Freetown Boards Review Fire, Police Staffing and Solar Energy in Joint Budget Session

FREETOWN — April 26, 2023 — Freetown Select Board and Finance Committee reviewed police, fire, animal control, and building budgets in a joint session April 26. The Fire Department's chief made the case for two new firefighter-paramedic positions, noting that his primary ambulance is on pace for roughly 1,200 calls this fiscal year — up from 869 in fiscal year 2019 — while 54 percent of calls occur when only two personnel are on duty. Ambulance billing revenue has grown from $481,804 in fiscal year 2019 to a projected $800,000-plus for the current year. The outgoing police chief explained that a budget increase from roughly $2.4 million to $2.5 million is almost entirely contractual, and a per diem consulting line was added to allow him to train his successor — tentatively Sergeant Rose — after his retirement. The town administrator reported more than $25,336 already spent on police station repairs this fiscal year, driving a maintenance budget increase from $5,000 to $25,000, and said a May 4 meeting with a solar vendor is scheduled to explore panels for town buildings.