Michelle Tuccitto, Register StaffJuly 18, 2002
BRANFORD — The Fire Department needs $33,500 to cover a sick leave budget shortfall and another $35,000 for its overtime account for the 2001-02 fiscal year, and finance officials say they are hoping fire officials can curb future sick time overuse.
A report by retired Fire Chief Peter Buonome given to Finance Director James Finch shows that 13 career firefighters had used at least 120 hours of sick leave each in the 2001-02 fiscal year.

Extra pay doled out to firefighters who filled in for those taking sick time contributed to the budget gap in the fire department's overtime account.

The Board of Finance is scheduled to consider making money transfers to cover the budget gaps at its meeting July 29.

"It appears that there are some abuses (of sick time), but they aren't necessarily systemic," said board Chairman Joseph Mooney.

Finch said both he and the board want the fire department to reduce sick leave overuse so future budget transfers won't be needed.

By contract, union members get 12 sick days each year, and they accumulate annually.

"My understanding is that sick days are conditional — if you are sick, then you're entitled to days off," Finch said. "In order to do your job effectively, you need to be there. The union has a philosophy that they are entitled to take their sick time, which is inconsistent with how most employers operate."

According to Buonome, some firefighters had legitimate reasons for their absences.

"We have had people who have had surgeries and will have a one-time leave," said Buonome. "But when people are interspersing sick with vacation time, give me a break."

According to Buonome's report on 2001-02 sick and injury days, one day is equal to a 12-hour shift.

Firefighters are supposed to have three days off, then work a 24-hour shift, so they work 48 hours a week.

Deputy Fire Chief William Pepe was at the top of the list, with 82 days of sick leave and six days of worker's compensation, the report states.

Pepe said the majority of his sick leave days should be classified as worker's compensation days, as he was off because of an on-the-job back injury. He also was injured in an off-duty motor vehicle crash, he said.

The report claims that Michael Manemeit, president of the Branford Professional Firefighters Local 2533, took 28 days of sick leave and six days of worker's compensation.

Manemeit disputed these statistics, and instead produced a time-off calendar that shows he took the equivalent of 14 twelve-hour injury days, and a total of 14 twelve-hour sick shifts.

"It's not an issue — there is no abuse of sick leave," Manemeit said. "If someone is sick or injured and have accumulated sick time and bring in a doctor's note, then we're allowed to take our sick days."

Department staff tend to get sick more often because of exposure to body fluids during medical calls, he said.

"If we were to come to work not being 100 percent, we'd put our co-workers at risk," Manemeit said.

"That's what makes firefighting different from other jobs."

Finch disputed Manemeit's argument.

"Why is it that some people don't use any days, and they are exposed to the same bodily fluids?" Finch said.

Deputy Chief Ronald Mullen and Firefighter Allyn Nenninger each had 19 days worth of sick leave, according to the report.

Deputy Chief Michael Klarman took 18 sick days, with seven days of worker's compensation. Klarman said he was out for more than a month because of an injury not related to his job, then had to have surgery for an unrelated health problem.

Thirteen firefighters took seven or fewer sick days, and two, Sean Ohidy and John Cudgma, didn't take any sick time, the report says.

Robert Massey Jr., chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said the human resource department is investigating sick time use, including checking doctors' letters.

"If some people are abusing their sick time, we will deal with them," Massey said.

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

İNew Haven Register 2002