To the Editor,
At our Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 4th and at the town election on May 11th, Essex voters will be asked to vote on two override articles, one for the town budget (Article 3) and the other for the MERSD budget (Article 6). On May 11th, town voters will also be asked to support or deny these same questions at the ballot box.
For the record, on April 13th, by majority affirmative vote (2/1), the Board of Selectmen voted to endorse the two overrides. My remarks here, though, are my own and should not be construed as the position of the BOS.
Article 3 is the town budget override and reflects several pressing needs which include the need for a full-time fire prevention captain.
As Essex continues to evolve, the demands on our fire department have increased not only in volume, but—more importantly—in the complexity of the incidents they must be prepared to handle. Today’s fire service responds to hazards that look very different from those of the past: Lithium-Ion battery incidents, active‑shooter threats, hazardous materials incidents, and structural fires that burn hotter and faster due to modern construction materials and increased fuel loads. These realities create greater risks for our firefighters, risks that can only be managed through consistent training, planning, and professional oversight. Our community now includes approximately 18–20 restaurants, 5 churches, and an elementary school. We’ve experienced 60–70 home sales over the past year, all of which require ongoing inspection, safety guidance, and public‑education support. In 2025, the Essex Fire Department handled 312 ambulance calls and 292 fire‑related incidents, and in 2026 the department has already responded to 110 ambulance and 116 fire‑related calls. This pace of work reflects the real and ongoing demands that our department must meet, and these needs are best supported by a robust call department anchored by a small core of full‑time members.
A full‑time Fire Prevention Officer (FPO) is essential not only to meet our regulatory responsibilities under OSHA, NFPA, and OEMS standards, but to ensure the long‑term sustainability and strength of Essex’s fire‑service model. The town’s goal has always been clear: maintain a highly capable and engaged call department, supported by a small, efficient full‑time staff. This is the most economical approach for a town like Essex—but it will only continue to work well going forward if a full-time presence creating the bandwidth to train, coordinate, and support call members is introduced. The FPO will oversee inspections, code compliance, equipment and certification management, and will also serve as a weekday frontline responder. Our call department is strong, committed, and eager to serve. This new position ensures they receive the support needed to continue growing. Looking ahead, we will also explore opportunities for call members to take on an even greater role in staffing and coverage—further leveraging the cost‑effective model that has long benefited our town.
Importantly, the cost of this position is partially offset because the town already funds two shifts, seven days a week, currently staffed by call firefighters. Establishing a full‑time Fire Prevention Officer strengthens the foundation our call firefighters rely on—enhancing safety, improving readiness, and ensuring our department remains effective amid the increasing demands of a modern community. Supporting this position is a direct investment in Essex’s future: in the longevity of our call‑firefighter model, in the safety of our residents, and in the operational resilience of our fire department.
The fire department budget is only one portion of the override ask. Other line items include the unpredictable year-over-year increases in insurance costs, which landed at a 14.4% increase this year; a salary increase for the DPW superintendent; and adjustments to salaries at the Senior Center.
Article 6 asks for $185k for the school budget. This year, the school budget came in at 3.5% growth, which is average and represents a level-services budget (same services as this year—no cuts). The school district, in order to alleviate some budget pressure, reduced their OPEB contribution by about $330k and allocated $600k from reserves. When the school committee considered whether to reduce the budget even more, the risk of adding more from reserves or OPEB outweighed the benefits.
Neither override presents a lightning rod issue nor merits a pitched battle. In my view, they are legitimate, practical, and measured requests and I support their passage. They represent responsible and necessary investments in the services that keep our community safe, functioning, and forward‑looking.
More information about the budget can be found here, in the Report of the Finance Committee: ClearGov Document - Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Book.)
Annie Cameron
Essex
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