By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Goffstown officials have agreed to form a planning committee to study 24-hour fire coverage, but details of the process remain unresolved.

Selectmen first considered forming the group at their meeting of June 26. Nearly a month later, questions remain on how to facilitate the sessions.

“Maybe we should get a facilitator in here to see how to proceed,” said selectmen Chairman Barbara Griffin at the selectmen’s meeting of July 24. To streamline the process, Griffin suggested the board have a municipal or organizational expert appear at the next selectmen’s meeting.

Originally, Selectman Nick Campasano had suggested the board appoint two groups to study the idea of 24-hour fire coverage. Campasano said the process should begin with a half-day session by a 25-member brainstorming group.

That group would consist of five subgroups representing full-time firefighters, call firefighters, the budget committee, the Capital Improvements Program Committee and members of the public.

Following the brainstorming session, one member of each representative group would sit on a five-member planning group. That group would be charged with devising a plan to provide 24-hour fire and EMS services.

The group would present its findings by December, Campasano said.

Prior to forming the brainstorming group, selectmen sought volunteer applications from at least five members of the public. Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux said she has now received the “magic number” of five.

Selectman Phil D’Avanza said selectmen should also consider adding an emergency dispatcher into the brainstorming group. However, Selectman John Caprio said that makes the number of individuals too large.

“My concern is that we’re getting into the area of operations, and that the brainstorming group could get so large that it might become unruly,” Caprio said.

Selectmen agreed that locating a facilitator is a key element in the process. Campasano said he had contacted two professors but had not received word back. Caprio said he had contacted colleagues with organizational expertise, but he thought those people might want to be compensated for their activities.

Desruisseaux said she would contact a municipal expert to consult with selectmen at an upcoming meeting.

The plan for 24-hour coverage stems from a warrant article passed at the March 2005 Town Meeting.

The article, submitted by petition and passed 1,506-761, directed the board “to prepare and present a plan proposing 24-hour fire and EMS staffing of at least one fire station seven days a week.”