do not get a vote or say, Parsons explained.
He noted that a study was done regarding forming a group with Southbridge, Sturbridge and Charlton. The final report from Mission Critical was released this week.
There is also the possibility of a building in Auburn being used.
Meeting with FinCom, School Committee set
In other business, Bridges told the board he received a request from Superintendent Paul Haughey to meet on June 24 to discuss “an unsustainable budget going forward.”
Woodbury said the town had always stepped up to meet the state-mandated local contribution but “we have to live within our means.”
“I realize, short of an override, we don’t have money to give them,” said Hicks. “(But) Dr. Haughey’s job is to say what is best for the schools.”
He added that for Spencer and East Brookfield, there is “not going to be a white horse riding into town,” with money to resolve the budget situation.
