City shuffles schedules at fire department to cut overtime costs

By: Jessica Lewis, Sun Staff Writer
Published: December 21st, 2006

NORWICH – The City of Norwich Fire Department is looking at changes in its scheduling that would reduce the number of paid firemen on duty overnight.

“We’re going to have staff on duty 24/7. There just may be more on during the day when we have more calls for service,” said acting Fire Chief Joseph Angelino, who assured the changes will not have a negative effect on the safety of the public. “We’re trying to put people on when they are needed,” he said. “Statistically, days are our busiest time.”

During early budget talks, the Common Council said a tax rate increase of 38 percent was possible. According to Angelino, “of that 38 percent, about half was for fire department overtime.” Currently there are four paid firefighters on at all times. Changes to the schedule may change some 24-hour shifts into 12-hour shifts, making it possible to have fewer firefighters on at night.

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Reader Response

3 comments on this story

bkkm98
December 21st, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Maybe the department should stop responding to EMS calls with it's engine 234 all the time. That would save on fuel and maintainence costs. Also I am a vol. for Bainbridge, reducing the number of staff on duty at anytime is like playing with fire, someone is goning to get burned. No pun intended. Unfortunately the ones that will get burned is the people of the City of Norwich. I TOTALLY AGREE with the response from 'profire'.
nfd12
December 21st, 2006 at 1:50 pm
The fact the City if forgetting to tell the public is that the Fire Department has been under staffed for the past few years. This is what has created the overtime issue along with decisions made by the administration of the Fire Department. The fewer firefighters will have an impact on the safety of the public from medical emergencies to structure fires. I don’t think it’s fair that the City is trying to place the blame on the firefighters when they are only doing the job that they were hired to do. If the City of Norwich is worried about a tax increase why are they giving Police Offices $5,000.00 sign on bonuses. If they would sit and talk to the Firefighters Union and listen to what they have to say and fill the vacant positions there would be no overtime issue. It’s time for concerned citizens to call their elected officials and let them know how you feel. It could be your family member that needs their service.
profire
December 21st, 2006 at 11:19 am
Well, it didn't take long for the fire department to go to hell in a hand basket after the paid fire chief left. It seems that it is starting to show that maybe he was looking out for the departments best interest. How is eliminating the number of men on duty at one given time a viable option? I sure hope that my house isn't the one burning down when the small shift is on. Isn't their a better way to cut costs rather than compromising our safety?
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