By FireRescue1 Staff
POTSDAM, N.Y. — A recent report suggested that a fire department terminate all of its paid fire truck drivers in an effort to save money.
Watertown Daily Times reported that the New York State Financial Restructuring Board recommended the Potsdam Fire Department only use volunteers to drive the fire trucks, which would save the department $250,000 per year.
The department said they are temporarily decreasing the number of paid fire truck drivers from four to three for part of June and August after a village vote, but cutting them altogether would increase response time.
“We’re hoping that this is temporary and we’re hoping that the trustees see that we’re here to help them,” Potsdam Fire Chief Danielle Rose said.
Some village officials, however, said they hope the change will be permanent. Mayor Reinhold Tischler said that if the summer trial works out, he does not want to hire any new drivers as the current ones retire.
“We wouldn’t do it all at once, because we don’t want to do that to them,” Mr. Tischler said.