Fire dept. costs still concern at finance meeting
NORWICH – Acting Fire Chief Joseph Angelino addressed the City of Norwich Finance and Personnel committees Tuesday night about a vacancy in the fire department as well as overtime scheduling.
The city’s Chief of Police started by discussing what he had seen during his time at the fire department. “We have the best of both, paid and volunteer,” he said. “We have instantaneous response and volunteer back up.” Larger cities, including Johnson City and Endicott, he said, use Norwich as an example for their departments. Angelino said over the seven months he has been at the fire department, he has been typing up his observations and that he will have recommendations for the council.
“There are some smart and dedicated people there who could run the show better than I because they are firemen,” he said.
Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey asked Angelino if the department was looking to fill the vacancy or not. First Ward Alderman A. Anthony Abraham, said it was previously “agreed upon that we wouldn’t fill vacancies left from retirement or attrition.”
Angelino said that eventually the position would need to be filled. “One of these captains is going to step forward, or you’re going to pick one. If you move that person up (to fill the position of Fire Chief) you will need to replace them,” Angelino told the committee.
Jeffrey asked what was the average cost to the city for a paid fireman with overtime and benefits. Director of Human Resources Deborah DeForest answered, saying the average cost is $100,826.
“If we pay overtime, whatever the rate is, do we also have to pay pension and benefits that we don’t usually see?” Jeffrey then asked.
DeForest confirmed Jeffrey’s suggestion, saying hidden costs of overtime amounted to 29.5 percent on top of the firemen’s base rate.
“The main point is that we’re scheduling and setting up for that to work by cutting down on overtime and making the department more efficient.”
With Superior Ambulance Service cutting back its services, the Norwich Fire Department has been making a lot more ambulance runs. At last month’s finance meeting, Angelino told the committee that Superior’s cutbacks had caused an increase in overtime at the fire department. According to Angelino, Norwich only transports patients from one hospital to another only in emergency situations when times is of the essence.
Jeffrey asked if the city taxpayer was getting hurt as a result of the increased overtime. “Are we breaking even?” he asked.
City Finance Director Bill Roberts told the committee that last year the city collected 57 percent of what they billed. Despite that fact, he said that even when including the cost of vehicle maintenance, the city seems to be breaking even. “The costs are close to what we’re collecting,” Roberts said.
The city’s Chief of Police started by discussing what he had seen during his time at the fire department. “We have the best of both, paid and volunteer,” he said. “We have instantaneous response and volunteer back up.” Larger cities, including Johnson City and Endicott, he said, use Norwich as an example for their departments. Angelino said over the seven months he has been at the fire department, he has been typing up his observations and that he will have recommendations for the council.
“There are some smart and dedicated people there who could run the show better than I because they are firemen,” he said.
Sixth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey asked Angelino if the department was looking to fill the vacancy or not. First Ward Alderman A. Anthony Abraham, said it was previously “agreed upon that we wouldn’t fill vacancies left from retirement or attrition.”
Angelino said that eventually the position would need to be filled. “One of these captains is going to step forward, or you’re going to pick one. If you move that person up (to fill the position of Fire Chief) you will need to replace them,” Angelino told the committee.
Jeffrey asked what was the average cost to the city for a paid fireman with overtime and benefits. Director of Human Resources Deborah DeForest answered, saying the average cost is $100,826.
“If we pay overtime, whatever the rate is, do we also have to pay pension and benefits that we don’t usually see?” Jeffrey then asked.
DeForest confirmed Jeffrey’s suggestion, saying hidden costs of overtime amounted to 29.5 percent on top of the firemen’s base rate.
“The main point is that we’re scheduling and setting up for that to work by cutting down on overtime and making the department more efficient.”
With Superior Ambulance Service cutting back its services, the Norwich Fire Department has been making a lot more ambulance runs. At last month’s finance meeting, Angelino told the committee that Superior’s cutbacks had caused an increase in overtime at the fire department. According to Angelino, Norwich only transports patients from one hospital to another only in emergency situations when times is of the essence.
Jeffrey asked if the city taxpayer was getting hurt as a result of the increased overtime. “Are we breaking even?” he asked.
City Finance Director Bill Roberts told the committee that last year the city collected 57 percent of what they billed. Despite that fact, he said that even when including the cost of vehicle maintenance, the city seems to be breaking even. “The costs are close to what we’re collecting,” Roberts said.
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