Part-time firefighters currently employed by the village of Fredonia will stay on, but the future of those positions should any of them leave is up in the air.

“All three of the part-timers were initially full time employees and they continue to work part time,” acting Fire Chief Kurt Maytum stated. “The fortunate part for us about that is we have 416 hours that we need to fill and if one of the full-time staff is off, par- time people are the lowest wage that we have and they don’t really, aside from us buying one annual physical for one guy, pay anything.”

“There were 112 hours used since last June for all three part timers,” Trustee EvaDawn Bashaw said at a budget meeting held Wednesday. “We do pay for their turnout gear.”

“I agree, but they’re currently equipped and their gear is good and unless it’s damaged, good for 10 years,” Maytum interjected.

“The indication would be as they depart replacement would be considered,” Bashaw added. “One hundred and twelve hours from last June is not a lot and to purchase the turnout gear for three people, granted they had it because they were with us, but to do that for future part timers that we only use 112 hours a year for is not a good investment for us.”

Maytum argued that the current staff is a good investment for Fredonia and the reason why is because those guys are fully trained, they’ve all been to the fire academy, they’re all three paramedics, they are all currently certified.

“Two work for Chautauqua County and run the fly car and the other one works for Buffalo Fire,” Maytum shared. “The fortunate thing for the two, because they work for Chautauqua County they also get their physicals taken care of by Chautauqua County, so there is very minimal cost.”

Bashaw just wanted it noted that following any departure of these existing three people that the future of part timers in the department will be scrutinized.

Earlier this month, Bashaw said upwards of $50,000 can be saved in the upcoming village budget by realigning the schedules of the firefighters “In the last four or five months we have not utilized our part-timers very much at all,” Bashaw said.