Fire Committee Findings NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP

The committee was tasked with exploring Napoleon Township’s options, moving forward, in regards to fire protection services, when Chief Hawley retires. Our goal was to analyze the options, taking into consideration the following factors:  Costs  Complexity  Risk Management  Flexibility  Resident Satisfaction  Maintaining and/or Improving service MISSION STATEMENT

The committee met with Chief Hawley and requested that he provide the committee with the challenges that he currently faces, as well as his insight into future challenges that the Township will face in the delivery of fire services. Chief Hawley has served Napoleon Township for over (4) decades and has seen the department and the fire service in general, evolve over those years. Chief Hawley stated that the following challenges need to be addressed, both in the short-term and long-term, in regards to providing fire services to the residents of Napoleon Township: MEETING WITH CHIEF HAWLEY

 Stable Funding  Recruitment and Retention of paid-on-call firefighters  Staffing during the day-time  Increased call volume of emergency medical calls  Developing an inspection program and training staff to complete those inspections  Balancing the needs of the fire department –v- police department FIRE SERVICE CHALLENGES

The committee explored training all firefighters as police officers and all police officers as firefighters. Costs: This would be extremely expensive, both up-front costs and on-going training costs. Complexity: This would be extremely complex, due to the fact that the majority of staff are either paid-on-call firefighters or part-time police officers. Risk Management: Once fully implemented, the risk to township residents would be very low, but would have a serious budgetary impact, both up-front and in on-going costs. OPTION #1- FULLY CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENTS

Flexibility: This option would offer a lot of flexibility, but once again, this option would have a large budgetary impact. Resident Satisfaction: This option would provide a high level of service satisfaction, after implementation, but the costs to residents, both short and long-term, could out weigh the satisfaction gained from the increased service level. Maintaining and/or Increasing Services: This option would definitely increase the service level provided and would address Chief Hawley’s concerns/challenges, but at a substantial cost increase. OPTION #1-FULLY CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENTS

Summary: The committee feels that this option is not viable, due to implementation costs and the lack of a sufficient number of full-time employees. If our current departments were both made up of all full-time employees, this option would be strongly considered and the merits of consolidating both departments and cross-training all personnel would have to be strongly discussed. OPTION #1-FULLY CONSOLIDATED DEPARTMENTS

The committee explored the idea of consolidating the fire department with another Township Fire Department or sharing a fire chief with another Township Fire Department. Costs: This would probably save Napoleon Township costs, due to the fact that the wages of the fire chief would be shared with another Township and/or the wages of paid-on-call firefighters would be also be shared with another Township. Complexity: This would not be very complex, as many Townships have done this. The complexity would mostly be political in nature, as you would have to decide who answers to who. OPTION #2-SHARE/CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER TOWNSHIP

Risk Management: The risk of this option is fairly low, however increased response times, lack of Township control and reduced services to Napoleon Township could be seen. Flexibility: This option may not offer a lot of flexibility, due to the sharing of a chief and/or department and the competing interests of the Township that you are sharing the chief and/or department with. Resident Satisfaction: This option may provide reduced satisfaction to the residents, as they would go from having a full-time chief to a shared chief and/or shared paid-on-call department. OPTION #2-SHARE/CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER TOWNSHIP

Maintaining and/or Increasing Services: This option would most likely decrease the service provided to the residents, as they would be going from dedicated to shared service. Summary: The committee feels that this option could save money for the Township, but the committee is not convinced that the residents would be satisfied with this change. The committee also feels that residents would most likely see a reduction in services, compared to what they currently receive. This option does not address the concerns of Chief Hawley, currently or on a moving forward basis. OPTION #2-SHARE/CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER TOWNSHIP

The committee explored replacing the current chief with a new chief, when he retires. Costs: This option could save a little bit of money, due to a reduction in the starting wage of a new chief. Complexity: This would not be complex and the transition could be very smooth, depending on the time-line and/or if the new chief could work with the existing chief, prior to his retirement. Risk Management: Once fully implemented, the risk to township residents would be neutral, as it would be the same system that is currently operational. OPTION #3-REPLACE CHIEF W/NEW CHIEF

Flexibility: This option is neutral on flexibility, as it would be the same system that is currently operational. Resident Satisfaction: This option would probably provide resident satisfaction, as it appears that the residents are currently satisfied with the fire services they receive. Maintaining and/or Increasing Services: This option would most likely be neutral, as it would be the same system that is currently operational. OPTION #3-REPLACE CHIEF W/NEW CHIEF

