Photo From Athol Fire Department
(Athol, MA) As the Athol Fire Department works to solve its staffing issues, they have formed a proposal for a Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund four EMT/firefighters that will come before voters at the April 1st Annual Town Election. Previously, voters rejected a Proposition 2 1/2 override in August for $895,000 to fund eight additional personnel. The fire department staffing committee is hoping asking to fund four positions this time will be acceptable to voters. Four additional personnel would allow for both ambulances to continue operating and would increase each shift from four to five members. The fire department would maintain their goal of obtaining a total of eight new firefighters/EMTs in the coming years, if four are funded this year.