http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-firebudget2aapr05,0,1139677.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Stephen P. Clark
Staff Writer
April 5, 2007
STAMFORD - Most of the "Big Five" volunteer fire departments - Belltown, Glenbrook, Long Ridge, Springdale and Turn of River - expressed little to lukewarm support last night at a budget hearing for Mayor Dannel Malloy's proposed operational changes, study of the current fire system's coverage and budget requests for the departments.
The five volunteer departments are autonomous under the City Charter but are heavily funded by taxpayers.
Malloy plans to give control of the departments' budgets to the city's Public Safety Department in order to improve financial and operational oversight. Previously, city funding went directly to the volunteer departments.
Malloy had asked for $200,000 to study whether the city-run Stamford Fire & Rescue and the five volunteer fire departments have the staff, equipment and resources to protect the city. William Callion, director of the Department of Public Safety, Health and Welfare, said last night he has reduced the cost to $140,000.
Brendan Keatley, president of the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association, expressed support for the study.
Malloy is requesting $5.9 million for the volunteer fire departments in the upcoming fiscal year, up from the $5.85 million this year. The departments had asked for $7.2 million.
Malloy has proposed a controversial $413.5 million city and school operating budget for next year that, combined with a recent property revaluation, would raise taxes by 13.5 percent or more for most homeowners. Some would see tax hikes as high as 70 percent.
The Board of Finance, which has the power to make cuts, is looking for savings in the 400-page spending proposal that would increase the city operating budget by $25 million to $162.1 million.
Malloy's request for the volunteer fire departments includes a 3 percent increase to the departments' operating budgets.
Turn of River Fire Chief Ray Whitbread said the 3 percent increase should be sufficient.
"We'll be in fairly good shape," he said. "We're used to tightening our belts and prioritizing. I think it's doable."
But other fire officials are not pleased.
"The 3 percent increase is almost just a cost-of-living increase," said Belltown Fire Chief John Didelot.
Asked by finance board member Tim Abbazia whether he was in favor of a study, Didelot said the departments could conduct their own study without spending $140,000.
"We could hash this out and work it through," he said, "and come up with some conclusions."
Callion disagreed, saying, "It's very important for us to get it right," insisting that a professional study was needed. "If we don't get this right, we're going to cripple ourselves for a number of years," he said.
The budget hearing, the last before the finance board votes on the budget Monday, turned contentious.
Springdale Fire Chief Shawn Fahan blasted Callion and the city for not providing adequate equipment; for charging his department for helping Stamford Fire and Rescue; and for not keeping his budget separate as he claimed Malloy said he would in a signed document.
"I sit here as a resident and as a fire chief disgusted," Fahan said.
To board members he said, "You guys better get your facts straight instead of playing politics and taking money away from us."
"This is not an inquisition," Chairwoman Mary Lou Rinaldi said. "We don't set policy for the fire department. We're a fiscal board."
Rinaldi called a five-minute recess after heated exchanges between Fahan and Callion.
Malloy formed a plan for operational change after the city's six fire departments responded poorly to a request from the Public Safety Department to submit information, including the number of paid and volunteer firefighters, medical exams and training records. Only Stamford Fire & Rescue provided information by the Feb. 27 deadline.
Since then, Glenbrook has supplied information; Turn of River and Belltown said they would provide information soon; Springdale has declined; and it is unknown whether Long Ridge will, Callion said.
At last night's meeting, Malloy defended his proposed changes and study, insisting he would get the survey information.
"As mayor, I'm obligated to have that information," he said. "Guess what? I'm going to get that information."
Glenbrook Fire Chief Frank Passero appeared before the board without a budget, prompting board member Joseph Tarzia to threaten holding the department's money in a contingency fund.
Glenbrook is under a criminal investigation for possible fraud and embezzlement. An audit last year revealed the former treasurer repeatedly wrote himself checks and used firehouse funds to buy office supplies and electronics, which he had shipped to his private home and office. According to the audit, David Judge, the former treasurer, paid himself $12,600 over several years in stipends to which he was not entitled.
Capt. Richard Conklin, who oversees the city police detective bureau, said yesterday the investigation, which began in January, is almost over.
The mayor is asking for $30.9 million for Stamford Fire & Rescue, up from the $28.4 million it received this fiscal year. The department requested $31.6 million.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.