2010
Special Town Meeting August 17, 2009
ARTICLE 5: Town Manager Paul E. Cohen moves that $12,000,000 be appropriated
to fund the design and construction of a new town center fire station
headquarters facility on a portion of the 8.69 acre parcel of Town-owned land
located at the corner of Wilson Street and Chelmsford Street identified as Lot 5
on Assessors' Map 73, Block 289, including related survey, legal, and other
costs incidental and related thereto; that to meet this appropriation the
Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen be authorized to borrow
$12,000,000 under Chapter 44 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other
enabling authority, that the Board of Selectmen be authorized to contract for
and expend any federal or state aid available for the project, provided that the
amount of the authorized borrowing shall be reduced by the amount of such aid
received prior to the issuance of bonds or notes under this vote; and that the
Board of Selectmen be authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out
this project; provided, however, that this vote shall not take effect until the
Town votes to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Massachusetts
General Laws Chapter 59, Section 21C (Proposition 2 1/2) amounts required to pay
the principal of and interest on the borrowing authorized by this vote.
SUBMITTED BY: Town Manager 2/3rd Vote Required. The Moderator declared that the
motion carried by recognizing the 2/3rd vote bylaw.
(Town of Chelmsford presentation sketch)
Special Town Election October 6, 2009
Question 2.
To build a new center fire station on Town land at the corner of Wilson and
Chelmsford streets and close the present Fire Station located on North Rd. The
result was 6555 registered voters turned out. Yes 2750, No 3791, Blanks 14.
Question failed.
Annual Town Meeting April 26, 2010
ARTICLE 7:
I move that the Town appropriate $2,522,000 for the following capital projects
(including):
Fire Engine 5 Refurbish (1999 Freightliner) $60,000
SUBMITTED BY:
Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, Capital Planning Committee.
2/3rd Vote. Motion carried unanimously by show of hands.
as Engine 5 for South Chelmsford in 2009, then refurbished in 2010 while the South Fire Station was closed
(2013 photo by Fred Merriam)
Fire Chief's Report
Through the Town's Capital Plan the department received a new pumping engine and a new rescue truck this year. The much needed new apparatus replaces two vehicles that were each 23 years old. We applied for and received a federal grant to install a new, state of the art, breathing air cascade system in the new rescue truck allowing us to fill self contained breathing apparatus at the scene of a fire. In addition, the department received a state grant to hire three new firefighters. This is only a one year grant, but has assisted us in regaining some of the manpower we have lost over the last few years. Hopefully, the economic condition of the town will improve over the coming year and enable us to keep these firefighters working when the grant runs out in March, 2011.
(2013 photo by Fred Merriam)
(2013 photo by Fred Merriam)
Deputy Chief Jim Sousa and Captain Jim Boermeester retired during the past year taking with them 71 years of combined experience. The department wishes both of them a long and enjoyable retirement. We are forever grateful for their service, dedication and contributions to the Town and the department. The three new firefighters hired, Garrett Walsh, Evan Boudreau and Chhunly Prak are all military veterans and we thank them for their service and wish them well in their new careers.
We continue to experience major structural problems with the apparatus floor at the Center Fire Station. Although the floor has been stabilized with 13 wooden pillars, the fix only serves as a temporary repair and buys us a little time. An extensive study has been completed outlining the need for a new center station and location. The Town will need to keep this as a top priority and find a solution in the very near future.
Although we do understand the fiscal restraints associated with the town's budget, the cut backs in manning and the permanent closing of Engine 5 has made it very difficult for us to meet our mission of protecting life and property. This reduction in resources has created an increased risk to both the residents of Chelmsford and the firefighters. During this year we have seen the calls for service increase, response times increase and manpower shortages at emergency scenes. It is our hope that when the financial picture brightens, previous manning will be restored and all five fire stations will once again be opened.
Lastly, this will be my seventeenth and final annual report as I plan on retiring in October of this year. I have enjoyed my sixteen plus years as Chief of Department and would like to thank all members of the department, my staff, the Town Manager, the Board of Selectmen and the residents of the Town for their support over this time.
