By Karen L. Nugent
Telegram and Gazette
LEOMINSTER, Mass. — With the cost of Fire Department overtime inching toward $1 million a year, mainly owing to injuries and disciplinary measures, the City Council Monday night discussed asking Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella and Fire Chief Ronald M. Pierce if it would be cheaper to hire more firefighters.
Councilor Robert A. Salvatelli, chairman of the Finance Committee, reported that 16 members of the force are not working because of injuries — mainly back, shoulder and knee problems — illnesses or disciplinary action, amounting to 95 overtime shifts since July, more than half for discipline.
“The chief is frustrated,” he said.
Mr. Salvatelli said $432,800 was allocated to fire overtime in July, and the department received a grant for $90,800. The council approved another $125,000 on Monday. Mr. Salvatelli said the overtime account has been increasing to around $600,500 a year and keeps going up, perhaps eventually to $1 million a year.
“This is enormous,” he said.
The mayor plans to hire five firefighters soon, Mr. Salvatelli said.
Councilors said Mr. Mazzarella and the chief argue that paying overtime is less expensive than hiring new firefighters, because there are no benefits and health insurance costs. However, Councilor David E. Rowlands said he has yet to see that spelled out with figures and analyses. He also questioned if sick time is being abused.
“A large majority of the firefighters do a great job, they go in with 65-pound packs, and there are injuries,” he said. “But some of this is abuse.
“You have to ask if this is the best use of taxpayer money. There has to be a point where it’s better to hire,” Mr. Rowlands said.
Councilor John Dombrowski noted that most of the Fire Department posts are mandated by a contract, including a minimum manning clause, prompting Councilor Claire M. Freda to point out that the council has no authority to change anything.
“Why not meet with the mayor and the fire chief to see what the plan is?” she asked. “I’d rather see more people hired.”
Mr. Salvatelli, however, said new hires have to be taken from a Civil Service list, and the people at the top of the list may not be from Leominster.
He also noted, from 35 years as a Teamster union negotiator, that contract negotiations with unions are “rough-and-tumble.”
“These negotiations are not easy. The unions are looking to keep what they’ve got, or get more,” Mr. Salvatelli said. “Firemen are no day at the beach to go against.”
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