Summary: The committee feels that this option is the safest option, both from an implementation and political stand-point, but the committee does not feel that it addresses any of the concerns that Chief Hawley brought up, which the fire department is currently facing and/or will face in the future. The committee feels that the best option will address Chief Hawley’s concerns, which this option does not and recommending this option would result in simply kicking the can down the road. OPTION #3-REPLACE CHIEF W/NEW CHIEF

The committee explored having (1) administrator over both the police and fire departments, when Chief Hawley retires. Costs: This option would probably be neutral in regards to cost, as the administrator would not be able to patrol, due to his/her administrative responsibilities, while overseeing both departments, thus additional part-time officer hours would be needed, but would be off-set by the savings of having only 1-chief. This option would allow the Township to have (2) full-time firefighters, which would also be off-set by a reduction in costs by only having one administrator. Complexity: This would not be complex and the transition could be very smooth, depending on the time-line and/or if the new chief could work with the existing chief, prior to his retirement. OPTION #4-ADMINISTRATOR OVER POLICE AND FIRE

Risk Management: Once fully implemented, the risk to township residents would decrease slightly, as it would result in going from 1.5 FTEs to 2.0 FTEs, who are dedicated to the fire service. Flexibility: This option would increase flexibility by gaining ½ of a FTE dedicated to the fire service. Resident Satisfaction: This option would probably be neutral on resident satisfaction, as it appears that the residents are currently satisfied with the fire services they receive and this change would probably not be noticed by most. Maintaining and/or Increasing Services: This option would most likely see a slight increase in services, as it would be a slight increase in the FTE’s that are dedicated to the fire service. OPTION #4-ADMINISTRATOR OVER POLICE AND FIRE

Summary: The committee feels that this option does warrant some merit. It would slightly increase the FTEs assigned to the fire service and would allow the administrator more flexibility, as he/she would be released from many of the day-to-day tasks they currently have. The committee feels that this option would make slight improvements in the area of service delivery and would address some of Chief Hawley’s concerns, both presently and in the future. OPTION #4-ADMINISTRATOR OVER POLICE AND FIRE

The committee discussed the following option, when Chief Hawley retires:  Hire a cross trained police chief or train the police chief in firefighting  Hire (3) additional full-time police officers and train them as firefighters and train the current full-time officer as a firefighter  Hire 1-full-time firefighter OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Police/Fire Chief The police/fire chief would work Monday-Friday, during the day, in the office. The police/fire chief would respond to major police and fire calls on an as-needed basis. The police/fire chief would respond to all structure fires or serious accidents requiring extrication or additional manpower. The police/fire chief would be cross-trained in both police and fire duties. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Full-Time Cross Trained Officers The department would have (4) full-time officers (not including the police/fire chief) who are cross-trained as police officers and firefighters. (2) of the officers would be assigned to day-shift, Monday-Friday, with one officer assigned to road patrol and the other to Napoleon Community Schools, on a full-time basis. This officer would also handle ordinance enforcement, primarily in the summer, when school is not in session. The officer assigned to the school would respond from the school for all medical emergencies, fires or other serious police and/or fire calls. Unless responding to these types of incidents, this office would be dedicated to Napoleon Community Schools. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

The (2) night shift officers would be assigned to night-shifts on opposite days and would be cross-trained and available to assist, at the request of the paid-on-call firefighters, on an as- needed basis. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL ScheduleMTWRFSS Chief8a-5p Off Officer 1-Day-Patrol8a-4p Off Officer 2-Day-School8a-4p Off Officer 3-Night-Patrol4p-4a Off 4p-4a Officer 4-Night PatrolOff 4p-4a Off Firefighter-Station9a-5p Off

