Ware debates fire department step increases as retention tool; amendment to zero funding fails

Article 14 was presented as a targeted effort to reduce turnover in Ware’s full‑time fire department by establishing a step program tied to annual performance evaluations. Selectman Dearborn and the fire chief described staffing losses and overtime costs that followed vacancies: the chief said the department ran with eight full‑time staff and overtime budgets were exceeded when positions were unfilled.

Under the proposal, a firefighter who scores at least 3.24 on the town performance evaluation (a 1–5 composite) would be eligible for a 3% step increase, which would compound with any COLA. “This is making it such that our personnel are considered the same as adjacent communities and try to encourage long term knowledge based people,” Selectman Dearborn said. Assistant Chief Trevor Anderson and the fire chief described training expectations tied to the evaluation and estimated a modest per‑year cost; the finance committee recommended the article by a majority.

On the floor, an amendment was offered to reduce the appropriation to $0 if Article 13 (an across‑the‑board 3% nonunion increase) passed, arguing the combination could create a de facto 6% raise for firefighters; supporters of the article said the step is performance‑based and intended to curb expensive turnover. The amendment was defeated in a standing/hand count, and the article moved to the warrant as written for the March ballot.