N.J. Chief Opposes Plan to Swap Firefighters for EMTs

OCEAN CITY, N.J. -- The city's acting fire chief opposed a plan Thursday to replace as many as six firefighters with less-skilled emergency-medical technicians.

City Council proposed replacing retiring firefighters with a combination of full-time and part-time medics to save money.

Acting Chief Charlie Bowman said the plan could be implemented, but he advised against it.

"Could we do this? Yes. Should we do this? My answer is no," he said.

Council discussed the proposal Thursday at a special standing room-only meeting at the city library. The meeting was moved to the library to accommodate a larger crowd than City Hall can accommodate.

Firefighters in Ocean City (population 11,701) respond to far more medical emergencies than actual fires, which average 80 to 100 per year. The department responds to about 5,000 calls for service each year, about half of which are medical emergencies. But firefighters are trained to address everything from car accidents to water rescues to plane crashes.

The proposal could save taxpayers as much as $460,000 per year including reductions in overtime, Councilman Keith Hartzell said.

The average firefighter makes about $97,400 per year, including overtime. Under the proposal, the city would replace a retiring firefighter with one full-time and one part-time medic at a cost of about $43,680 for a savings of about $53,000.

The city administration voiced its first opposition to the proposal as presented.

"A model with nine civilian EMTs is one that will negatively impact this town's ability to fight fires," Finance Director Frank Donato said.

But Donato said part-time medics could be useful to reduce firefighter overtime.

Business Administrator Michael Dattilo said the city's Fire Department staffing works well.

"It goes without saying, but we have a great model," he said.

No firefighters are scheduled to retire in 2012, which gives the city time to consider other alternatives, he said.

Ocean City has three firehouses staffed by 61 firefighters and medics.

Bowman said the city tries to staff 15 firefighters and one medic per 24-hour shift. But the department rarely meets its own daily staffing goals because of vacation and sick time. Replacing more firefighters with medics would strain fire staffing, Bowman said.

"Initially, it would hinder our ability to handle a fire. They work as a team. You'll be one less off the bat," he said.

During a typical fire call, 11 firefighters respond initially, Bowman said. Another 38 firefighters can be recalled to duty if necessary. Ocean City also relies on mutual aid from Somers Point and the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company in Upper Township.

A 2007 Tri-Data study determined the city had characteristics both of a low-hazard and medium-hazard city because of its more than 1,000 buildings that are four stories or taller and a general lack of automatic sprinklers in older construction.

A City Council review of similar departments in southern New Jersey found a range of models from full-time paid staff to reliance on volunteers.

The city is negotiating a new contract with the fire union. Most every union contract expired in December.

Councilman John Kemenosh said the city has to make cuts to address its sliding property value. More residents are winning tax appeals on the value of their homes and businesses, he said. This is going to mean a higher tax rate unless the city can make cuts.

Councilman Scott Ping, one of the authors of the proposal, said the city must find ways to cut spending or services.

"Anyone who thinks Ocean City is immune to what's happening throughout the country has their head in the sand," Ping said. "I've heard firefighters say 'if it's not broke, don't fix it.' Well, the taxpayer is broke and we need to fix it. The last thing we want is those services to disappear because we can't afford them."

Michael Hinchman and other members of the civic group Fairness in Taxes said the savings make the proposal worth pursuing even in some modified form.

Ocean City High School graduate Wallace Gilchrist, a U.S. Marine, said he is hopeful of becoming the city's next firefighter after recently passing the qualification exams. The new model would scuttle those hopes, he said.

"I've protected and served this country. I'm ready to protect and serve this city," he said.

Ocean City resident Jim Smith, a retired Philadelphia firefighter and fire instructor, said the changes would jeopardize public safety.

"What we're looking at here is Russian roulette. People are looking at five blanks and one bullet, thinking that bullet will never be fired," he said. "The Fire Department knows that's not the case."

Ocean City resident Bill McDonnell, a retired fire captain, took issue with council's justification for making the changes.

"Mr. Hartzell doesn't want the facts get in the way of a good story," he said. "No offense to council, but you're out of your purview under the Faulkner Act. If you want to run for mayor, run for mayor."

Council made no decision Thursday.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service