Fire & Rescue Department Study

I want to take this opportunity to update you on the Fire & Rescue Department and a comprehensive study on which we will be working through the summer and into the fall. 

We have published a request for proposals for a qualified consultant to assist the Town with a comprehensive review and analysis of the Truro Fire & Rescue Department in order to evaluate the current capabilities and needs of the Department and to develop a plan, including recommendations for the short-term and long-term operations and organizational structuring of the Department. The Truro Fire and Rescue Department has long been staffed by on-call paid volunteers and managed by a paid Fire Chief.  The Fire Chief was supervised by a Board of Fire Engineers.  In 2013, the citizens of Truro voted to eliminate the Board of Fire Engineers.  That structure now will be replaced by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 48 sec 42A, the so-called “weak Chief statute,” whereby the Chief and Department are under the direction of the Board of Selectmen. 

The Board of Selectmen see this change as an opportunity to examine fully the provision of fire and rescue services in the Town and the organizational structure of the department.  The purpose of this process is to answer critical questions related to the provision of essential fire and rescue services in order to inform and guide the Board of Selectmen as they address the future organizational structuring of the Department and delivery of fire and rescue services. 

Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee

In June, the Board of Selectmen created a Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee.  The consultant will work in conjunction with the Advisory Committee to gather and analyze data, and then the consultant will make final recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on the future delivery of services and the organizational structuring of the Truro Fire & Rescue Department.

The charge of the Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee reads as follows:

Selectmen’s Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee

The objective of the Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee is to advise the Truro Board of Selectmen (BOS) on the future organizational structuring of fire and EMS services.  The BOS will appoint a Chair and four to six members with diverse experiences and expertise.  Members will be drawn from current and former Truro Fire & Rescue Volunteers and Truro citizens with expertise in public safety and/or organizational development. The Advisory Committee will work in conjunction with a consultant hired by the BOS to undertake a comprehensive review and analysis of the Truro Fire & Rescue Department.  The purpose of this process is to answer critical questions related to the provision of essential fire and rescue services in order to inform and guide the Board of Selectmen as they address the future organizational structuring of the Department and delivery of fire and rescue services.  The charge of the Advisory Committee will include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

Gather and analyze relevant data including prior studies and reports by consultants to help answer key questions related to the future of the Truro Fire & Rescue and to inform decision-making and to make recommendations to the BOS. Data includes but shall not be limited to:

  1. Retrospective and current data on the number and types of calls on an annual and monthly basis.
  2. Comparisons to other towns who have similar populations, call types, and volumes.
  3. Analysis of different models of structure and management for departments in similar communities with comparative call types and volume.
  4. Projections of future call types and volume based on expected or anticipated changes in the population and composition of Truro’s seasonal and year-round populations.

Based on the data and the expertise of the consultant, Committee membership, and relevant key players examine the pros and cons of different models for the Department (e.g. call versus staffed, part-time versus full-time, etc...) Make a recommendation to the BOS of the best model suited to the needs of the Town of Truro. 

By November 30th, develop positions and job descriptions needed to manage the day-to-day operations of Truro Fire & Rescue services.

Develop a Job Description and qualifications for the position of Fire Chief.

Develop Job Description(s) for other recommended personnel.

Identify ways to increase and retain volunteers, including strategies for providing compensation (such as health insurance) for qualified and active volunteers.

Recommend ways to provide effective training at times and locations convenient for volunteers.

Identify ways to collaborate more closely or regionalize with neighboring towns in training, staffing, and provision of fire and EMS services.

As part of the data collection process the Committee will hold at least one public hearing prior to making recommendations to the BOS.  The timeline will be to select the consultant by the end of August, begin work in earnest after Labor Day, and to have a final report and recommendations no later than December 15, 2013.  This will allow us to include any necessary Town Meeting action or budget changes in time for the 2014 Annual Town Meeting.

Appointments to the Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee should be made within the next few weeks.  That group will be involved in evaluating the proposals we receive for consulting services and the selection of the consultant.  I will keep you updated as we move through the process.  We also plan a number of public meetings to solicit input from the public and to present preliminary and final findings of the study.

Summer Fun

Have a happy and safe 4th of July.  And don’t forget to visit the Farmers' Market every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to noon in Truro Center.  http://www.sustainablecape.org/

Also, the Concert Committee has a full lineup on performers on the Green (Snow’s Park) every week, starting on Friday, July 5th with Magic on the Street, then continuing every Thursday through the end of August.

Our Recreation and Beach Programs are in full swing.  For information, please click on: http://www.truro-ma.gov/recreation/

And don’t forget … you can pay for Beach Stickers and Recreation Programs with your credit card!

Sincerely,

Rex Peterson
Town Administrator
townadm@truro-ma.gov
(508) 349-7004, ext 10