The Jersey Journal
BAYONNE, N.J. — Officials of Fire Superior Union, Local 211, are blasting Bayonne city officials for trying to chop their ranks in a move the city says will save money, but union brass say will jeopardize residents’ safety.
Last week, at the behest of Mayor Mark Smith, the City Council introduced an ordinance that would reinstate the rank of lieutenant, eliminate one of four current deputy fire chief slots and reduce the number of captains from 42 to 11.
At the March 18 meeting, city Business Administrator Peter Cresci said the changes would save the city an estimated $350,000 annually and was part of 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.
In a statement released yesterday, Local 211 President Brian McMonagle said the proposed changes would result in the city losing a fire truck to send to fires.
The changes would leave the Bayonne Fire Department with only 36 officers in a 40-officer system, meaning one of the city’s 10 trucks would not have enough staff to operate, he said.
“As if the public didn’t have enough to worry about, the mayor wants to reduce their fire suppression which will only jeopardize everyone’s safety in these difficult times,” McMonagle stated.
The union boss also challenged the wisdom of reinstating the rank of lieutenant. Since 2006, only two firefighters have been promoted to captain, he said. He described reinstating the rank as “wasteful and counterproductive,” because lieutenants and captains “do the same job.”
McMonagle said fire departments in Jersey City and Hoboken, as well as the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue that covers five Hudson County towns, do not have lieutenants.
City officials couldn’t be reached last night but have said fire service to residents wouldn’t be diminished by the changes. The council is scheduled to vote on adoption of the ordinance on April 29.
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