The fire department’s third quarter report for 2024, delivered by Chief Meer, revealed a substantial 9% rise in call volumes compared to the previous year, with nearly 3,000 calls to date. A notable portion of these, around 65%, were emergency medical service calls. Chief Meer highlighted that the increase in overlapping incidents, where multiple calls occur simultaneously, presented ongoing challenges for the department. One day saw four calls within 10 minutes. The department is exploring collaborations to manage frequent calls from facilities like Kingsley Shore, a local care home.

In response to the increasing demand and with the aid of a SAFER grant, the fire department is set to hire 15 full-time firefighters. The recruitment process is underway, with interviews planned for later in the year. The newly hired firefighters are expected to begin training by mid-February and start covering trucks by late April to early May of 2025. This strategic hiring is a step in ensuring the department can effectively manage its growing workload and maintain its focus on reliability and professionalism.

Furthermore, the fire department is engaged in community safety initiatives. In October, recognized as fire prevention month, they reached approximately 1,000 kindergarteners and fourth graders across 14 schools. The department also participated in National Night Out and organized a waffle breakfast that served over 2,000 plates, fostering community engagement. As part of its recruitment efforts, the department started a training class for paid on-call firefighters, with seven recruits currently in training.

The council meeting also addressed changes in the state’s billing process for daycare and foster home inspections. The new requirement for cities to apply for funds post-inspection, rather than receiving direct payments, has prompted some cities to reconsider their participation in the inspection process. The council voiced concerns over the state’s ability to handle additional responsibilities, highlighting the potential impact on local inspection efforts.

On the financial front, the council unanimously approved a consent agenda item for a $100,000 grant from the Department of Public Safety. This grant is intended to reimburse training costs for police officers transitioning from non-traditional career paths.

Additionally, the council discussed the Special Service District No. 1, which has not levied a service charge since 2018. The advisory board recommended maintaining the charge at zero for the upcoming budget year. After opening the floor for public comments and receiving none, the council moved to approve the resolution with unanimous consent, deciding to keep the service charge unchanged.