City shuffles schedules at fire department to cut overtime costs
NORWICH – The City of Norwich Fire Department is looking at changes in its scheduling that would reduce the number of paid firemen on duty overnight.
“We’re going to have staff on duty 24/7. There just may be more on during the day when we have more calls for service,” said acting Fire Chief Joseph Angelino, who assured the changes will not have a negative effect on the safety of the public. “We’re trying to put people on when they are needed,” he said. “Statistically, days are our busiest time.”
During early budget talks, the Common Council said a tax rate increase of 38 percent was possible. According to Angelino, “of that 38 percent, about half was for fire department overtime.” Currently there are four paid firefighters on at all times. Changes to the schedule may change some 24-hour shifts into 12-hour shifts, making it possible to have fewer firefighters on at night.
“We’re working to see how to best schedule the department, so the public doesn’t see a decrease in service,” Angelino said.
The change in the scheduling will have no effect on the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) Rating – used by insurance agencies to determine the cost of hazard insurance in a municipality. According to the ISO web site, 50 percent of the rating is based on the number of engine companies and the amount of water a community needs to put out a fire, 40 percent on the community’s water supply, and 10 percent on how well the department receives alarms.
Some in the department are not happy with the idea of changing the way the department is run by decreasing the number of paid personnel on in the evening hours. “I don’t like the idea of going down to three guys. I think we need four people there,” said Volunteer Association President James Fowlston. Remaining confident in the department, Fowlston continued by saying the community is still safe, because they can also rely on the hard work of the volunteers. “I want residents of the city and the surrounding communities to know the volunteers are there to give 100 percent, to see that the property and the health of the community is served,” he said.
“We’re going to have staff on duty 24/7. There just may be more on during the day when we have more calls for service,” said acting Fire Chief Joseph Angelino, who assured the changes will not have a negative effect on the safety of the public. “We’re trying to put people on when they are needed,” he said. “Statistically, days are our busiest time.”
During early budget talks, the Common Council said a tax rate increase of 38 percent was possible. According to Angelino, “of that 38 percent, about half was for fire department overtime.” Currently there are four paid firefighters on at all times. Changes to the schedule may change some 24-hour shifts into 12-hour shifts, making it possible to have fewer firefighters on at night.
“We’re working to see how to best schedule the department, so the public doesn’t see a decrease in service,” Angelino said.
The change in the scheduling will have no effect on the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) Rating – used by insurance agencies to determine the cost of hazard insurance in a municipality. According to the ISO web site, 50 percent of the rating is based on the number of engine companies and the amount of water a community needs to put out a fire, 40 percent on the community’s water supply, and 10 percent on how well the department receives alarms.
Some in the department are not happy with the idea of changing the way the department is run by decreasing the number of paid personnel on in the evening hours. “I don’t like the idea of going down to three guys. I think we need four people there,” said Volunteer Association President James Fowlston. Remaining confident in the department, Fowlston continued by saying the community is still safe, because they can also rely on the hard work of the volunteers. “I want residents of the city and the surrounding communities to know the volunteers are there to give 100 percent, to see that the property and the health of the community is served,” he said.
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