June 24, 2005
At Tuesday’s Bridgewater Board of Selectmen Meeting (6/21/05), the Fire Department made a presentation on a proposal for a SAFR Grant. This Federal Program provides some reimbursement for the costs associated with increasing the number of full-time fire staff.
The program is a five-year plan, where there are major reimbursements in the first year (approximately 69% in our case), and decreasing grant awards in subsequent years into the fourth year (approximately 21% in our case), and the fifth year when we are responsible for all costs. Reimbursement grants with declining rates are common with many programs designed to ease the financial burden of increasing staff.
Based on calculations provided, the total personnel costs (salary, benefits, equipment) of one position for five years would be $275,657. Over that time, the Town would be eligible for $110,000 in grant reimbursements. Therefore, over the five-year span, rather than an anticipated bottom-line average cost of $55,131.40, the Town would average $33,131.40 per additional firefighter.
A great deal of the discussion was centered on the topic of how many positions should be applied for under the grant. Based on current personnel, the Fire Department presented a case for applying for grants including eleven new individuals. Chief Roderick Walsh described how for many years we have applied for various grants, with little or no success. For those unfamiliar with grants, a proposal is submitted including information on the purpose of the proposal, the goals and costs. The agency providing the grants then replies at a later date accepting the proposal, asking for a more complete proposal, or a rejection. So, applying for a grant is not a commitment to spend funds, only a request to see if financial support is possible.
Therefore, not only do I concur with the position that we should apply for this grant amount, but I would go further and state that our failure to apply for grants like this would be a dereliction of duty. I commend the Chief and his staff for finding opportunities like this, to increase the public safety in our community while mitigating the financial impact to the taxpayers.
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
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