CHARLEMONT — As they await the approval of legislation that would allow Charlemont and Rowe to create a joint fire district, the two towns’ Selectboards have agreed to proceed with hiring a shared chief following the retirement of Chief Dennis Annear next spring.
The towns will be looking to hire a full-time chief, who would split their time between Charlemont and Rowe, for $70,000 to $80,000, pending approval from Town Meeting voters. The new chief would take over both towns’ departments after Annear retires and would manage both departments until the regional fire district goes into effect.
“We have been meeting for the last three years back and forth with Rowe about the Fire Department and fire chief, and the possibility of sharing emergency services in general, but starting with fire,” Charlemont Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds said. “We did the fire district legislation vote at Town Meeting … but there’s a lapse between when the fire district legislation could pass, even with both towns approving it and getting set up, and when Dennis has to be done.”
Reynolds explained that the two towns currently have separate fire departments, but share a fire chief. They also often share equipment and training.
Charlemont Town Meeting voters unanimously agreed in May to petition the Legislature to pass the bill. Rowe voters also agreed with a voice vote.
Reynolds told the Selectboards that, based on how long it took legislation allowing Annear to work up to age 68 to pass, she anticipates the bill to create a joint fire district will likely pass late next year.
According to Corinne Coryat, staff director with Rep. Natalie Blais’ office, the bill was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.
The bill outlines the operational structure, oversight and finances of the district, and explains that it will be managed by a five-member board of commissioners, with members being elected from each town. The district will not be funded as part of the towns’ budgets, but through a separate tax assessed to residents.
Selectboard members said it may be difficult to find a qualified candidate who would be willing to take on the role, knowing that in a year, the job will change and the two separate departments will become a single regional district. However, they still need a fire chief to manage the two departments until the shared district can take effect.
“I want to do this,” Charlemont Selectboard Co-Chair Jared Bellows said. “I think it’s the only option we have.”
“This is something we have to do,” Charlemont Selectboard member Wilder Sparks added.
Reynolds and Rowe Town Administrator Brooke Shulda said they would reach out to different fire chiefs in the county and ask them what made their position appealing, and do additional research with the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. They added that they would also come up with more concrete numbers, as the position could cost between $70,000 and $80,000, split between the two towns, but they have not yet gotten figures for health insurance costs and benefits that would add to that total.
“The biggest issue is going to be the expense,” Rowe Selectboard Chair Joanne Semanie said. “We’ll be doing what we have been doing except it’s going to be more hours and more money.”
Both Selectboards voted unanimously to proceed with hiring a joint fire chief, pending approval of the budget by Town Meeting voters.
“Every single thing we looked at, this seemed like the most reasonable, the most cost-effective, and it will give us the best service we can afford,” Bellows said.