Budget Committee hears Fire Chief's case for four Shift Captain positions.
Goffstown Fire Chief Benjamin Selleck detailed a severe retention crisis and proposed four new Shift Captain positions to address it. Since 2020, the department has lost 31 of 24 full-time positions, with a median service length of 1.1 years; exit interviews cite workload, supervision gaps, and no
Budget Committee · Meeting of September 22, 2026
NH GOFFSTOWN — Goffstown Fire Chief Benjamin Selleck detailed a severe retention crisis and proposed four new Shift Captain positions to address it. Since 2020, the department has lost 31 of 24 full-time positions, with a median service length of 1.1 years; exit interviews cite workload, supervision gaps, and no promotion pathway. Overtime has consistently overrun budget: FY2025 was appropriated at $348,811 but spent $454,515.
Chief Selleck's non-union Shift Captain proposal, one per shift, aims to raise crew sizes toward national standards, provide on-station supervision, and create internal advancement, with a goal of reducing annual departures from four to five to two or fewer. Cost estimates are being refined for the FY2027 budget process, and Chief Selleck committed to providing a detailed cost-benefit comparison at the next presentation.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 371 words
Source: the Budget Committee meeting of September 22, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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