SWAMPSCOTT — The heads of the Police, Fire, and Public Works departments presented their annual reports to town leadership during a Select Board meeting held as fiscal year 2024 comes to a close.
Each department head reviewed significant developments that have taken place during the last 12 months, challenges their department faced, and what the immediate future holds.
Fire Chief Graham Archer detailed how the hiring of his department’s first civilian administrative assistant has given him and his peers more time to focus on their duties. Margaret Wile was hired in August after holding similar positions with the federal government and local nonprofits, such as the Peabody Essex Museum.
“We’ve always had firefighter/clerk do payroll and some of those administrative tasks,” Archer said. “When I reached out to one of my peer chiefs and got their job description for administrative assistant… it really started to dawn on me the number of things I was dipping my toe into, juggling, managing, but that I could use help doing.”
Despite the hiring of two firefighters in FY24, Archer named staffing as one of the department’s largest ongoing issues. Heading into FY25, Archer currently has three vacancies in his agency.
“There are people who have been out who have had medical issues,” Archer said.
To counter any potential physical or mental-health struggles among his staff, Archer is aiming to implement a wellness and fitness program developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and International Association of Firefighters.
As another way to attract employees, the Fire Department has released a recruiting video that can be found on Swampscott’s website that promotes inclusivity and diversity within the department.
Police Chief Ruben Quesada celebrated the department’s recent hiring of seven employees, with many set to begin before the end of the calendar year. He expects the amount of overtime worked by his staff to considerably decrease due to these additions. However, the department still has two staff vacancies, he said.
Traffic and pedestrian safety made up a large portion of Quesada’s report. In FY24, the Police Department recommended the installation of 32 speed tables, 24 radar speed signs, and 16 flashing crosswalk beacons throughout the town.
“We always talk about traffic, and it continues to be an issue for us in town,” Quesada said. “We are continuing our education and enforcement.”
The department received a grant for $28,800 to fund ongoing pedestrian safety and police presence in necessary areas.
Director of Public Works Gino Cresta informed the Select Board that the sole vacancy in his 16-member department is the position of assistant engineer. 75 trees were planted in FY24, compared to 37 trees that were removed.
“The goal is to plant 30 trees in the spring and 30 trees in the fall,” Cresta said.
The DPW sent a request to improve the roadway for the new elementary school opening this fall. Cresta said the final cost for the project is just less than $500,000. Another project Cresta hopes to start soon is the re-paving of the middle school’s lower parking lot.
“That parking lot is in such a state of disrepair that we’re going to have to grind it right down and then put in 4 new inches,” Cresta said.
With the Select Board recently approving $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for sewer repairs at Fisherman’s Beach, Cresta expects the work to begin by mid-August.
