LONDONDERRY — Fire Chief Kevin MacCaffrie and Capt. Jim Roger don't believe in taking chances.
They want to avoid the fast-moving fire that killed two women on Hemlock Street last year.
MacCaffrie and Roger went before voters at the town's deliberative Monday night to seek support for hiring four more firefighters.
It was one of 19 warrant articles debated for more than four hours at Londonderry High School. The articles, some amended, were then moved to the March ballot.
About 130 residents turned out to consider the articles, including a $537,000 bond issue for road work and three town employee contracts.
They also discussed the proposed $26.7 million town budget, cable franchise fees, and how land-use change tax money should be allocated. School district music director Andy Soucy was recognized as Citizen of the Year.
But for 40 minutes, the debate focused on the fire department's request to increase staffing in the wake of the fatal fire April 13.
The proposal came after Fran Gehling, 64, and her daughter Rebecca Gehling, 23, died in a fire at their home at 38 Hemlock St. Four other people were taken to the hospital. An analysis of the fire revealed that water supply and manpower were major concerns.
The Budget Committee voted, 4-3, not to support the article. Some members said they opposed allocating $76,565 for overtime in addition to $163,550 for four new firefighters.
"We would like to see some staffing that didn't require as much overtime," Budget Committee Chairman Todd Joncas said.
But Roger and MacCaffrie said the extra personnel are needed.
"I wish members of the Budget Committee were there that night," Roger said. "It's clear you really are not getting it."
Some residents, including Madeline Demeule, said it's not worth taking a chance.
"I think safety isn't something we should even consider cutting," she said. "I think public safety is a no-brainer."
It takes four to six minutes for the first Londonderry engine to arrive at a fire, MacCaffrie said. But it can take firefighters from another town 16 minutes to respond if Londonderry doesn't have enough people on duty, Roger said.
"Voters tonight have a choice," he said. "If you want to wait 16 minutes, vote this down."
MacCaffrie said national fire safety standards recommend having at least 16 firefighters on duty. The fire department's strategic plan calls for 14, but there are usually only nine or 10, he said.
Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Lond-onderry, questioned the national standards. He said he supported hiring four firefighters, but not paying overtime to maintain at least 10 firefighters per shift if someone is sick or on vacation.
Voters moved to the warrant an article presented by citizen petition calling for up to $100,000 in land-use change tax revenue to be placed in the town's conservation fund.
Up to 40 percent of the remainder would go to the general fund. An amendment to change that to 80 percent failed. All of the revenue currently goes into the conservation fund.
Voters also backed an amended citizen petition article that establishes a special fund for the Cable Department. Up to 70 percent of cable television franchise fees would go to the fund. The rest goes to the general fund.
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