By Jill Harmacinski
The Eagle-Tribune
LAWRENCE, Mass. — City councilors hope another day will make a difference in an emotional financial debate over firehouse closures in a department many believe is already dangerously undermanned.
The council tabled action last night on a $1.57 million proposal that would keep the city’s six firehouses open, but subject to rotating closures.
The hope today is that firefighters will come back to the negotiating table and talk about financial concessions to help keep all the firehouses open around the clock.
“We need to look at other ways to cut costs but not at the expense of our neighborhoods,” said Julia Silverio, a former city councilor running for mayor, during last night’s 3 1/2-hour meeting.
Firefighters staged a symbolic protest at the meeting, with 19 members of the department wearing yellow shirts. Those firefighters, who stood in a packed council chamber at the start of the meeting, represent the number of unfilled positions in the department in the past five years.
The chamber last night was so jammed that council President Patrick Blanchette issued a reminder to keep the door clear in the event of a fire.
Mark Andrews, the budget and finance director, said he viewed the tabling last night as “achieved progress” and was hopeful firefighters would be back at the bargaining table today.
But fire union President Patrick Driscoll was discouraged and doubted union members would budge on their position. The union previously voted against entering any further talks with city management regarding the budget. Firefighters point to the 19 unfilled positions, saying they are already short-staffed and working below federal minimum manning requirements.
“We are already doing more with less,” said Driscoll, who likened shrunken shifts and rotating firehouse closures to “playing Russian roulette.”
Lawrence firefighters are professionals and work at 100 percent, he said. “But when the citizens of Lawrence are in trouble, will our 100 percent be enough?” Driscoll asked.
Fire Chief Peter Takvorian said rotating closures of the city’s six firehouses, which started last spring to cut back on overtime costs, was jeopardizing the safety of the public and firefighters.
Takvorian, after meeting with his four deputy chiefs, instead proposed closing Engine 7, located on Park Street in one of the city’s poorest and most congested areas. The decision was not political but tactical in terms of quickly reaching and fighting fires throughout the city, he said.
In the past, officials have talked about closing firehouses on Tower and Prospect hills or laying off as many as 30 firefighters. But neither layoffs nor the proposed closures have ever sat well with councilors, firefighters or Takvorian.
“None of us in this room are for closing Engine 7 or any other firehouse,” Takvorian said. “None of us are in favor of closing anything.”
Councilor Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez agreed, saying, “I’m not willing to sacrifice the lives of people.”
The department has many second- and third-generation firefighters who followed in the footsteps of relatives. But over the past 25 years, the department has been cut in half, dropping from 250 firefighters in 1985 to the current 108.
Councilor Frank Moran was concerned last night about overtime spending, which reached nearly $1 million in the department. He suggested hiring more firefighters to work straight time, saving money.
“These guys are being overworked,” he said.
Blanchette had sharp words for Andrews, who said he backed the rotating closures because of the cost savings. But Blanchette blasted Mayor Michael Sullivan’s administration, criticizing Andrews for not being able to find money when the “administration needs it.”
The city has also paid $200,000 to a “silk stocking” Boston legal firm to represent Sullivan and his brother, former Mayor Kevin Sullivan, in a lawsuit, Blanchette said. “Those bills are being paid,” Blanchette said.
Later, Blanchette suggested that Andrews’ job should be rotated with several others in his office to save money, a seemingly sarcastic comment that drew applause from some audience members.
With the exception of firefighters, the remaining unions, including police, have agreed to unpaid furlough days for which they would be compensated in the future. In contrast, firefighters were asked to forgo $500,000 in raises- payments they will never receive.
Copyright 2009