BY APRIL GUILMET
The Union Leader

Londonderry, N.H.—Faced with proposed cuts in staff and funding for the coming fiscal year, fire Chief Kevin MacCaffrie warned that the potential loss of call firefighters, a fire inspector and fire marshal could spell an end to many community service programs within the Londonderry Fire Department.

On Saturday morning, department heads and town employees gathered for a public budget workshop. Around a dozen community members sat in the audience for the presentations, which lasted several hours.

Londonderry's next fiscal year begins July 1, 2011. Among the reductions outlined in the proposed new budget would be the elimination of the fire inspector position and the transfer of the fire inspector position from the fire department to the town's building division.

MacCaffrie said the department is facing a budget reduction of $296,984 next year: a 5 percent budget reduction, in addition to the proposed staffing cuts. The staffing cuts would save the town another $170,450, making for an overall department budget reduction of $467,434.

Currently the Londonderry Fire Department's administrative team includes the chief, a fire marshal, a fire inspector and an executive assistant. Under the proposed new budget, that team would consist of the chief and executive assistant.

"We took a look at some of the duties and responsibilities of each department," said Richard Canuel, the chief building inspector. "We examined things that overlapped and then proposed to take over some of the fire department's inspections."

Canuel further noted some of the permits and inspection fees could just as easily fall under the town's building division, implying a potential increase in revenue for that department.
However, MacCaffrie expressed concern for the proposed restructuring, noting that community services could be hit quite hard.

"The impact would be reduced services to businesses and the public," the fire chief said, noting there would likely no longer be a staff member available to meet with residents stopping by the fire station 24/7.

"Basically, customer service would be eliminated at that front door," MacCaffrie said. "You'd have to pick up a form and fill it out (instead of talking to a staff member)."

Other community service projects, including the department's high school internship program, could fall away due to lack of adequate staffing.

Reducing the department's nine on-call firefighters could also present challenges. "No extra help would be available during an incident," MacCaffrie said. Though the department's regular firefighters could still be called in during an emergency, the chief said he still expected the reduction of on-call staff to necessitate an increase in mutual aid calls.

"In summary, the loss of funding would affect our ability to frequently handle simultaneous multiple calls," MacCaffrie emphasized. "This will close stations periodically and affect department mission capabilities."
Early last week, town officials released the proposed budget for next fiscal year and proposed the elimination of 24 positions in the coming fiscal year, a move Town Manager David Caron said would save the town $315,368, representing a 3.15 percent decrease for the general fund budget.

Caron said such cuts might be the only option for keeping the town's taxes at the level rate of $4.74.
"Increases in retirement system and health costs have increased town expenses by nearly half a million dollars," Caron said on Saturday. "Unfortunately the negative trend continues."

The town budget workshops will continue this week, with a meeting to be held at tonight at 7 p.m. Further budget workshops are scheduled for Nov. 29 and Dec. 9, with a town budget public hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 3.

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