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Chief Deputy Chief Captains Department Assistant Mechanics ** retired in 2010 |
Firefighters Joshua Abbott William Amundson William Bacon William Bennett Edward Boisseau Even Boudreau Christopher Brothers Michael Brothers Thomas Brothers William Campbell Jeffrey Cancella Michael Chiasson Kevin Clarke F. Mark Conlin Daniel Corey Bruce Donovan Michael Ducharme Jesse Foster Robert Gardner David Hadley Ryan Houle William Keohane John Kivlan |
Dan Koutsoufis Cynthia Leczynski Keith Lindsay Michael Maher Daniel Manley Leo Manley Leslie Merrill Jason Moody Michael Nelson Kevin O'Brien Marc Pare Donnie Peterson Casey Phelan Chhunly Prak John Reid John Robinson George Ryan William Schellback Timothy Shanahan Kevin Sheehy Daniel Ubele Michael Young Garrett Walsh |
2011
Spring Annual Town Meeting April 25, 2011
ARTICLE 8.
I move that the Town appropriate $2,605,000 for the following
capital projects (including):
Service Truck Replacement (1999) $50,000
East Fire Station Hose Tower $56,000
SUBMITTED BY: Town Manager. Motion carried unanimously by show of hands
ARTICLE 9.
I move that the Town appropriate $50,000 for the purchase of
a replacement “Jaws of Life” hydraulic vehicle extraction emergency rescue tools
for the Fire Department; ...
SUBMITTED BY: Town Manager. Motion carried unanimously by show of hands
ARTICLE 10.
No action. This article was in regards to the funding of a
new fire station at Chelmsford St and Wilson St. The exempt question failed at
the Annual Town Election of April 5th.
SUBMITTED BY: Town Manager
ARTICLE 13.
I move that the Town transfer $53,822 from the Finance Committee Reserve Fund to
fund the first year of an employee contract agreement between the Town and IAFF
Local 1839 Firefighters that begins in Fiscal Year 2011, and that the Town raise
and appropriate the sum of $22,843 to fund the first year of employee contract
agreements that begin on July 1, 2011 (Fiscal Year 2012) between the Town and
its collective bargaining units as follows:
AFSCME Facilities $8,331
CFT Library $14,512
SUBMITTED BY: Town Manager. Motion carried unanimously by show of hands.
Report of the Conservation Commission
The Commission extends its gratitude to the Chelmsford Fire Department, Carlisle Fire Department, and the Massachusetts Forest Fire Control for their swift response to a small ground fire within the Cranberry Bog Reservation.
Report of the Fire Department
This fiscal year has been another busy year for the fire department. Calls for service have increased from 5595 in fiscal year 2010 to 5977 in fiscal year 2011 for an increase of 382 calls. Structure fire calls are down from last year but total calls continue to increase. Medical calls, which include vehicle accidents, continue to increase. This year the calls for medical assistance increased by more than 600.
Thanks to Chelmsford businesses and grants our firefighters provide educational information from escape plans from your house, testing your smoke alarms, why not to play with fire, what to do when a fire happens in your house and what to do if someone in your house doesn’t feel well. We also hold a mock accident which we have towards the end of the school year for Chelmsford high school. This event shows the truth as to what happens when speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We have been thinking of having another one of these events at the beginning of the school year as a lot of students have just received licenses and with all the school activities a lot of the students drive themselves or friends to these activities.
Chelmsford Fire Department provides multitude of services for the residents of Chelmsford. We provide a program called SAFE for all the students/children in Chelmsford:
| Grade K - 12 | 1156 students |
| Private daycare | 272 students |
| Health fairs and community events | 410 students |
This year the fire department has received a grant to replace fire fighters structural fire fighting gear to replace worn out gear. This $73,000 grant will allow the fire department to provide modern and much safer gear to it’s fire fighters. In this years Town’s Capital budget plan we will be replacing our 13 year old service truck with more than 100,000 miles that plows the 5 stations and is used by the mechanic to maintain the department vehicles.
We continue to experience major structural problems with Fire Headquarters. The Permanent Building Committee and the Fire Chief will continue to look at possible solutions to the problem. The building will continue to be inspected every six months to insure that the floor will support the apparatus.
Due to past fiscal restraints Engine 5 on Acton Road continues to be closed. We will ask for the fall town meeting to provide funding to reopen that station late fall or early winter. While this station is closed, the response times to emergencies in Engine 5’s area are much longer for the other stations to respond to. In addition with this station closed the fire department has 2 less fire fighters on duty to respond to larger incidents through out the town.
