Conn. Hearing Heats Up Over Retirement Age

PLAINVILLE, Conn. -- Firefighters told the Town Council Monday they are not pleased that a change to their mandatory retirement age is being considered without consulting them first.

“I can’t support this change without looking at the possible problems it could cause,” said Capt. Adrien Paradis, noting that the chance of having a heart attack rises as a person gets older and that heart attacks are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters.

The council held a public hearing Monday to air a proposal to remove a statement in the Division of Fire ordinance that states that all members and officers must retire once they reach age 65. Many of the firefighters said they had not heard about the proposal until late last week.

Chief Raymond Swanson had a lot of questions. “Why do you want to change it so quickly?” he asked. “Why is the Town Council concerned about the age of firefighters? Why not talk to the fire chief first? Why didn’t our council liaison not talk about it with us?”

Rick Drezek, the council’s liaison to the fire department, said he brought it up with the chief at monthly fire company meetings in March, April and May, but the chief never got back to him.

“We had to get your attention somehow,” he said as many of the 30 firefighters in the audience grumbled. “We tried three times and it fell on deaf ears.”

After the hearing, Swanson said he had wanted to discuss with the council other parts of the ordinance, an 18-page document that covers duties of the chief and all officers, conduct, disciplinary actions, bylaws and membership eligibility.

However, no meeting was scheduled. But he feels the hearing was productive.

“I wanted to make sure we were all on the same path,” he said. “I think tonight the Town Council listened to us. I’m not bashing anybody.”

Most of the other firefighters who spoke up suggested the council form a committee with members of the fire company to discuss the proposed change.

Council member Dan Hurley said he spent the summer going over ordinances with Town Manager Robert Lee to see if there was anything that should be removed or revised. They felt the age requirement should be eliminated because older people are, in general, healthier and in better shape than they were in the 1980s when the ordinance was written.

The council took no action.

“As I see it the retirement age is not an issue,” said Council Chairwoman Kathy Pugliese. “They wanted to give their input. We will consider their comments.”

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