NAHANT — The town’s advisory and finance committee continued deliberations Monday night on a proposed budget override to fund additional fire department staffing, weighing urgent public safety needs against concerns over rising costs for residents.
Chair Robert Vanderslice outlined the goal of advancing discussions on the fire department’s request, which had been introduced at a prior session. Fire Chief Austin Antrim, along with other local officials and stakeholders, joined the meeting to answer questions and clarify the proposal.
At the center of the debate is a plan to fund four additional full-time firefighters, a move Antrim said is necessary to address longstanding staffing challenges. “The staffing model that we’ve been using… It’s been in place for over 100 years. It’s no longer effective,” he said, pointing to ongoing difficulties recruiting and retaining part-time, or “call,” firefighters.
Antrim emphasized that adding four full-time positions would provide immediate operational improvements, even if it does not fully resolve the department’s long-term needs. “If I had to make the decision… it is far more impactful to have the four full-time firefighters… it will have an immediate effect,” he said.
Still, he acknowledged the scale of the issue, estimating that a fully staffed department would require roughly double the current number of full-time personnel.
“To truly get away from completely relying on part-time and call firefighters, we would need at least double the full-time staffing that we currently have,” Antrim said, suggesting a target closer to 18 to 22 full-time firefighters.
The proposal comes with a financial impact. Officials estimate the override would increase property taxes by about $605 annually for the median household. That figure became a focal point of concern for several committee members, particularly given the town’s mix of incomes and aging population.
“One of my fears is… it’s a $600 plus penalty to their annual taxes,” member Daniel McMackin said, noting that even modest increases could strain some households.
Committee members explored whether alternatives such as enhanced recruitment incentives for call firefighters could reduce the need for full-time hires. Suggestions included bonuses, higher hourly pay, and expanded outreach efforts. Antrim, however, said such approaches have been widely tried with limited success.
“The things that you’re talking about have been tried and done… throughout Essex County and throughout the country,” he said. “I don’t think those types of things are going to solve the (issue).”
He added that while incentives could complement staffing efforts, they would not address the immediate shortfall. “You can throw a million dollars at the part-time staffing next year… but we’re still going to have the problem for years,” he said.
The committee also examined whether local policy changes, such as stricter building codes, could mitigate fire risks. Antrim explained that municipalities must follow state regulations and cannot impose stricter standards independently. “We cannot impose building codes that are stricter than the state requirements,” he said.
Questions about outside funding also surfaced, particularly regarding emergency services provided to state-managed areas like Long Beach. Antrim confirmed that the town receives no state reimbursement for fire responses there. “We don’t get anything from them… we don’t receive anything from the state for our emergency responses there,” he said, though he acknowledged that pursuing additional state support could be worthwhile.
As the discussion evolved, some committee members proposed a scaled-down alternative to the full override. The idea would involve a smaller funding increase, potentially around $250,000, which is dedicated to fire department needs, allowing flexibility in how the money is spent.
Supporters argued that a reduced proposal might be more likely to gain approval at the town meeting.
Others expressed reservations, noting that partial funding could limit the department’s ability to implement meaningful changes. Antrim reiterated his preference for the original plan. “I would prefer the override that has been proposed by the town,” he said, adding that anything less would be “less effective than passing an override with four full-time employees.”
Town administrator Alison Nieto also raised logistical concerns about restructuring the budget. Because full-time hires require both salary and benefits funding budgeted in separate accounts, simply reallocating a lump sum could restrict how the funds are used.
Additionally, Nieto cautioned against relying on grants to support ongoing personnel costs. “That’s not how you build an operating budget,” Nieto explained.
The financial implications remained a recurring theme, with some members warning that continued tax increases could push more residents to seek abatements or reconsider their ability to remain in town. Others emphasized that public safety investments are essential and that delaying action could carry greater risks.
Throughout the meeting, Antrim highlighted the urgency of addressing staffing shortages, warning that current conditions place strain on existing personnel. He noted that firefighters are often responding to emergencies understaffed, increasing the risk of injury and limiting effectiveness.
Before the meeting concluded, the committee faced a choice: advance the existing override proposal or develop an alternative approach. A motion was introduced to postpone the decision and allow time to explore a third option in greater detail, including updated financial scenarios.
“I truly do appreciate that you are all volunteering your time… but an enormous amount of work was put into that one million dollar override,” Antrim said, cautioning against discarding the current proposal without careful consideration.
The committee ultimately voted to table the discussion until a later meeting, leaving unresolved the question of how best to balance fiscal concerns with the town’s fire protection needs.
