Durham chief says staffing gaps left ambulance response delayed; town approves public-safety funding

Durham's town meeting on June 13 approved the select board'recommended public-safety appropriation after a focused exchange about emergency medical services staffing and compensation.

During debate on article 6, the fire chief described recent coverage shortfalls and gave a specific example of a delayed ambulance response. "19 minutes and 46 seconds to get an ambulance there," Chief Robert Trip said, adding that vacancy in scheduled EMT shifts had contributed to the delay and led to longer on-scene and transport times.

The budget committee proposed a smaller, phased pay approach intended to balance recruitment needs with taxpayer impact; its recommended appropriation was reduced relative to the select board's figure. The select board defended its proposal as necessary to reduce frequent shift vacancies that left the department unable to provide two-person ambulance staffing reliably overnight.

Supporters argued increased wages quickly improved coverage in pilot periods and were crucial to public safety: where the town increased pay for EMT shifts, vacancy rates reportedly fell from roughly 30% to below 10% in some windows. Opponents warned of long-term tax pressure if recurring personnel costs are not covered by ongoing revenue.

The meeting voted to approve the select board'recommended appropriation for public safety. Separately, voters also approved a $140,000 contribution to the fire department capital reserve (article 10) to fund scheduled equipment refurbishments in coming years.

The select board and the fire chief said the funding decisions were intended to stabilize staffing and maintain response capacity while the town continues longer-term recruitment and retention efforts.