Davidson fire chief seeks full-time staff shift, new pay policy

Fire Chief Ryan Monteith asked Davidson town commissioners to convert one part-time firefighter position at Station 1 into a full-time role effective January 1, 2027. The change would cost the department just over $50,000 in the current budget, a sum he said can be covered by existing salary funds. Future budgets would see an increase of approximately $100,000 to sustain the new full-time post. Monteith presented the proposal at the board’s October 13 session, citing difficulties in keeping all shifts fully staffed with part-time personnel.

The shift responds to a tightening labor market for first responders. Monteith described the situation as an arms race for part-time workers. Many of these individuals hold primary jobs with other departments and take supplemental shifts elsewhere for extra income. He noted that home departments are now offering unlimited overtime, which allows firefighters to earn more without traveling. Additionally, a growing preference for work-life balance has reduced the pool of candidates interested in part-time coverage. Monteith stated that relying on part-time firefighters is no longer sustainable.

The proposed conversion is the first step in a longer plan. Monteith also recommended converting a second part-time position at Station 2 to full-time by Fiscal Year 2028. Mayor Rusty Knox questioned whether the town’s current model was outdated, asking if Davidson was a dinosaur. Monteith agreed that a fully staffed, full-time department is the best long-term approach. He confirmed that transitioning to a fully full-time staff is the department's plan.

Town Manager Austin Nantz introduced a parallel proposal to update the town’s municipal compensation policy for all staff positions. She recommended changing the language in the Grade, Pay and Classification Plan Policy to explicitly commit to hiring and retaining quality personnel. Nantz said competing for talent in a small-town budget requires a specific strategy. She noted that Davidson cannot match the dollar-for-dollar wages of larger jurisdictions. Mecklenburg County sets an hourly minimum wage of $25.53, and Charlotte sets it at $25. Davidson’s current minimum is $22.

Nantz argued that Davidson must remain in the upper third of the regional market salary range. She stated that the town cannot be last in the region for financial compensation. To achieve this, she proposed annual market monitoring and a comprehensive market analysis every three years. Commissioner Steve Justus described Davidson as a cultural and village-atmosphere unicorn, suggesting the town has assets beyond money that attract candidates. Nantz agreed that emphasizing these town characteristics is part of the strategy to hire the right people.

The board discussed these items on October 13. Decisions on the firefighter conversion and the compensation policy are scheduled for the October 27 meeting. That session occurred after the print deadline for the Citizen. The immediate financial impact of the fire staffing change is modest, but the long-term commitment to full-time operations represents a structural change for the department. The compensation update aims to formalize how the town sets wages for all municipal employees.

Monteith’s presentation linked the staffing needs to the broader compensation strategy. As the town moves toward full-time fire operations, the need to compete for specialized skills becomes more acute. Nantz’s proposal addresses this by updating the policy framework. The goal is to ensure Davidson remains an attractive employer despite its smaller budget. The board will vote on both the specific firefighter position conversion and the general compensation policy updates in the coming days.