We have had some changes in the fire department this year. Chief John Parow retired this year after more than 37 years in the fire service and as Chelmsford Fire Chief for the last 17 years. We thank him for his leadership and dedicated service and for all that he has done to provide the town with the best possible emergency services. The Fire Department assistant, Martha DeSaulnier and Department Mechanic Jim Keeley also retired this year and thank them for their service. We wish all of them well in their retirement.
|
Chief Deputy Chiefs Captains Department Assistant Retired in 2011 |
Firefighters Joshua Abbott William Amundson William Bacon William Bennett Edward Boisseau Evan Boudreau Christopher Brothers Michael Brothers Thomas Brothers Jeffrey Cancella Michael Chiasson Kevin Clarke Daniel Corey Bruce Donovan Michael Ducharme Jesse Foster Robert Gardner David Hadley Ryan Houle William Keohane John Kivlan Dan Koutsoufis |
Cynthia Leczynski Keith Lindsay Michael Maher Daniel Manely Leo Manely Leslie Merrill Jason Moody Michael Nelson Kevin O’Brien Marc Pare Donnie Peterson Casey Phelan Chhunly Prak John Reid John Robinson George Ryan William Schellback Timothy Shanahan Kevin Sheehy Daniel Ubele Michael Young Garrett Walsh |
2012
Town Manager's Report
At the Spring Annual Town Meeting voters appropriated $7.8M to fund a new Fire Department headquarters. After years of consideration and repeated failed attempts at alternate locations, the new center fire station will be constructed adjacent to the Town Offices on Billerica Road. The savings achieved by the from the health insurance plan reforms enable the debt service for the new fire station to be funded within the property tax limitations of Proposition 2 ½. The Town was also able to take advantage of an historically low interest rate of 2.32% to finance the project
Town Election April 3, 2012
Question 1 (Advisory):
Shall the Town of Chelmsford pay the debt service for a new center fire Station
adjacent to the Town Offices from the existing property tax levy? {This fire
station would not be financed by a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion}.
With 6007 votes cast the result was: Yes 2,468, No 2,162, Blanks 1,377.
Spring Annual Town Meeting April 30, 2012
ARTICLE 9.
Town Manager Paul E. Cohen, moves that the Town appropriate $2,926,331for the
following capital projects (including):
Digital Radio Upgrade $112,000
Finance Committee voted to support Article 9
Board of Selectmen voted to support Article 9
Mr. Roland Van Liew, Precinct 6, moved to amend Article 9. The motion to amend
fails.
The main motion under Article 9 carried by 2/3 vote.
Moved to table Article 10 until Thursday, May 3, 2012.
Motion to table Article 10 until Thursday, May 3, 2012 failed.
ARTICLE 10.
Town Manager Paul E. Cohen, moves that $7,800,000 be appropriated to fund the
design and construction of a new town center fire station headquarters facility
adjacent to the Town Offices on a portion of the 8.69 acre parcel of Town-owned
land located at 50 Billerica Road identified as Lot 5 on Assessors’ Map 73,
Block 289, including related survey, legal, and other costs incidental and
related thereto; that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval
of the Board of Selectmen be authorized to borrow $7,800,000 under Chapter 44 of
the Massachusetts General Laws or any other enabling authority; and that the
Board of Selectmen be authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out
this project.
Finance Committee voted to recommend Article 10.
Board of Selectmen voted to recommend Article 10.
Article 10 generated a lengthy discussion and debate. Abutters came forward to
speak against the Article. Peggy Dunn moved the question. Mr. Latina had a point
of order regarding the motion. He stated that there were people queued up. Mr.
Moderator did indicate that moving the question is a privileged motion and
allowed debate to go on. Following more discussion, Peggy Dunn once again, moved
the question. Tellers were called by the Moderation. The motion to move question
was defeated. Additional statements were read by the abutters. Ms. Patricia
Dzuris moved the question. The motion to move the question passed. The body was
now ready to vote. Article 10 carried.
Roll call vote was called.
The Roll Call indicated the following: 110 yes, 41 no, 1 abstention.
Motion under Article 10 carried by 2/3 vote.
