Branford fire chief and, leader of fire commision trade barbs

Chief, leader of fire board trade barbs

Michelle Tuccitto, Register Staff

June 07, 2002

BRANFORD — The chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners wrote a letter last month to town administrators claiming work conditions at the Fire Department under Fire Chief Peter Buonome's direction are "out of control" and that he fears violence in the workplace.

Chairman Robert Massey Jr. said Thursday, however, that he believes the town administration's response has improved the situation.

Buonome blasted Massey Thursday for "political interference" and said Massey should resign.

In the May 24 letter addressed to First Selectman Anthony DaRos, Massey claimed the situation at the department had deteriorated since May 13, when the board dropped five charges against Buonome.

"Since Tuesday, May 14, 2002, the chief has singled out certain members of the department," Massey wrote. "These are members of the bargaining unit, it appears to be in direct retaliation after his charges were exonerated by the Board of Fire Commissioners." The five charges had been that Buonome ignored a directive not to commute in his department vehicle between his Avon home and work, didn't adequately prepare a plan to finish the fiscal year within budget, failed to help defend the department against a union grievance, didn't adequately address firefighter sick time abuse, and didn't make sure reports on dozens of fires were filed with the state fire marshal.

After dropping the charges the fire board announced that Buonome may use his town car for commuting and it accepted his March budget plan. Buonome also agreed to address the three other issues.

In the letter Massey referred to "the chief's irrational behavior" and asked DaRos to take action.

"I am extremely concerned about the safety of the members of our Fire Department, the administrative staff and the citizens of Branford," Massey wrote. "It is my strong opinion that we could experience violence in the workplace."

DaRos could not be reached for comment Thursday.

On Thursday, Massey said he has spoken with DaRos and Human Resources Director Robert Moore since the letter was written.

"They claim that they have it under control," Massey said. "I haven't heard of any problems or new events since I wrote the letter, and I feel the first selectman did handle it."

Buonome denied harassing anyone, and said Thursday that he received a copy of Massey's letter from the Register, not from the board.

"If the chief doesn't have the support of the administration, then the chief can't function," Buonome said. "No administrator should do this to a department head."

Buonome said the allegations stem from his attempt to stop sick time abuse.

"This is ridiculous," said Buonome. "I'm caught in the middle between the first selectman and other town officials who want me to discipline firefighters who they believe are ripping off the public, and certain commissioners who are acting to protect these very people."

He said taxpayers would be outraged by the level of sick time abuse and outside interference.

"Rather than go after me … Massey and his collaborators should resign, so the reforms of the department can proceed without continual political interference," Buonome said.

The firefighters' union has a complaint pending before the state Department of Labor against the town, Board of Fire Commissioners and Buonome over what it calls Buonome's "systematic pattern of discrimination and retaliation" against union members.

Michelle Tuccitto can be reached at mtuccitto@nhregister.com , or 789-5615.