KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) At Thursday night’s meeting, the Keene City Council’s Finance, Organization and Personnel Committee unanimously advanced several resolutions, with the most significant concerning a proposal to increase staffing in the city’s fire department amid growing demand for emergency services.

The committee recommended adoption of a resolution authorizing the hiring of four additional firefighters—one per shift—to ensure a minimum staffing level of 12 firefighters per shift. The move aims to reduce overtime, improve emergency response, and support the operation of a third ambulance. The city’s fire department has experienced a sharp rise in call volume, with incidents increasing from 5,025 in 2019 to more than 6,300 in 2024. The current request includes funding for one month of salaries and essential gear and equipment.

Fire Chief Jason Martin praised the committee’s support and highlighted the department’s ongoing recruitment efforts. Additional endorsements for the staffing increase came from the Cheshire County Administrator and the president of the Professional Firefighters of Keene, who emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate staffing to meet public safety needs.

Also during the meeting, the committee approved the city’s renewal of life and long-term disability insurance coverage with Symetra for an additional two years. Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director Elizabeth Fox explained that following a competitive request for proposals, Symetra’s bid remained the most favorable. The city has been satisfied with the provider’s performance to date.

The committee also voted to authorize the acceptance of a $2,500 wellness grant from Health Trust to support employee wellness programming. Fox said the funding will help sustain wellness initiatives coordinated by a citywide team, and she noted that the fire department recently received a similar grant for its own activities.

Additionally, the city will move forward with accepting a $12,800 Source Water Protection grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Assistant Public Works Director Aaron Costa said the funds will be used to survey well fields on Court Street and West Street to clarify property boundaries and maintain the 400-foot sanitary protective radius. Committee members discussed the benefits of preserving these areas in their natural state and implementing best management practices.