Sunday, February 13, 2005
By Steve Gambini
Copyright © 2005 Republican-American
WATERBURY -- Michael Maglione wore jeans and a sweater to the office Friday while most other city officials were off for the observance of Lincoln's Birthday.
His new uniform as Waterbury's new permanent fire chief probably wouldn't have made sense that day, given the mountains of files and reports he has to sort through to prepare for the job.
But into his fourth decade as a firefighter, Maglione said learning the operations of the department isn't something that's causing him stress.
"The biggest thing is learning the people," Maglione sad. "It's having a name to go with the face."
Two days into the job, Maglione, who served 10 years as chief in Bridgeport, said he's been pleasantly surprised at how welcome he's been made to feel by firefighters and other department heads.
Bridgeport rules limited Maglione to two, five-year terms as chief, and officials there indicated that without that prohibition, they would have preferred to keep their chief.
The admiration was mutual, he said.
"I know I had emotional ties to the fire department," Maglione said. "But I didn't realize my relationships were so strong with the other department heads. It was very difficult to leave."
Through the process that resulted in his taking the oath to serve as Waterbury fire chief on Wednesday, local officials have pointed to Maglione's interest in multiple aspects of city government as one of his strengths. That interest may be something that distinguishes his tenure from other chiefs.
"I like to know what's going on in the city," Maglione said. Because budget pressures in one department could ultimately affect the fire department, Maglione said being aware is important.
At his swearing in ceremony, Maglione brought up a challenge: the poor morale that has plagued the department during the past year as the state oversight board imposed a restructuring that changed firefighter schedules in a way designed to dramatically reduce their numbers.
It's hoped the change will save $1.5 million in the department's $18 million budget this year, and millions of dollars more in the long term through attrition.
Although Maglione has yet to meet the state oversight board, he's no stranger to the concept.
Bridgeport's finances were under the control of an oversight board when he was an assistant chief there, although that board did not have the same powers over labor agreements as the board here.
James Cavanaugh, who retired last week as acting fire chief, said the one piece of advice he gave his successor was to play it by ear.
Based on what Maglione has heard already, he's starting to get a sense of priorities for the department sketched out.
They include bringing on an assistant chief and an administrative officer along with a five-to-six year effort to improve the department's ailing infrastructure.
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