PRINCETON: Consultant eyes paying firefighters

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   An analysis of fire department operations was presented to both governing bodies at a joint municipal meeting earlier this week.
   The fire department may eventually have to move toward a paid staff to supplement the volunteers, said William Kramer, a fire consultant who put the study together.
   ”This report is based on the heart and soul of the fire department,” he said. He explained that he looked at the department from the inside out to come to his conclusions.
   As of now, Princeton is holding its own with an all-volunteer company. Recruitment and retention efforts will be stepped up to get more volunteers and keep the ones already involved to stave off the need for paid personnel as long as possible, said Mark Freda, director of emergency services.
   A paid department would become necessary when call response drops calls 8 percent or when a call is received and not responded to in five minutes and mutual aid is called for, or a structure fire does not have a truck leaving in five minutes and on scene within 10 minutes.
   Cost of a paid department would almost be $1 million. At a salary of $60,000 per position, with four positions with four people for each position, costs come to a total of $960,000 for 16 people, according to the report.
   A per-diem cost of $15 per hour for existing volunteers could be a solution for ensuring response time and the pay could eliminate the stigma attached to the first incoming paid people taking volunteer positions.
   ”It is up to the existing volunteers to preserve their existence by handing off part of their job when service will be improved,” Mr. Kramer said.
   Per diem persons offer options for staffing besides a full-time paid staff at reduced costs. Per diem positions would be paid at $15 per hour. Four persons for one eight-hour shift every day would cost $175,200. An around-the-clock four person per diem staff would cost $525,600.