Fire district consolidation plan due next month
September 23, 2012
CUMBERLAND — After more than a year of study, the Town Council next month will be presented with a final report on the plan being proposed to consolidate the town's four independent fire districts.
The final report by Donald I. Jacobs of Holden-based D.I. Jacobs Management Consulting Services will be submitted to the council on Oct. 3, followed by the council's formal vote on the plan on Oct. 17.
Jacob's company was hired to conduct a comprehensive feasibility planning assessment for the purpose of consolidating the town's fire services as either an independent, municipal or regional department. In its final report, the firm is recommending the town consolidate the town's four independent fire districts as a single entity with one chief and one tax rate governed by one board appointed by the Town Council.
The study conducted by Jacobs was a three-phase process. The first phase was exploratory with Jacobs and his team — including Andover, Mass. Fire Chief Michael Mansfield - meeting and talking with all of the town's various fire chiefs, fire district trustees and district employees.
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