(Rendering courtesy of the Town of Chelmsford)
Fire Chief's Report
Fiscal year 2012 has been a very busy year for the Chelmsford Fire Department. In October, 2011 with the help of Town Manager Paul Cohen and the selectmen we were able to re-open Engine 5 in South Chelmsford. The fire fighters who work in the station have done a tremendous job of painting and cleaning up the station. Thank you!
This past spring the town voters approved the new station that will be located on Billerica Road next to the Town Hall. We are in the process of going forward with plans and site testing. The new station will be more suitable to hold the equipment that we need that is presently being housed in the outlaying stations or outside. We still have the engineers come to inspect the current station every six (6) months and hope that the new building will be ready before the engineers tell us to leave.
(Rendering courtesy of the Town of Chelmsford)
(Rendering courtesy of the Town of Chelmsford)
Through the Town’s Capital Budget we replaced the mechanics truck with a new Ford F350 pickup. This truck is fitted with most of the tools that would be needed to fix any of the trucks at the stations. For larger projects he will still need to bring the apparatus to the mechanics bay in East Chelmsford. Frank, our mechanic also responds to fire calls. Although he does not gear up and go into the building, Frank is an essential part of the department. He needs to be on hand to fix equipment and exchange the air tanks the fire fighters use during an incident.
(2013 photo by Fred Merriam)
Chelmsford Fire Department was able to hire six (6) new fire fighters and all have graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Stow, MA. Welcome to Michelle Sacco, David Maher, Jason Turner, Edward Casey, Patrick Daley and Gregory Segnini.
We also share some sad news. Retired fire fighters Dennis Keohane and Raymond Kydd passed away this past year. Dennis was a member of the Chelmsford Fire Department for 23 years retiring in 2003. Raymond Kydd was on the job 28 years retiring in 2002.
We had one fire fighter retire after 29 years on the job, Francis Conlin. We wish him the best of luck!
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Chief Deputy Chiefs Captains Department Assistant Mechanic Retired in Fiscal 2012 - Francis Conlin |
Firefighters Joshua Abbott William Amundson William Bacon William Bennett Edward Boisseau Evan Boudreau Christopher Brothers Michael Brothers Thomas Brothers Jeffrey Cancella Edward Casey Michael Chiasson Kevin Clarke Daniel Corey Patrick Daley Bruce Donovan Michael Ducharme Jesse Foster Robert Gardner David Hadley Ryan Houle William Keohane John Kivlan |
Dan Koutsoufis Cynthia Leczynski Keith Lindsay David Maher Michael Maher Leo Manely Leslie Merrill Jason Moody Michael Nelson Donnie Peterson Casey Phelan Chhunly Prak John Reid John Robinson George Ryan Michelle Sacco Gregory Segnini William Schellback Timothy Shanahan Kevin Sheehy Jason Turner Daniel Ubele Garrett Walsh Michael Young |
2013
(Photo by Rick Nohl)
Fire Chief's Report
We have 5 stations in the Town of Chelmsford, 4 staffed with 2 firefighters with the Center station staffed with the Unit Captain and 4 firefighters. The new station being built on Billerica Road has begun. The construction is going along on a timely basis and the town expects an October 2014 completion. We would like to thank all the employees at Town Hall; I know the construction has been a disruption for the entire building.
Our S.A.F.E coordinator FF Josh Abbott has applying for grants through the state and has been approved. Every year our firefighters join with the area schools, daycares, preschools and now with one of the new grants the seniors in town to help learn fire safety, prepare for emergency situations. The S.A.F.E. crew will travel to the schools in town with books, Pluggy the talking fire hydrant and a “burn house”. The kids really like Pluggy and the burn house is something the kids can interact with showing some dangers that could be in the house for example too many extension cords in one outlet or a pan on the stove.
We had two (2) retirements from the department this year, Captain James Durkin and Captain Rick Rivard. James Durkin retired after 30 years and Rick Rivard retired after 25 years. We wish them both the best of luck!
On July 28, 2013, 10:30 pm, dispatch received a call from a resident on Augusta Way reporting they could smell smoke in the area. Engine 2 (North Chelmsford) arrived to Augusta Way to find that one of the vacant buildings belonging to the University of Massachusetts Lowell fully engulfed. The fire went to 3 alarms within minutes as 4 other vacant buildings close by and a community of over 55 housing behind the burning building was in jeopardy with embers falling close by. The fire was contained to the one building. Lowell, Billerica, Tyngsboro, Westford and Tewksbury released from site at 1:30pm the following day. Chelmsford Fire Department remained on scene for several days watching for hot spots.
