MEDWAY, Maine — Town leaders are considering consolidating fire departments with East Millinocket, town Administrative Assistant Kathy Lee said Wednesday.
East Millinocket Fire Chief Les Brown will give a presentation to leaders of both towns on Jan. 9.
Consolidating the towns’ fire departments, Lee said, is among several options the Board of Selectmen is considering. Selectmen also may continue the hiring process they began when Medway Fire Chief John Lee — no relation to Kathy Lee — retired last month after more than 30 years, she said.
Six people have applied for the position, which offers a $4,000 annual stipend plus an hourly wage during training, Lee said.
The board appointed Adam Brackett as the town’s interim fire chief shortly after Chief Lee’s retirement. Kathy Lee declined to say whether Brackett is among the applicants. The application process “is on hold until we get done with East Millinocket,” Lee said.
Originally proposed by Selectman David Dickey, the idea has several benefits, East Millinocket and Medway leaders say. It could help alleviate chronic problems recruiting volunteer firefighters and offset East Millinocket’s problems recruiting younger members, according to minutes of the Nov. 28 meeting, one of three meetings at which selectmen discussed the idea.
East Millinocket now has about 20 volunteers — down from 35 several years ago, Brown said. Brown said he could see the idea saving money, but only with some equipment purchases. He would want to keep the departments in their present stations and keep their budgets separate, the minutes state.
Clint Linscott, chairman of East Millinocket’s Board of Selectmen, said he loves the idea of consolidating departments and prefers to see more such efforts in the Katahdin region. East Millinocket, Medway and Millinocket successfully combined recreation departments and a regional economic development board that disseminates about $75,000 annually to businesses in the region, he said. East Millinocket and Medway have combined police and schools, he added.
“We have had some really good successes with that,” Linscott said Wednesday.
But Medway firefighters told selectmen during their Dec. 5 meeting that they believed they exceeded East Millinocket in firefighter training and that communication problems had hampered both departments during several mutual aid efforts. Selectmen have encouraged the two departments to work out their differences, meeting minutes state.
Selectmen will meet Jan. 3 to discuss whether to continue the consolidation talks and prepare for the Jan. 9 meeting, Lee said.
Brown is on vacation this week, firefighters at the station said Wednesday.
“successfully combined recreation departments” Now that one is certianly open to interpretation. I know it cost Millinocket big bucks.
That’s why Millinocket should go to the Select person form of government.The tax payers have the final say. I remember when the rec departments combined. The majority of the people in Millinocket did not want this to happen but, the Town Council went ahead and did it anyway. It is nice to live in a town where the taxpayers have the final say.
The overall view, what is going to be the best for your town/city? The most important detail is the cost, to all involved in this project. From my point of view, the cost is not there for a savings. It might sound like a great deal in the beginning, after you open your eyes towns will lose ownership and all control. The smallest town, like Medway, will lose their fire department, but their cost will increase for their part in the regional department. After the larger departments take over, small departments will lose their equipment and be moved to the larger departments. Once Medway loses their firefighters, their station and their equipment, they will never get their fire department back. They will get a bill and only fire services that are required by law, what someone else thinks you need by law. As a Medway resident, I do not want to see this happen.
Not only that it is up to the townspeople,not the Select board.There always has been friction between Medway and Les. If they combine I am afraid the Medway firefighters will quit. It was this way back when I was on the fire department.
You are right Lee. When the Medway station closes I would hate to live on Turnpike or down near Salmon stream. Everyones homeowners insurance will go up as well.
“…retired last month after more than 30 years, she said.” 30 years doing what? Chief? No. Firefighter? Maybe.
This will cost Medway more than they will save. Just look at the statement from Les, “Brown said he could see the idea saving money, but only with some equipment purchases.”
In other words, “we need a new truck so let’s get Medway to buy it for us”.
I think it would be the best idea to combined these to departments.
After The past fire Chief left Medway member has spend alot of money on
things not needed. The town Of Medway has the wrong person in at Fire
chief. Fire chief Brown would run these town better the inter Chief
Brackett can. Just hope the town of Medway does this before he runs that
department into the ground. For every one in the town of Medway and East Millinocket back the towns up and make this happen. It might not save money at first but a year or two you will see the difference of the amount saved.