By Brian Messenger
The Eagle-Tribune
ANDOVER, Mass. — The two-man team assigned to the Fire Department’s only ladder truck has been cut back to one firefighter, a move fire Chief Michael Mansfield said he believes will save the town $120,000 in overtime.
But firefighters union President Thomas Agnew has filed a grievance with Mansfield, claiming the change puts firefighters in danger and violates their contract.
The two will meet today to discuss the reassignment of the ladder aide position, which will now be used to fill vacancies when other firefighters are out sick or on vacation, injury or bereavement leave.
Previously, firefighters were assigned overtime shifts to fill such vacancies.
“I’m taking them to task on it,” said Agnew, a ladder truck operator. “They’re endangering my firefighters. They’re endangering myself. They’re endangering the taxpayers of this community.”
The reassignment of the ladder aide went into effect at the beginning of the month.
Mansfield admitted it creates a safety issue concerning firefighter response times. He said deputy chiefs have been instructed to call in ambulances or fire engines from other stations in town if they expect the ladder truck will be needed during a call.
A supporting firefighter would then come in to assist the ladder operator already on scene, ensuring the ladder truck is manned by two firefighters, he said.
“It’s the lesser of all evils at this point,” said Mansfield. “I don’t like it. I’m not pleased with having to do that, but we’ve got no other choices at this point.”
Mansfield said he is already fronting a “lean operation,” and has chosen to turn to his overtime budget to cut costs. The town budgeted $920,000 for firefighter overtime this year.
Mansfield said his $5.7 million overall operating budget this year is $120,000 less than what he expects it will cost to run the department.
That shortfall will likely be closed entirely through the reassignment of the ladder aide to cover shifts that previously required firefighters working overtime, he said.
In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the chief needed $230,000 in transfers from other departments to close out a deficit with his overtime budget.
Mansfield said the deficit was the result of a drop in funding for overtime from two years ago, as well as the following unanticipated costs:
- $80,000 for off-duty injury leave for three firefighters and a deputy chief
- $25,000 for on-duty injury leave
- $72,000 for a 15 percent longevity benefit for 11 firefighters
Mansfield oversees 51 firefighters, 13 lieutenants and four deputy chiefs.
When fully extended, the hydraulic ladder on Andover’s ladder truck reaches 105 feet.
Agnew said the truck also is used to store and transport various pieces of equipment like the Jaws of Life and rope rescue gear — each of which require two men to operate.
“Anyone in the fire service, at any level, knows that a ladder truck with one man on it is just about useless, other than being a toolbox,” said Agnew.
Agnew said the decision to reassign the ladder operator violates a 10-year-old agreement signed by the union and town, but Mansfield said the agreement is not specific to the position.
If he cannot find common ground with Mansfield, Agnew said he will take the union’s grievance to Town Manager Reginald “Buzz” Stapczynski and then possibly to an arbitrator.
“It’s a violation of a written agreement that we have,” said Agnew. “My odds of winning before a neutral party are high.”
Agnew said the town also could potentially receive a “slap on the wrist” fine if the union decides to file an unfair labor practice complaint with the state’s labor board.
Copyright 2009