Fire Dept Staffing Study - June 2012 MRI

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CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OVERVIEW The purpose of the executive summary is to offer a brief synopsis of the key issues and recommendations found in the study as an overview of the complete report. It is not intended to provide the reader with a detailed analysis of the results in a few pages; nor is it intended to direct attention to certain issues or suggest that others, developed in more detail in the main body of the report, are less important. The complete report should be read, in all of its detail, to gain a full understanding of the issues facing the Lexington Fire Department as evaluated by Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI). It is our sincere hope that this report will be used by the town, the fire department's leadership, and its membership as a road map for improving the delivery of fire and emergency medical services in the community. The department clearly has the potential to resolve the internal conflicts and cultural attitudes, many of which are self- imposed, that have seriously affected its standing in the community. The MRI study team believes that the Lexington Fire Department has the skills, capabilities, and motivation to become an effective, highly trained, and motivated organization that meets or exceeds nationally recognized standards for operational readiness. The challenges are many, but as will be seen, many of the recommendations can be accomplished within existing budgetary restrictions. The town and the fire department leadership should determine a reasonable time line and plan for adopting the recommendations that have been proposed by the MRI fire study team. MRI was retained by the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts, to conduct a staffing and operational study of the Lexington Fire Department. The primary purpose of this study is to review the staffing, deployment, and operation of the Lexington Fire Department to determine whether there are efficiencies that may be achieved or operational improvements to be made. For this initiative, MRI assembled a team of four current and former fire and EMS chiefs to take an in depth look at the Lexington Fire Department and how it is organized to provide services. The MRI study team spent considerable time with key personnel of the fire department to gain an understanding of the organizational, operational, and management systems currently in place. The team then compared and contrasted the current capabilities against contemporary practice and convention. The MRI fire study team conducted extensive interviews both inside and outside the department; offered a confidential survey to all department employees to identify attitudes and perceptions within the department; inspected fire stations; evaluated equipment; reviewe Town of Lexington, MA: Fire Department Staffing Study Page 2 I' I Prepared by Municipal Resources, Inc. June 2012 Municipal Resources