Goldsboro’s public safety departments are hoping to boost their staffing in 2022. 

During Tuesday’s city council retreat, Goldsboro Fire Chief Ron Stempien provided an update on his department’s three main concerns: staffing, salaries and apparatus.

Stempien says, by the end of this month, the GFD will have lost nine employees since the end of December.

Chief Stempien is expecting to continue losing firefighters as the Goldsboro Fire Department has a lower starting salary compared to neighboring departments.

He says the GFD could use to implement a pay plan so firefighters know how their salaries can increase over time.

Stempien is also concerned about the fire department’s fleet.

The average age of the GFD’s fleet is 16-years old, and four of the department’s vehicles are over 20-years-old.

NFPA recommends a fire truck should be retired after 25 years (15 years of frontline service and then ten years of reserve service).

Chief Stempien says there was a 22% increase in calls for the Goldsboro Fire Department from 2020 to 2021.

The Goldsboro City Council’s annual retreat allows for an in-depth look at numerous departments, organizations and issues as the city prepares to enter its budget season.