Edgecomb Fire Chief Roy Potter told the town’s selectmen Monday that his department is at the breaking point in volunteer participation. The volunteer fire department has a membership of 13 with only four or five who regularly participate in emergency calls and mandatory weekly trainings. Potter believes the lack of manpower is so grave, it’s time to do something about it.

Potter, along with Assistant Fire Chief John Potter, delivered a letter from the department’s general membership requesting to make the fire chief a full-time position. Roy Potter explained the  change was needed to retain volunteers.

The department’s training is limited to due the amount of vehicle and equipment checks each month. Potter believes participation is down because there is too much emphasis on equipment maintenance and not enough devoted to training.

“It’s a frustrating situation. It’s getting to the point where I can’t guarantee coverage,” said Roy Potter. “When the pager goes off, I’m not sure if anybody will show up.”

Dwindling numbers is a challenge facing rural, volunteer fire departments across the state. Chief Potter hopes to reverse this trend by more training exercises and less maintenance. The fire department envisions a full-time chief would do all the equipment and truck checks. This would free up the volunteers’ time to concentrate on training. It would also provide more time for the chief to examine various businesses in town for possible fire hazards, according to Roy Potter.

The selectmen agreed to hear more about the proposal in two weeks during an executive session. The board instructed Potter to draft a proposal with all the costs associated with new position.

The selectmen only promised to listen to the proposal.

“You know this is a tough time to propose this,” said Selectman Jack Sarmanian.

Roy Potter, who has been fire chief since 2008, said the department has contemplating this request for several years. Roy Potter estimates he works 25 hours per week as the fire chief. Like other volunteers, Potter is finding it harder to devote time to his duties. He works in the maintenance department for St. Andrews Urgent Care Center. 

Potter said the time working his regular job and his fire chief duties are becoming more demanding.

“I work overtime and I’m on call once month for a week. I’m at the breaking point,” Roy Potter said. “It’s really starting to take a toll on me and all the other officers.”

Selectman Stuart Smith agreed a discussion was needed, but he indicated any changes in the fire chief’s status would decided by the voters.

“This obviously would be a fundamental change in how we operate and would have to go to town meeting,” Smith said.

Chief Potter agreed.

“This is something that we didn’t come to lightly,” he said. “And we don’t expect the town to take it lightly, either. We want to present it and if it doesn’t fly then it doesn’t fly.”

The selectmen will discuss the fire department’s proposal during an executive session during its next meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23 in the municipal building.