Amherst Proposes Improved Fire/EMS Compensation For Recruitment, Retention

Amherst’s chair of selectmen is leading the effort to bring better wages and compensation to fire and EMS employees in the town’s next budget cycle.

Chair Bruce Bowler has proposed paying for the required training of Amherst firefighters and adding slight wage increases and incentives, while also bumping up wages for EMTs in order to recruit and retain talented personnel.

“We have a problem when out library pages are being paid more than our EMTs,” said Bowler on Wednesday.

Bowler surveyed 11 EMS and fire departments in similar towns across New Hampshire and found that Amherst’s employees were compensated far less in certain areas. Every other town except Stratham paid for firefighter training and time spent at meetings. In addition, EMT wages were not even in the same ballpark compared to these towns.

Amherst EMTs currently make far less than similar towns in New Hampshire, including neighboring Milford. “We were not even close when it came to hourly pay,” said Bowler when he presented his proposal to Amherst EMS on Wednesday. “We need to do something.”

His plan for more competitive EMT wages is split into two years, with an addition of $86,286 in FY14 and $58,035 the following fiscal year. For example, EMT-B employees currently make $9.75 per hour, which would increase to $13 per hour in FY14 before going up to $15 per hour in FY15.

Amherst EMS director Brian Gleason said that this would greatly help his department’s retention problems, as well as attract talented outside and local EMTs to join the Amherst team. 

The Amherst Fire Department only has two full-time employees, with the rest of the crew entirely volunteer. This is quite different than similarly-sized towns that usually have more full-time personnel on hand, and provides more “bang for your buck” for the quality of service Amherst receives, according to Bowler.

His plan to address the lacking payment of Amherst’s firefighters is to add $72,465 to the FY14 budget. This would include compensation for monthly meetings/trainings and the hours of training required to become a firefighter. Each level would see a slight pay increase, as well as incentives for any EMT training.

New firefighters would also go through a probationary period where they are paid only $10 per hour before being bumped up to $11 per hour once they complete their level one training. Their pay would increase to full firefighter pay ($12 per hour) after three years or completion of level 2 training.

The current budget for firefighter call pay is $58,000, which is about $1,500 a year for the average volunteer. All rates would increase by any COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) given in future years.

Part of these increases would be offset by the removal of firefighter stipends, which would cover other additional costs and bring the total number to about $69,000 in the budget.

Bowler presented his new wage/compensation plan to Amherst firefighters on Wednesday. Many were glad to see a plan in place to compensate the many hours of training and meetings. Some were concerned that it would give too much to new recruits, and not to the volunteers who have dedicated years to the department.

Amherst fire chief Mark Boynton said that Bowler’s proposed plan would be a fairer system, because volunteers would get paid for the time they put in. New firefighters have to undergo 240 hours of training before they can join the fire department, which can be a deterrent to aspiring firefighters.

Deputy chief Matt Conley said that it is rare for a volunteer to come through the door with training, and this initial time commitment is tough when some have families and/or multiple jobs. He added that these volunteers are not doing it for the money, but enticing more locals to volunteer would definitely be a plus.

Bowler’s proposed changes would go in effect on July 1 f the town’s operating budget is approved with these additions.