http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-fire5jun27,0,6213292.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By Natasha Lee
Staff Writer
June 27, 2007
STAMFORD - At least 10 paid firefighters at three of the Big Five volunteer departments could lose their jobs this week after the departments failed to agree on a city proposal to merge the volunteer and Stamford Fire & Rescue into one paid system.
The merger, announced earlier this month, was an effort to avoid layoffs after budget cuts. It was expected to save $545,000 next fiscal year.
But volunteer fire chiefs and city officials disagreed over how the Belltown, Turn of River and Glenbrook fire departments would be managed and staffed. The city Charter requires Stamford to fund the five volunteer companies that staff and manage their own firehouses independently.
At a meeting yesterday, city and fire officials could not hammer out concerns about firehouse operations and staffing. As a result, the city says the layoffs are necessary.
"We made a sincere effort to try and provide consistent and reliable fire coverage, at the same time avoiding the likelihood of layoffs and we were unsuccessful in our negotiations," city Public Safety Director William Callion said in a voice-mail message. He could not be reached yesterday for further comment.
Turn of River Fire Department filed an injunction against the city last week to stop the layoffs, saying the city was in violation of its Charter and 1995 management agreement, said Mark Kovack, the department's Westport-based attorney.
The city recently gave the departments notice that it will terminate the management agreement with each department as of Dec. 4 because it cannot afford to maintain the manpower set in the contracts.
"We're seeking to preserve the status quo to give the parties an opportunity to sit down and either negotiate or mediate under the terms of the management agreement, or even arbitrate if mediation is not agreeable," Kovack said.
Turn of River Fire Chief Frank Jacobellis did not participate in yesterday's meeting because of the litigation, Kovack said.
A hearing on the injunction is scheduled July 9 at state Superior Court in Stamford.
The three volunteer departments were initially given a July 1 deadline - the start of the fiscal year - to decide whether to participate. It was unclear why the deadline was pushed up or exactly how many paid firefighters would be laid off.
Volunteer chiefs said they were not given an official count. Dennis Murphy, the city's director of human resources, did not return three calls for comment yesterday.
Volunteer chiefs said the layoffs would be a blow to their short-staffed departments and public safety. In some firehouses, the layoffs could leave only two firefighters per daytime shift and one at night.
Belltown Fire Department's paid staff could dwindle from nine paid firefighters to six. Fire Chief John Didelot said the department hasn't operated with six firefighters in 10 years. Didelot said his department may seek legal action.
"You lay off people in a department that's already shorthanded, but keep staff at current levels downtown. It makes no sense at all," Didelot said. "Public safety could possibly be compromised, but it's not Belltown Fire Department's choosing, it's the city of Stamford's choosing."
The proposed system would beef up citywide fire coverage and cut overtime costs by shifting 32 Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters into the volunteer stations. Paid firefighters at Glenbrook, Belltown and Turn of River departments would work for Stamford Fire & Rescue and would be represented under the same contract as firefighters downtown.
The volunteer chiefs would retain oversight of volunteers and continue to receive city funding for gasoline and other operating expenses.
Stamford Fire & Rescue Chief Robert McGrath declined to comment yesterday.
No changes would be made at Springdale Fire Company, which is staffed with 16 paid Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters, and Long Ridge Fire Department, which operates separate from the city but receives city funds.
Didelot and Glenbrook Fire Department President Edward Rondano said the city offered no compromise and rejected a counter proposal.
"There's never been negotiations, there's never been talking to the volunteer system," Rondano said. "The city has not altered from that one-sided plan."
He said he agreed two weeks ago to participate in the merger with the understanding that issues about staffing, equipment and job seniority would be addressed.
Rondano said he wanted to ensure that veteran Glenbrook paid firefighters would receive seniority on assignments within the department over less experienced Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters.
"I don't want a guy who has four years taking over and now you're thrown to the bottom," Rondano said. "I think the person with 40 years has earned more than that."
Over the last decade, volunteer departments have fought to maintain autonomy over their departments as the city has tried to gain more control. The power struggle has led to lawsuits and standoffs.
Now, citywide fire coverage and public safety are in jeopardy, fire union President Brendan Keatley said.
"It's gambling with people lives and it's going to lead to a significant cutback in fire services," Keatley said.
He said volunteer firefighters still have jobs, while several of the union's paid firefighters will have to start looking for new ones.
"They still have a means of making money. What's going to happen to our guys who have wives, kids, bills?" Keatley said.
Rondano said an attorney for Glenbrook and Belltown is trying to make a last-ditch effort to reach a resolution, and he hopes to avoid costly legal action.
"We're aggravating the people that fund us, so where are we going to go? They do have the ultimate control," he said.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.