Fire Commission

Burlington Fire Commission Meeting Tuesday October 14, 2025 08:30-09:18 Members Present: Chair Jake Perskinson, Vice Chair Kevin McLaughlin, Linda Sheehey, Monica Chapman, and Ashley Bond (via Zoom). Chief Michael Curtin, Deputy Chief of Administration Stephen Petit, and Administrative Assistant Meghan Sweeney. BFFA members Bryan Mathieu, John Husbands, Josh Kirtlink, Christopher Sullivan, Dennis Wilson, Christopher Reinfurt, Patrick Stewart, and Battalion Chief McDonough joined for the Commissions and stayed to discuss new business. Christopher Sullivan joined for entirety of meeting. Call to Order – 08:30 am. Meeting minutes using assistance from AI: Motion to Amend/Adopt Agenda- Fire Commission meeting on October 14th, 2025, began with a motion to reorder the agenda, which was approved. Motion made by Commission McLaughlin and seconded by Sheehey with all in favor. Old New Business moved to item 5 with Review and Accept Minutes moving to item 6 and Chief’s Oral Report moving to item 7. Public Comment – No comment from member of public. Commissions – The commission then conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Christopher Sullivan as captain and Kevin Alexander as lieutenant, acknowledging their leadership and dedication over the past year. Old Business/New Business- The fire department discussed challenges and successes in responding to calls, particularly in City Hall Park. They highlighted the high demand and variable nature of overdose calls, noting that patients are often unreceptive and that police support is not always available. The department also mentioned changes to the police response model, including the use of CSLs for mental health calls. The discussion touched on the time and resource demands of these calls, as well as the importance of data in understanding call patterns. The discussion focused on safety concerns for firefighters and emergency medical personnel, particularly regarding physical confrontations and needle stick incidents during calls. The participants discussed the lack of formal self-defense training for firefighters, despite the presence of body armor and ballistic helmets. They noted that while some dual-certified police officer firefighters carry weapons, most EMS personnel are prohibited from doing so, creating a safety gap in certain situations. Participants expressed worry about the physical and mental toll on members due to increased assaults and verbal abuse, as well as the inappropriate use of emergency services for non-urgent matters. There was agreement on the need to continue discussions with relevant stakeholders, including the police commission and administration, to address these issues and explore potential solutions. The discussion focused on two main topics: the status of a proposed safe injection site in Burlington and concerns about firefighter safety. While no specific location for the injection site has been confirmed, there was discussion about whether increased access to such sites might affect overdose rates, though no concrete data was provided. The conversation then shifted to concerns about firefighter safety, with one participant suggesting that firefighters might benefit from carrying non-lethal self-defense tools, though others expressed hesitation about this proposal, preferring to keep firefighters focused on their primary emergency response duties. Review and Accept Minutes from August Meeting- Motion to accept minutes made by Commissioner Chapman and Commissioner McLaughlin. Seconded by Commissioner Sheehey. Chief’s Oral Report- Chief Curtin sent his report to commissioners in advance for review. Additional items discussed: Repeat Offender Policy Review The meeting focused on discussing the challenges and opportunities related to addressing repeat offenders and the impact of policy changes on public safety. Participants highlighted the need for policy adjustments and increased awareness to reduce the number of repeat incidents, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. They also reviewed data on call volumes, drug-related incidents, and the effectiveness of current resources, noting a significant drop in overdose confirmations despite a high dispatch rate. The discussion concluded with a review of heat maps showing high-concentration areas for calls and potential issues with alarm systems in certain buildings. Staffing and Operations Update The team discussed staffing challenges, including 14 open positions due to current vacancies and 6 members on leave, leading to a 19% increase in overtime hours. They highlighted recruitment efforts with 4 new employees starting next Monday, including 3 lateral transfers and 1 community member. The CRT data for September showed 59 patient contacts, 11 Narcan kits distributed, and 6 company-level inspections completed. Station 1's floor refinishing project is nearly complete, and the team participated in community engagement activities including public education events and firehouse tours. Fire Department Recruitment and Improvements The fire department discussed recruitment challenges, noting that while they had enough candidates for available slots, they decided to defer some candidates to the spring of 2026 due to tight timelines. They reported receiving 65 entry-level applications and 15 lateral applications, with 24 candidates tested and 2 selected for final consideration. The department is also working on various facility improvements across all stations, including apparatus floor repairs, structural supports, and sprinkler system inspections, with Station 2's floor replacement project nearly complete and Station 3 beginning engineering phase for dorm renovations. Department Operations and Safety Updates The meeting covered several operational updates, including a $124,000 inspection project that will be implemented in stages, and a successful Coast Guard drill where 7 members participated. The department discussed plans to enhance water response capabilities, with Chief Aumand leading efforts to rebuild the technical rescue team, and they received new SCBA equipment. EMS reported conducting live burns and preparing for paramedic refresher courses, while the Training Division shared updates on elevator rescue training and upcoming live burns. The Fire Marshal's office highlighted successful outreach at the farmer's market and efforts to promote lithium-ion battery safety. The conversation ended with a discussion about the high number of paramedics in the department and concerns about member well-being, emphasizing the need for regional and state collaboration on mental health initiatives. Motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Sheehey and seconded by McLaughlin. All in favor meeting adjourned at 09:18 am.