Southbridge Fire Hires New Firefighter, Moves $90,000 to Cover Overtime

Select Board · Meeting of May 28, 2026

Southbridge fire department hires new firefighter and shifts $90,000 to overtime as staffing shortages mount. The Protections of Persons and Property Subcommittee, meeting jointly with the Town Council Thursday with Councilors Provost, Chenier, and Ortiz present, unanimously approved the appointment of Peter Souselon of Brimfield as a full-time firefighter and EMT, the fifth hire from a recent pool of candidates. The fire chief called Souselon "highly" recommended based on experience dating to 2005 and certifications including Firefighter 1 and 2 and EMT Basic.

The board also unanimously approved two transfers, $10,000 from holiday pay and $80,000 from salaries, into the overtime line, with the town manager citing costs of $15,000 to $20,000 per pay period in overtime while vacancies persist. The hiring list for the department's final open position is now exhausted, and the town manager said the department will repost, potentially targeting firefighters displaced by failed override votes in nearby communities.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of May 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.