July 22--WEST HAVEN -- Just a few weeks into the new fiscal year, West Shore Fire Department commissioners are considering eliminating part-time firefighters for a savings of $20,000 annually and defending the need for cost-cutting.
The possible staffing shake-up has rattled employees, with multiple utility firefighters -- the official title of those who may be affected -- protesting the move at a recent meeting. Commissioners postponed a decision after questions arose about the idea's timing, since a new budget including the utility crew was just passed at the end of May.
"I do not understand what has changed [since] the May meeting when they proposed the line item to fund the program. It wasn't even a question, as far as we know ... They also gave us a small increase this year," said Tom McKeon, the most senior utility firefighter with 28 years experience. "Now we're 17 or 18 days into fiscal year, and for whatever reason, financially they need to do away with the program. That's what I'm shocked most about."
He also said workers only found out about the proposal when they saw the meeting agenda hanging on the Ocean Avenue fire station door.
The plan has support of new Chairman Michael Doyle and Commissioner John Biancur, who cite a need to look for budget savings throughout the year without affecting services. Commissioner Al Posey is reluctant to back the idea, saying it's a small amount of money to pay for extra manpower and a drop in the bucket when looking for ways to grapple with the $40 million underfunded pension.
Union representative William Spiegel acknowledged the utility program cut was offered during negotiations to save union jobs and because of concerns that utility workers don't receive enough training. However, he said full-timers are always against any manpower cuts.
There are currently five utility firefighters in West Shore, with one at a time working the typically busy shifts of Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in addition to eight union members. The program has served as a launching pad for full-time firefighters both in departments in the city, including Spiegel, and other municipalities.
While the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown no longer has utility firefighters, the Center District uses them on Friday and Saturday nights.
The West Shore program, along with training, has already been slashed over the years. An assistant chief used to give utility workers supplemental training, but that chief position was cut. Though there used to be more utility workers, safety hasn't been compromised, Doyle said.
According to Biancur and Doyle, the commission constantly looks for savings. Biancur said he hopes enough costs are cut this year so the district won't need to use $227,000 from a savings account to balance the budget, as it has planned to do. There is currently more than $1 million in the account.
McKeon said the amount of money in the savings account leaves him even more confused about why the utility crew would be cut. He called the proposal "political," since many workers supported Sal Russo for commissioner and not Biancur in the May election.
However, Biancur said the tit-for-tat approach never crossed his mind and he wouldn't make a decision based on personal feelings.
When the union broached the idea to cut utility firefighters during contract negotiations this spring after it was asked to find savings, the idea wasn't considered because part-timers are not in the union and therefore doesn't have a place in bargaining, Biancur said.
But commissioners decided to evaluate the idea. Doyle said the district needs to run more like a business.
"Our first priority is public safety, and we're trying to run the most efficient fire department that we can afford," Doyle said. "As far as timing ... like I say, there may be something next month I bring up. There might be another place we're looking to bring a cut. There's no ulterior motive. We're constantly looking at it and seeing if there's an area where we can do it better."
Copyright 2013 - New Haven Register, Conn.
