By Beth LaMontagne Hall
The Union Leader
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Alderman Jim Roy’s proposal to eliminate the Fire Department’s six district chiefs almost died before it got to committee, but a tie-breaking vote cast by Mayor Ted Gatsas will keep the proposal alive for now.
Roy, a former Manchester Fire Department captain, proposed eliminating all of the city’s district fire chiefs for a savings of $1 million, which could be used to keep 15 firefighters slated for layoffs in the mayor’s budget. It would also increase the minimum number of firefighters on duty each shift from 44 to 48 and ensure enough staffing for the use of all city fire trucks.
Under Gatsas’ plan, 22 firefighters would be laid off on July 1, likely those who are the department’s most recent hires. The layoffs would reduce the number of firefighters on duty each shift and could also reduce the number of ladder trucks available for backing up emergency calls from five trucks to three.
The public will have a chance to speak publicly about the proposed layoffs and Mayor Ted Gatsas’ fiscal year 2012 budget tonight at 6 p.m. at Memorial High School.
Roy also presented plans to reduce the number of captains and increase the number of lieutenants. The plan, which lacks the support of Fire Chief James Burkush, would bring major changes to the department’s chain of command.
The vote to send the proposal to the Human Resources Committee ended in a tie on Tuesday, forcing the mayor to cast the deciding vote. Gatsas opted to move the item on for discussion in committee.
“We’ll send it to committee because this is the process of this board,” said Gatsas. “I am shocked this (killing the plan) is the wish of some members of this board.”
Alderman Dan O’Neil was one of the seven who opposed the vote, which he said was for a number of reasons. One was that Burkush opposed it.
“A city our size should have two district chiefs. I think there’s just a philosophical difference between Jim (Roy) and I,” said O’Neil. He also questioned whether the aldermen should make drastic changes to the Fire Department when they are trying to get city unions to negotiate cost savings in their benefits.
“My belief is this isn’t going to help that,” O’Neil said.
About 10 firefighters came to the meeting to see Roy’s presentation. At one point, Roy looked up at the firefighters as he spoke, as if he were directly addressing them. Roy said he brought the plan forward because his main concern is public safety.
“We are looking at a budget that’s going to force very difficult decisions, decisions that will not be easy and decisions that will undoubtedly affect the lives of constituents, friends and neighbors,” Roy said.
The change in the department command structure includes eliminating one of the two deputy fire chiefs, decreasing the number of fire captains from 13 to 10 and increasing the number of lieutenants from 43 to 46.
Currently, one district chief oversees fire safety and the five others are assigned to Fire Department headquarters for dispatch to emergency scenes throughout the city. One captain and three lieutenants are assigned to individual fire houses. Under Roy’s proposal, there would be no district chiefs, captains would be assigned to Fire Department headquarters and the number of lieutenants at each station would increase from three to four, or one assigned to each of the four shifts throughout the day.
Fire Chief James Burkush was not at the aldermen’s meeting, but did send a letter opposing the plan to the board. Burkush wrote that the chiefs are “fundamental to the command structure of our organization,” and “without them, operations would be severely impacted.”
The issue will be taken up at next month’s Human Resources Committee meeting and if approved, could go into effect as early as July 1.
Alderman Betsi DeVries, a former firefighter, also opposed the plan, as did Aldermen Barbara Shaw, Russ Ouellette, Joyce Craig, Ron Ludwig and Garth Corriveau.
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