By James Downing
Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
TOWNSEND, Mass. — Debate over the proposed merger of the fire and EMS departments continued Monday, sparking sometimes heated discussions at a public hearing before the Board of Selectmen in town hall.
Selectmen had not decided whether to include the merger on the Nov. 14 special town meeting’s warrant by press time Monday.
Police Chief Erving Marshall said while he is not against a merger, the financial implications of one leave him with a few reservations.
“Are other departments going to be asked to cut their budgets?” Marshall asked. “Are we expecting more state aid? If one department is going to have to cut their budget to fund another, that doesn’t make sense to me.”
Selectman David Chenelle doubted Marshall’s suggestion that the police department’s budget might suffer in order to pay for the merged department.
“I don’t see if there’s a merger, why that would put the onus on the police department,” he said.
Finance Committee Chair Andrea Wood said the town has budget woes, regardless of whether a merger takes place, and all departments will have to carry the burden.
Fire Chief William Donahue said the immediate benefits to the town from a merger would be a more flexible staff and enhanced services.
Some members of the departments have started to cross-train, so they can work as both firefighters and EMTs.
Donahue discounted a flier that was recently passed around town. The flier alleged the merger was meant solely to allow the departments to unionize.
“There’s been no attempt or desire to be unionized,” he said. “And in fact, they could already be unionized.”
One EMT said he was tired of all of the negativity he had heard about the proposed merger.
Steven Gay said merging the departments would provide a greater sense of shared purpose and support.
“You don’t just go to a three-car accident with two dead people and have a cup of coffee afterwards,” Gay said. “It stays with you.”