By Ryan O'Connor
Staff Writer

The plan to merge Goffstown police, fire and emergency medical service departments into one unified safety department is not dead.

According to both supporters and detractors of the idea, the town will still have its say at the March 14 vote despite Article 24 being amended at the deliberative session of Town Meeting on Feb. 9.

Nick Campasano, who is running for selectman, said the amended article, which he put forward, actually gives residents more say in the decision by allowing them to give a clear, unambiguous statement of what they want.

“The initial warrant article wasn’t looking for permission. What (the board of selectmen) were basically looking for was an endorsement so they were not bound by what the town voted,” said Campasano. “The amendment that I put forth did not seek for an endorsement, did not seek a recommendation, but just a flat-out statement to either continue or stop with the merger.”

Although the selectmen are not bound by law to adhere to the town vote, Chairman Gossett McRae, who is running for re-election, said the selectmen will wait until after March 14 to make any decisions concerning the matter. He also said it would be inappropriate for him to speak for the other board members, considering there is a chance he may not be part of the decision.

“The sitting board at the time will decide what action to pursue at that time,” said McRae. “We will have to take whatever action the voters say to take and I’m sure that will have an impact on all voters on the board, new and present.”

Campasano said after the town votes on the issue, the selectmen should set up a committee which should be made up of members from the board of selectmen, budget committee, full- and part-time employees of the fire and police departments, and influential members of the general public. He said that group could then sit down and formulate a cost-effective solution to the fire department’s staffing issues and include projections of five and 10 years down the road.

“A prudent course the selectmen should have taken from the beginning is to set up a committee,” said Campasano. “I think five selectmen working in secret by themselves may think they have the solution, but in reality they may not have the public support.”

Campasano also noted he thought it was ironic the selectmen never consulted the fire department, even though Chief Frank Caprentino stood to lose his job should the plan come to fruition.

“The fire department was never once asked for input coming up with this plan,” said Campasano. “Doesn’t that seem strange?

“I mean they asked the police department for input, but they never asked the fire department,” he added. “I feel that they should have been part of the plan from the beginning.”

Carpentino could not be reached for comment on the matter.