Full-Time Firefighter There would be 1-full-time firefighter who works during the day-time, Monday-Friday, and would hold the rank of Captain and would be in- charge of all fire/rescue scenes, in the absence of the police/fire chief. The position would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the fire department, including inspections and fire education. Inspections were one of Chief Hawley’s biggest concerns, both currently and in the future. Paid-On-Call Firefighters The paid-on-call firefighters would continue in their current role and would be the back-bone of the department in the delivery of fire services. With the full-time staffing during the day, this would assist the department when coverage is at its lowest level, due to most paid-on-call firefighters working full-time jobs during the daytime. This would solve one of Chief Hawley’s biggest concerns, both currently and in the future. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Current Costs: Police Chief$85,208 Fire Chief$85,208 Officer #1$55,331 P/T Police$81,000 P/T Fire$15,750 Ordinance $6,352 Total: $328,849 OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Proposed Costs: Police/Fire Chief$70,280 (4) Cross Trained Officers $212,000 (1) Firefighter/Captain$37,320 P/T Police-Weekends/Vacation$25,000 Total: $344,600 OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Cost Difference: The difference in cost between the current structure and the proposed structure is $15,751. This difference could be made up through a reduction in fire apparatus, fleet maintenance, insurance costs, closing of the Ackerson Lake Station and reduction in police equipment for part-time police officers. Napoleon Community Schools could also be approached for a minor fee to off-set the increased costs. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

For $15,751 per year, we would see the following benefits:  (4) trained firefighters working Monday-Friday, during the day, where we currently have insufficient staffing.  (1) officer assigned to Napoleon Community Schools, all day, every day, during the school year, except when there is a fire or rescue emergency.  (1) firefighter/Captain, who could be trained in fire inspections and fire safety  The officer assigned to the school could work on recruitment of firefighters at the high-school, after the students graduate. They could also start and administer a Fire Cadet program, which would help in recruitment efforts. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Complexity: This option could be considered fairly complex, but could be phased in gradually and the value to the community would definitely be worth the time and effort. Depending on the time-line of Chief Hawley’s eventual retirement, the new chief could work with the existing chief, prior to his retirement. Risk Management: Once fully implemented, the risk to township residents would be vastly improved, as we would be providing the residents with 4x the amount of trained firefighters working during the day and would provide our residents with an armed police officer at Napoleon Schools on a daily basis. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Flexibility: This option would offer a lot of flexibility, would allow us to respond with greater efficiency and effectiveness and allow us to provide a better service to our residents. Resident Satisfaction: This option would provide a high level of service satisfaction, after implementation. It would allow us to address our staffing issues during the day and provide our school district with a full-time police officer. Maintaining and/or Increasing Services: This option, out of all of the options explored, by-far, increases the level of services provided to the Township residents. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

Summary While this option is probably the most complex of the options explored, the committee feels that the anticipated benefits of a change to this system, would be well worth exploring and should be seriously considered. Our goal, from the beginning, was to take Chief Hawley’s concerns and explore possible solutions, so that Napoleon Township could provide the most efficient, effective, fire protection possible, with the least amount of budgetary impact. We feel this option provides a solution to those concerns, by being basically budgetary neutral, improving our risk management, allowing the department to be flexible, providing resident satisfaction and increasing the services the Township provides to its residents. OPTION #5-CROSS TRAINING FULL TIME POLICE PERSONNEL

The committee feels that the average resident of Napoleon Township has a sense of community that they identify with the Township and the school district. It is apparent that they want their own police and fire departments and that they appreciate their police officers and paid-on-call firefighters and the service they provide to the community, including the schools. Our goal was to look at our current system and see if we could not only maintain our current system, which the majority is satisfied with, but improve it, so that we could better serve the schools and the community as a whole. Police and Fire Departments are steeped in tradition, which can be very beneficial, but over time, a review needs to be made to see if any improvements can be made. CLOSING THOUGHTS

The committee looked to Chief Hawley to provide us with his valuable insight into his concerns, both currently and in the future and those concerns were used as benchmark to compare options against, in hopes of solving those concerns. The committee feels that Option #5 needs to be seriously considered by the Township Board of Trustees. We feel that further exploration should include public input on a broader scope than this committee can provide. We have enjoyed this process and look forward to what the future brings for Napoleon Township, its police and fire departments and the residents they serve. CLOSING THOUGHTS

The committee makes the following recommendations to the Township Board:  Further study the recommended option, option #5, as well as investigate the appropriate time-line to implement the different phases of this plan, if deemed feasible.  Further study on additional recruitment and retention efforts for paid-on-call firefighters.  Consideration and planning for a long-term funding source for police and fire protection, when the existing millage expires. RECOMMENDATIONS

Trustee Tim Horsch-Chairman Steve Doerr Doug Lammers Carl Bunker Mike McGonegal Mike Jester COMMITTEE MEMBERS