The Jersey Journal
BAYONNE, N.J. — To pare costs, Bayonne officials have announced plans to change the table of organization of the Fire Department.
The big changes reduce the number of captains from 42 to 11, eliminate one of four current deputy fire chief slots, and reinstate the rank of lieutenant, which was done away with in 2004 and which presumably several current captains would be lowered to.
The proposed changes - which would save the city an estimated $350,000 annually - are part of Mayor Mark Smith’s effort to trim the Fire Department’s $15.5 million budget by $2 million, in the face of the city’s $33 million deficit, Business Administrator Peter Cresci told the City Council on Wednesday.
The new table of organization would allow for one fire chief, up to three deputy chiefs, no more than five battalion chiefs, up to 11 captains, 29 lieutenants and up to 140 firefighters.
Cresci told the council the change in the table of organization would avoid layoffs in the department and that the city is considering a similar plan for the Police Department.
Sixteen firefighters were included in a layoff plan the city recently submitted to the State Civil Service Commission. This plan could avoid those layoffs, Cresci said.
Fire Chief Gregory Rogers declined to comment on the plan, as did firefighter supervisors union president Brian McMonagle.
Although council members complained they were handed the ordinance late, they voted unanimously to introduce it.
“We’re looking at everything,” said Council President Vincent Lo Re. “That’s what we must do.”
Councilman Anthony Chiappone said the proposed ordinance crossed his desk just before the meeting.
“Given the implications it has on negotiations with the Fire Department as well as the budget, that’s why we did allow it to be put on the agenda last night,” Chiappone said yesterday.
The council is scheduled to vote on adoption of the ordinance at its next meeting on April 29.
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