SHUTESBURY – Retiring Fire Chief Walter Tibbetts will leave big shoes to fill, but the study group looking at his position decided they were the right size.

“One of the things we were talking about,” said Elaine Puleo, a member of the Fire Chief Study Committee, “was whether we could pull out some of the jobs that are not quite what you would call a fire chief’s [job] … emergency management director, the trainer for department personnel, doing complete equipment maintenance, being a grant writer, and other administrative duties.”

The study group decided the extra duties assumed by Tibbetts should remain among the fire chief’s responsibilities. That conclusion came after a research process that began in November 2021. The committee met weekly to review the chief’s job description, survey other small towns about a chief’s duties and compensation, interviewed all current members of the Fire Department, and hosted public forums to solicit community input.

A significant change in the job description, which may make residents apprehensive, is the end of a residency requirement. The chief will not have to live in town.

“Closer is better,” Tibbetts said during last week’s meeting with the Select Board. “But if you require the chief to live in town you probably wouldn’t get an application … [We] might be surprised. There might be someone close by who could do it.”

The committee recommended the fire chief live no more than 35 minutes from Shutesbury. Tibbetts acknowledged that in the case of a large fire, or emergencies late at night, the chief might not respond. That would be a problem.

Town Administrator Becky Torres sought to allay the concerns. She informed the group that the police chief is required to live no more than 35 minutes away and the requirements for the fire chief’s position would be consistent. She said it shouldn’t be a problem because “we have proved our Police Department can handle it.” She added that the deputy chief position should be reviewed as well.

The study group’s work surveying towns of a similar size for data on fire chief positions revealed a variety of arrangements including a full-time chief and part-time deputy chief, both positions part-time, either salaried or paid by stipend.

Some towns share a chief, but the study group did not see a benefit in that choice. The group also determined the current compensation is appropriate.

Ambulance services are a difficulty in small towns. Penelope Kim called in to ask if a sub-regional agreement to provide emergency medical services was possible or advantageous. Tibbetts didn’t respond directly, but discounted the possibility of having an independent, town-based service because even much bigger municipalities can’t find enough people to minister to the injured and sick.

“They found it very hard to staff their own ambulance services,” Tibbetts said. “Most places do not have enough people to staff their ambulance to a paramedic level. First responder is no problem. Every firefighter and police officer is trained to first responder level. If you look at ambulance services, that’s where we fall down.” He offered a telling caveat. “If you’re looking for one town to do your ambulance, you’re putting all your eggs in one basket.”

The town currently has a contract with Amherst Ambulance.

The study group acknowledged that unique versions of fire and police chief duties evolve in towns with circumstances peculiar to them. The time spent interviewing all the current members of the Fire Department reassured them that a full-time “strong chief” was appropriate for the department. The three-page report of the group’s findings also concluded that if a full-time chief cannot be found, that both a part-time chief and part-time deputy chief should be employed to ensure 24/7 coverage is maintained.

The Select Board voted 3-0 to accept the Fire Chief Study Group’s report and recommendations. The report has already been forwarded to the Personnel Committee for further examination. If that committee approves of the job description and related materials the solicitation of candidates will begin.