NORWICH – At the end of the 2006, the City of Norwich decided to implement scheduling changes at the fire department to lower the number of overtime hours. While the final numbers have not yet been tallied, preliminary findings show a significant improvement.

At last week’s meeting of the Public Safety / Public Works Committee, Chairman Terry Bresina said it looks as if the fire department will likely stay within its budget for the 2007 year. The budget for 2007 totaled $1,114,441, of which $81,595 was for overtime costs. The 2007 budgeted amount was more than $600,000 less than the previous year, and the city had hoped that scheduling changes would help to keep the department within its budgeted amount.

So far, the changes seem to have worked. ““We’re taking significant steps to really reduce overtime,” Human Resources Director Deborah Deforest explained in March. “The numbers for 2006 could look high compared to where we hope to be for 2007.”