“No Promises” For Holliston FD Stipend Increases

Last night the Holliston Board of Selectmen stepped out of Town Hall and in to the Holliston Fire Department to discuss stipend increases with the town’s firefighters.

The meeting had been in the works for several weeks but discussions recently came to a head when Fire Chief Michael Cassidy presented the stipend plan to the selectmen.

While Selectman Jay Leary said he was unconvinced that the $214,000 amount was practical, the firefighters wanted to make sure they got their just deserts.

“We’re going to look at the numbers and try to understand it and figure out if we can come up with the money,” Leary said.

Leary said he was particularly concerned with carrying the cost down the road.

Stipend increase talks with the firefighters began several years ago when they were sold on a three-year plan to raise the stipend. However with the drop of the economy the increase didn’t pan out. After that the firefighters voted to not have their stipend increase be part of an override because of the low economy.

Now the firefighters say they want what they were promised and more for the four years since they were promised it.

“What we’re looking for is something we were promised four years ago; a raise that had been due to us,” EMT John Gagnon said. “We do this because we love this and we are dedicated, but we’re going in to fires and risking our lives.”

The selectmen and firefighters discussed a possible override to fund the stipends, but the firefighters were split on the idea; a majority of them are Holliston residents.

They also discussed potentially putting an article on the upcoming fall town meeting warrant, but nothing specific was discussed.

The selectmen wouldn’t promise the firefighters the stipend increase they had asked for, or any stipend increase, but Kevin Conley did promise that he would continue to educate himself on the issue and try to work toward a solution “real soon.”

Selectman Jay Marsden was not present at the meeting.