The Newcastle Fire Company has responded to emergencies in Newcastle and our surrounding communities for over one hundred and thirty two years. We have done so without question and have operated under the guidance of our bylaws, some of which date back to our beginning, and to the high standards we have held for ourselves. We in the Newcastle Fire Company are proud of our beginning and are most grateful for the loyal support from the citizens of the Town of Newcastle.
The Fire Company has felt the pressures of the times and is feeling the demands from federal and state mandates and the ever increasing demands for our services, it is with hesitation that we have come to realize that we must make a big change in the operations of the Newcastle Fire Company.
After many meetings with the board of trustees and a supporting vote from the fire company members, we have decided that in order to maintain the level of service and alleviate the every day pressures on the fire company members, we must have someone in the fire station on a daily basis. The Newcastle Fire Company trustees and fire company members present have voted unanimously to hire a full time fire chief. This position will be filled by a person of Newcastle Fire Company choosing and will be paid through the operating budget of the Newcastle Fire Company, Inc.
There will be several advantages that will be realized by making this move. One of the most beneficial will be the taking of some of the daily work load off the firefighters, allowing them to better participate in ongoing training and to better manage their time for fire fighting, fire prevention and public assist activities. Another advantage will be better and more time appropriate maintenance on town and fire company equipment and fire stations, weekly vehicle checks, pump tests, monthly S.C.B.A. testing, hose testing and general maintenance, all of which are state and/or federally mandated activities. Other benefits will be having a person in house for grant writing, burning permit issuance, timely fire reporting, fund raising activities, training scheduling, inspections, and answering requests from town planning board and/or other town committees or boards.
For the year 2009, the Newcastle Fire Company has budgeted to hire a full time fire chief. This move will increase the overall budget by $23,118. This increase does not reflect the entire payroll for this position because of obvious savings in operations and some hourly decreases in payroll.
It is the hope of the Newcastle Fire Company that, with a person in this position, additional savings and more efficient operations can be realized in the years to come. Some other possible advantages may be some consolidation of services, a more expanded mutual aid system, and a better opportunity to find and secure more services on the county, state, and federal level to possibly ease duplication of services.
Since moving into a new fire station in 2001, the fire company has raised $383,000 through grants and fundraising activities and without adding any additional burden on local taxes. All of the money raised was spent on new equipment that is housed in the fire station and used daily on emergency and service calls in Newcastle and neighboring communities.
The job description for this position will include The Fire Company By Laws, The Town of Newcastle Fire Chief Job Description, State of Maine and Federally mandated requirements, and will be governed by the Newcastle Fire Company Inc. Board of Trustees.
(Submitted by the board of trustees of the Newcastle Fire Company, Casey Stevens, Chairman.)
