| Fire chief faces 5 charges; hearing planned | ||||||||
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| BRANFORD — The Board of Fire Commissioners Thursday decided to move forward with a formal hearing to take evidence on five charges lodged against Fire Chief Peter Buonome. |
| The hearing has not been scheduled. First Selectman Anthony DaRos, in a letter dated Feb. 28, lodges three charges against Buonome. First, he alleges Buonome ignored an order not to use his department vehicle to commute between his Avon home and work. Second, DaRos claims Buonome has not provided information to the town's attorney to help prepare for defense of a pending union claim. The claim contests a board policy that requires a minimum of five career firefighters on duty per shift. Branford Professional Firefighters, Local 2533, cited safety concerns and wants the minimum raised. The fire board temporarily raised the minimum to six last fall, but went back to five in November because of budget constraints. In the third charge, DaRos claims Buonome did not address the amount of sick time firefighters use, which resulted in overtime costs. At Thursday's meeting, Town Attorney Penelope Bellamy outlined two more charges against Buonome, who also serves as town fire marshal. The fourth charge is that Buonome, as fire marshal, didn't ensure that reports on dozens of local fires were filed with the state fire marshal, as required by state statute. Finally, Bellamy said Buonome allegedly didn't adequately prepare a plan to finish the fiscal year within budget, as requested by the fire board. Attorney Karen Torre, who represents Buonome, called the charges "frivolous." The town recently tried to negotiate a deal with Buonome to resign as chief, but retain his role as fire marshal, she said. Buonome rejected the deal, she said. "Up until five minutes ago, we had only been advised of the three original charges," Torre said. "Now, after he didn't take the town's offer, there is a charge that he isn't a good fire marshal. Your attorneys just realized that if you fire this chief, he remains as fire marshal. This is a trumped-up charge and a kangaroo setting for this chief." She says Buonome is being singled out on the car issue. The chief, she said, is on duty 24 hours a day and needs to be able to respond to fire scenes. During his eight-year tenure, Buonome had been able to take the car home, but in January, the policy was changed. Buonome said he told the board that the department wouldn't be able to finish the fiscal year within budget. An unforeseen truck repair and the board's decision to temporarily raise the minimum staffing level meant additional expense, he said. A small number of firefighters abuse sick time, according to Buonome, and he said there are letters of reprimand on file and records of absences. To his knowledge, Buonome said the fire marshal reports have been filed with the state. Michelle Tuccitto can be reached at mtuccitto@nhregister.com or at 789-5615. |
| İNew Haven Register 2002 |