http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-injunction7jul19,0,5219022.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Natasha Lee
Staff Writer
July 19, 2007
STAMFORD - A court hearing on whether to uphold Turn of River Fire Department's injunction against the city's plan to lay off its paid firefighters continued yesterday, with a former volunteer fire chief saying the cuts would lead to delayed responses to calls and decreased fire service.
Former Turn of River Chief Ray Whitbread said yesterday the potential loss of five paid firefighters would "seriously impact operations" and cut staffing from two firefighters riding on an engine to one.
Whitbread testified for a second day in state Superior Court to help defend the department's stance against a city plan to merge three of the city's five volunteer departments with Stamford Fire & Rescue.
The merger is supposed to save money and avoid layoffs in the aftermath of budget cuts. But the Turn of River Fire Department argues it violates the city Charter and a 1995 management agreement between the volunteer departments and the city.
Judge John Downey, who ruled last week that the parties must seek mediation, recently revoked his decision and ordered a hearing. Downey, who was recently nominated to the Appellate Court, is on vacation. Judge Edward Karazinis is presiding over the case.
The hearing began Tuesday.
Downey's decision came after Glenbrook and Belltown volunteer fire departments pulled out of the merger last week. In response, the city laid off five firefighters at the departments. Glenbrook and Belltown are challenging the city's actions and seeking injunctions.
Volunteer chiefs say their input was left out of the city plan. They said the merger means a loss of autonomy for the volunteer departments.
The city Charter allows all five volunteer fire departments to receive city funding and have the right to operate their firehouses independently.
Turn of River stands to lose a third of its 17 paid firefighters.
Yesterday, Whitbread said the staff cuts would hinder response to medical emergencies, which make up 60 percent of department calls.
One firefighter driving a truck to a scene would have difficulty setting up equipment or administering aid and would not be able to perform fire or rescue functions without the assistance of at least one other firefighter.
Whitbread retired as chief in May after three years in the position. He joined the department in 1965 as a volunteer firefighter.
"Ideally, it's a two-person operation," Whitbread said.
Asked by city attorney Ken Povodator yesterday if Turn of River could rely on its volunteers to pick up the slack in the event of layoffs, Whitbread said, "Not at this time."
Whitbread said Turn of River has 30 fully certified and trained volunteers, but could not provide an average of how many volunteers show up to weekly calls.
"I would be guessing. I have no way of estimating that," he said.
In desperate times, Whitbread said he would hire volunteer firefighters, including Belltown and Glenbrook volunteers, to fill in when the department was severely short-staffed because paid firefighters were out sick or on vacation.
Whitbread was on the witness stand for nearly three hours yesterday.
City officials said the merger would shift 32 Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters into the three volunteer firehouses to increase coverage in the understaffed volunteer departments and cut down on overtime. Glenbrook, Belltown and Turn of River together spent $700,000 on overtime in the last fiscal year, which ended June 30.
Turn of River attorney Mark Kovack could not be reached yesterday for comment.
City attorney Tom Cassone said the merger comes down to the city's budget, and in the aftermath of the cuts, it has no choice but to develop a cost-effective plan or lay off staff.
The budget of the Office of Public Safety, Health and Welfare was cut by $850,000 for the present fiscal year, which started July 1.
"It's about whether the city has the right to overspend its budget and it doesn't," Cassone said.
Turn of River Fire Chief Frank Jacobellis, Mayor Dannel Malloy and the city's public safety director, William Callion are expected to take the stand when the hearing continues today.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.