2005 Command Vehicle S-1, 2001 Ladder/Rescue Truck E-1, 2008 Rescue Vehicle R-2
Donnie Peterson in front of dispatch window (photo by Fred Merriam)
The 1989 E-One Hush Pumper, Engine 6, is in the background
(photo by Fred Merriam)
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Chief Deputy Chiefs Fire Captains Department Assistant Mechanic Retired in Fiscal 2013 |
Firefighters Joshua Abbott William Amundson William Bacon William Bennett Edward Boisseau Evan Boudreau Christopher Brothers Michael Brothers Thomas Brothers Eric Byam Jeffrey Cancella Edward Casey Michael Chiasson Kevin Clarke Daniel Corey Patrick Daley Michael Ducharme Jesse Foster Robert Gardner Scott Gallant David Hadley Nicholas Hamilton David Houle Ryan Houle |
William Keohane John Kivlan Donald Kohl Daniel Koutsoufis Cynthia Leczynski Keith Lindsay David Maher Michael Maher Leo Manely Andrew Micu Jason Moody Michael Nelson Donnie Peterson Casey Phelan Chhunly Prak John Reid Michelle Sacco William Schellback Gregory Segnini Timothy Shanahan Kevin Sheehy Gregory Sparks Jason Turner Joshua Turner Daniel Ubele Garrett Walsh Michael Young |
2014
Firefighters Tim Shanahan, Mike Chiasson, David Maher, Don Peterson, David Houle, Greg Segnini and Mike Brothers
(Chelmsford Fire Department Collection)
Fire Chief's Report
Captain Pare, training officer for the department has been busy these past few months with the new and updating training classes in water rescue, roof collapses, MIIA driving simulator, oil fires, Narcan program for the department and a fairly new to the town are the solar panels. With the schools, town offices, businesses and residents opting for solar power the department needs to learn how to handle fire emergencies when they occur.
Our mock car accident once again showed the tragic results of drinking, texting and driving. The department holds this event the first week of June in the front parking lot of the Chelmsford High School. Juniors and seniors attend with some of their classmates playing the rolls of the victims. It is a very moving lesson and this department along with the Chelmsford Police, Trinity and Christopher’s Towing are glad to sponsor because if it saves one life it is worth it.
|
Chief Deputy Chiefs Fire Captains Clerical Mechanic |
Firefighters Joshua Abbott William Amundson William Bacon William Bennett Edward Boisseau Evan Boudreau Christopher Brothers Michael Brothers Thomas Brothers Eric Byam Jeffrey Cancella Edward Casey Michael Chiasson Kevin Clarke Daniel Corey Patrick Daley Michael Ducharme Jesse Foster Robert Gardner Scott Gallant David Hadley Nicholas Hamilton David Houle Ryan Houle William Keohane |
John Kivlan Donald Kohl Daniel Koutsoufis Cynthia Leczynski Keith Lindsay David Maher Michael Maher Leo Manely Andrew Micu Jason Moody Michael Nelson Donnie Peterson Casey Phelan Chhunly Prak John Reid Michelle Sacco William Schellback Gregory Segnini Timothy Shanahan Kevin Sheehy Gregory Sparks Jason Turner Joshua Turner Daniel Ubele Garrett Walsh Michael Young |
(photo by Fred Merriam)
(12/13/2014 photos above by Fred Merriam)
CALL HISTORY
| YEAR | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| BUILDING FIRES | 40 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 24 |
| MEDICAL AID | 2868 | 2868 | 2976 | 3049 | 3654 |
| AUTO FIRES | 18 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 |
| OUTSIDE FIRES | 85 | 84 | 17 | 2 | 54 |
| MUTUAL AID | 29 | 27 | 19 | 28 | 24 |
| INVESTIGATION | 847 | 612 | 337 | 349 | 580 |
| OTHER CALLS | 2592 | 3199 | 3189 | 3323 | 2765 |
| TOTALS | 6479 | 6833 | 6578 | 6785 | 7113 |