Union backs fire merger; West Haven moves toward single department

WEST HAVEN — The city firefighters’ union is making a push to merge the city’s three fire departments, arguing the system is archaic, rife with political interference and results in poor service.

The union’s stance is the first time in four years serious discussions about consolidation have emerged.

The union, which represents all city rank and file firefighters, also wants to keep the fire service separate from City Hall.

The city has the rare structure of three separate fire districts, each with a different fire service tax rate. The three departments are called the West Haven, West Shore and Allingtown fire departments.

Union President Leo "Butch" Arria said that the union has formed a committee to study the feasibility of consolidation, and to determine a course of action.

"The system isn’t working anymore, and I think the only people who can do anything about it is the union," Arria said. "It’s time for us to sit down together and see what we can do about it. When the city tries to ram it down our throats, there’s no way we’ll go along." Any plan put forward by the union would keep fire taxation and budget processes completely out of City Council’s hands, Arria said.

"We don’t want to get involved in the political scene," Arria said.

Arria’s move is the most recent in a series of pushes for consolidation, all of which have thus far fallen flat.

In 1996, a private consulting firm recommended that the city consolidate the three departments. But an effort by City Council to consolidate the departments was stymied after a Superior Court judge ruled that the move violated the City Charter.

And while Mayor H. Richard Borer has been a proponent of consolidation since he took office 10 years ago, he adamantly opposes having the fire service separate from the city.

"That’s what government is all about," Borer said.

"If you look at any other city, form Milford to Los Angeles, it’s included in the tax rate," Borer said.

Under the union’s idea, fire service taxation would remain separate from city taxes, but all residents would pay the same tax rate, and have equal service.

"Take all the money, throw it in a pot, and divide it among the three. That’s the best way to do it, and the people shouldn’t have three separate tax rates," Arria said.

Only one of the two city fire chiefs interviewed this week said he supports consolidation.

West Haven Chief William S. Johnson Jr. has traditionally favored consolidation, because he said it would make more firefighters available throughout the city to respond to calls.

The 1996 study found that while 10 to 16 firefighters are required to successfully fight a fire, only the West Haven department was adequately staffed to do so, with 12 professional firefighters available to immedialy respond. The West Shore and Allingtown departments had eight and five, respectively.

West Shore Chief William F. Kelly does not support consolidation. Allingtown chief Richard F. Massaro could not be reached for comment.

Kelly and Johnson said that if consolidation happens, the fire service should be separate from City Hall.

"Any consolidation, if it were to come, would certainly be better without direct contact from City Hall," Kelly said.

Johnson said that taxation overseen by a fire commission, separate from City Council, gives residents a greater ability to affect change in taxation and service.

"It certainly has its benefits. One of them is that the people have the right to vote on the budget. They have the right to voice their opinion," Johnson said.

Borer said he is willing to work with all involved to level off taxation and service.

"We’ll be willing to work with the firefighters…and not force it on anyone," Borer said.

The union committee, consisiting of Arria, along with two firefighters and a volunteer from each department, will investigate the matter then report their findings to each of the three fire commissions after July 1, Arria said.

"It’ll take a lot of work, but it can happen. And it’s time for something to happen," Arria said.

©New Haven Register 2000