Barrington Deciding on How to Staff Fire Department

Barrington trustees have a lot of decisions to make as the end of its agreement with the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) nears, including how it will staff the fire department.

The Board of Trustees will be discussing and deciding between two options recommended by a consultant looking into the dissolution of the village’s intergovernmental agreement with BCFPD on Jan. 1.

BCFPD chose not to renew the agreement based on Barrington’s reluctance to hire additional firefighters, a need identified by the fire district to serve its area. The BCFPD is now working to develop its own fire department and Barrington will run one fire station that serves the village.

The Barrington Fire Department will use automatic aid and mutual aid agreements to assist in emergency calls.

Barrington’s first option is a minimal operational staffing with 10 firefighters/paramedics, three lieutenants/paramedics and an assistant chief/paramedic. This option would allow the department to have four shift personnel at all times, according to the consultant’s report presented last month to the board and residents.

The second option_ which is recommended _ is 10 firefighters/paramedics, three lieutenants/paramedics, and three assistant chiefs/paramedics. This model would bring staffing up to five shift personnel at all times.

Barrington’s projected expense for the minimum staffing model is $2.5 million and $2.7 million for the recommended model.

The Board of Trustees meets at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 at village hall, 200 S. Hough St.