Fire chief seeks staffing and overtime funding as calls rise

Tim Jubin, chief of the Laconia Fire Department, presented the department’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and described operational pressures tied to rising call volumes and new development.

Jubin said the department has 40 cross‑trained personnel and operates four 24‑hour platoons; at full staffing that equals 10 personnel on duty per shift. He reported nearly 4,800 emergency incidents during the last year and a four‑year average around 4,600 calls. Jubin described recent equipment deliveries and orders — a ladder truck, an ambulance purchase noted as used to avoid losing capacity, and an expected mobile integrated health vehicle arriving in June — and station maintenance work such as a new roof and flood mitigation for a community room entrance.

On operations and staffing, Jubin asked for line‑item increases to support extra‑duty coverage and training so the department can reliably staff 10 personnel per shift and reduce reliance on costly overtime while vacancies are filled; he said two vacancies exist now but hiring activity has produced many applicants. Councilors pressed whether raising overtime or hiring would be more cost‑effective and stressed that central and We (West) area minimum staffing is a safety issue.

Jubin also highlighted fire prevention and EMS activity: roughly 1,800 inspections/plans reviews last year, 326 multifamily rental inspections and 22 paramedics on staff (with several advanced procedures performed in the field). He said a community paramedic role is grant funded and that staff are pursuing continued grant support and a business plan to sustain the program.

Looking ahead, Jubin recommended adding four staff in a future budget to permanently staff an additional engine and ambulance in the growing West area; he framed that as a medium‑term need tied to the pipeline of housing developments reported in the planning presentation. Councilors asked for numbers comparing overtime costs to hiring and for more detail on certification coverage (RSI certified clinicians) and the community paramedic program’s funding plan.

What happens next: Jubin said hiring is underway for current vacancies and staff will return with further cost comparisons and funding options for council consideration in future budget deliberations.