Concord Personnel Board Approves Per Diem Paramedic Rate as Town Launches ALS Service

CARLISLE — June 10, 2026 — Concord Personnel Board approves per diem paramedic pay rate and tightens incentive plan rules. The board voted unanimously at its June 10 meeting to add a per diem paramedic classification to the town's miscellaneous compensation schedule at $40 to $45 per hour, with no benefits — above the Massachusetts private-sector market range of $27 to $38 — to attract experienced preceptors as the fire department transitions to in-house advanced life support service. Fire Chief Whitney said a nearly $1 million FEMA grant trained 14 firefighters to paramedic level, but all are newly certified and require experienced supervision for up to one year. The board also unanimously approved both the FY26 and FY27 employee incentive pay plans; the FY27 version, developed with Town Manager Carrie and Finance Director Angela Fleur, restricts merit pay eligibility for departing employees to those formally retiring under Chapter 32, eliminating the option for resignees. The board deferred a full vote on the town's first unified employee handbook — more than 100 pages and in development since 2022 — to its July 8 meeting, after two new members requested additional review time.