Rising Costs May Lead to Closing of Montclair, NJ, Ladder Company

The Montclair Fire Department is being forced to reduce the number of paid members at their station, despite some saying it’s a dangerous move.

Montclair faces financial pressures that officials say have made the current staffing model for its fire department unsustainable — including a 36.5% spike in employee health‑insurance costs and more than $1.7 million in overtime expenses.

Local officials say the township needs to cut back on the rising costs of maintaining a department with 70 firefighters who are paid full time.

The minimum daily staffing for the fire department has been reduced from 16 to 14 on-duty members per shift, according to a directive sent by Township Manager Stephen Marks.

One fire rig, Ladder Truck 2, “shall be taken out of service when there is insufficient staffing to operate the ladder truck due to vacations or other absences,” the directive said.

Fire Chief Robert Duncan, who declined to comment on the matter, was alerted to the changes on Feb. 5. The reductions took effect on March 5.

Montclair Mayor Renee Baskerville did not respond to a request for comment from NJ.com.

Following an independent study that was conducted on the Montclair Fire Department, one official said the township has been paying a hefty bill for overtime hours. Marks said the township spent approximately $1.75 million in overtime last year when firefighters frequently worked double shifts.

By temporarily taking ladder truck two out of service, the department will be able to reduce reliance on excessive overtime.

A temporary hiring freeze for non-essential positions has been put in place due to the health care increase. Marks asked all department heads to prepare multiple budget scenarios, including frozen and reduced-spending options.

No single department in Montclair is exempt from those “fiscal realities,” Marks said. Montclair is facing a 36.5% increase in employee health insurance costs, which Marks said is “significant.”

Marks said, in a statement based on an independent review of the fire department released in January, “The township must choose the most cost-effective and fiscally responsible path under current financial constraints.”

“Reducing reliance on overtime is also part of the Township’s broader effort to manage long-term costs,” said Marks. “Adjusting apparatus deployment when staffing levels fall below safe operating levels is intended in part to reduce that reliance while maintaining emergency response coverage.”

Union members say this reduction poses a serious safety risk to the first responders and the residents they serve.

“Our job doesn’t change just because we have less people,” said Tim McLoughlin, vice president of the Montclair Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association.

“We’re just going to be forced to do more work with less people on the scene to help,” said McLoughlin.

McLoughlin said staffing reductions can lead to increased response times and less manpower to help in emergencies.

A petition in opposition to the staffing changes has garnered more than 1,470 signatures.

Several union members, including McLoughlin, spoke out at the township’s February council meeting, urging the members to walk back their staff changes, calling them “reckless.”

“You’re putting the public’s lives in danger,” said Steve Miscia, a lifelong resident and 40-year firefighter with the Montclair Fire Department. “What are we going to wait for? A tragedy?”

A local business owner and resident told the council members during the meeting that the safety of local residents should never be compromised.

“Montclair is a dense, vibrant, and growing community. That density increases risks,” he said, acknowledging the more than 40,000 residents of the area.

Marks said the township “will continue monitoring the response performance” to ensure safety and that mutual aid agreements will remain in place.

McLoughlin told NJ.com the firefighters have received an “outpouring of support” from the public, in favor of rolling back the town council’s cuts.

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