Bridgton begins fire department study

By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

There’s still time to have your say on how well you think the Bridgton Fire Department is doing its job.

Residents have until tomorrow, Aug. 29, to submit a request to be interviewed by Public Safety Strategies Group, the Massachusetts consulting firm the town hired to do the study of all aspects of fire department operations.

All that’s needed to submit a request is to go to the town’s website, www.bridgtonmaine.org, click on Public Announcements, and then click to request an interview that will take place sometime in September. Public Safety Strategies Group will be conducting random interviews, a survey and open discussion before submitting a final report by the end of December, said Town Manager Bob Peabody. Voters at Town Meeting approved spending $13,000 to fund the study.

Those unable to go online may contact Peabody at 647-8786 to have their name put on the list of residents wishing to make their views known about fire department operations. All requests will be confidential. Selectmen and Peabody have already given the firm names of key stakeholders in town that should be interviewed to get a full and accurate picture, but any resident is also welcome to share their views.

PSSG will develop a comprehensive inventory of current fire department operations, including number of apparatus, workload, internal training programs and personnel management systems. They will also evaluate the town’s fire prevention policies under current ordinances and programs offered. The study will help guide policy on the town’s future firefighting needs.