Revisions to Greenville's Act 47 economic recovery plan are in -- and the long-term maintenance of a paid fire department could still be out of the town's future.

A memo dated Dec. 27 from Resource, Development and Management Inc., the Pittsburgh-based coordinator appointed by the state to shepherd the recovery process, lists 12 changes from the original report. Clauses referring to the fire department, which recommended replacing the borough's paid firefighters with volunteers, were not changed.

"While numerous individuals raised issues relative to the recommendations ... the coordinator has not changed these recommendations since they were worded as 'should,' which means they are advisable," the memo said.

These recommendations had caused public outcry at a town meeting held to discuss the plan. The plan's 200-plus recommendations are divided into "shall" and "should" measures. If the borough adopts the plan, the "shall" measures must be adopted. The "should" measures are strong recommendations, but the borough is not obligated to adhere to them.

The plan, under the "should" clauses, calls for the borough to reduce paid personnel through attrition, consider converting the department to a volunteer staff, and using the paid firefighters and the fire station's maintenance pit for all routine borough vehicle repairs.

The recommendations were made after 131 people attended a public meeting at the high school to discuss the plan, the memo said.

Among the major revisions is a higher cap on total shifts per week for the police department. The plan had set the cap at 49, but Police Chief Tom Strahler said that wasn't adequate.

"We have 11 full-time officers who work five shifts per week," he said. "The cap at 49 wasn't enough."

The cap was set at 55 shifts per week in the revisions to reflect that.

A new recommendation advises the borough to take Greenville Municipal Authorities employees off their wage freeze in 2003 if there are sufficient funds from the sewage rates to make up for any raise. If provided, the wage increase would be capped at 3 percent per year.

Minor changes to the plan include fixing typographical errors and changing wording to make language in several of the recommendations stronger or clearer.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com