News photo by Josh Jambor Pictured is Dillon Romstadt, who was recently selected to join the Alpena Township Fire Department. Two new policies regarding paid-on-call will be presented at the next township board meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.

ALPENA – The Alpena Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Jan. 7 to address staffing concerns at the Alpena Township Fire Department. The department needs to fill three vacancies due to resignations.

Three applicants were interviewed and Chief Baker recommended hiring Dillon Romstadt and Wyatt Smith.

The third applicant, Emily Duffy, was considered for a potential part-time hire, but unfortunately her EMT license lapsed.

“Her application is being considered upon being updated,” Baker said.

Smith is currently a paid-on-call firefighter for the township and is enrolled in an EMT class, funded by the township.

Because Smith has not passed his EMT class, the board consulted with their legal counsel regarding how to move forward. The board ultimately decided to postpone a decision on a full-time position for Smith until they receive further clarification from their insurance carrier.

Romstadt was offered a full-time position contingent upon passing a medical physical and drug screening.

“I am excited and glad to be a part of the Alpena Township Fire Department family,” Romstadt told The News.

Even with the recent addition of Romstadt, and potentially Smith, to the department, the township still has positions to fill.

“The fire department has seen three full-time resignations/retirements and two paid-on-call personnel also resigned,” Baker said.

Baker added that the resignations were for various reasons, whether that be from finding new employment, lacking the time commitment to attend training and respond to calls, or because of family commitments.

He explained that the township explores different avenues to find new personnel.

“The posting is on the township website, it has been posted on Indeed, and it was posted to current and former students of the Lansing Community College Fire Science program,” Baker said.

Baker also said he reached out to “all fire departments in Alpena County, as well as other counties that border Alpena.”

The board will also discuss a paid-on-call pay policy at the next board meeting on Monday at 6 p.m.

Baker explained that current paid-on-call staff are paid a $26 flat fee for responses in the first hour.

“If they go beyond an hour it’s paid at $15 an hour, per quarter-hour increments,” Baker added. “For training and activities, they are paid at $15 an hour. Those qualified to cover shifts for the full-time staff are paid at $15 an hour.”

Two new policies, pertaining to the paid-on-call policy, will be presented to the board on Monday.

“One is specific to paid-on-call covering shifts to increase the hourly rate if they have a minimum of two years in the department and meet the requirements,” Baker said.

He explained that the other is to address a premium incentive for covering open full-time shifts and for those responding to calls on holidays.

“Both of these policies are to show the appreciation for the dedication of the paid-on-call staff to ensure adequate staffing for incidents,” Baker said.

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.