Fire Storm: Council Rejects Federal Funding for Additional Firefighters

Fire Chief Harold “Buddy” Clark and several paid members of the stood before members of the Southington Town Council, pleading for them to accept a $720,000 federal grant that would fund the hiring of four additional firefighters for the next two years.

In the end, their pleas to help expand an overstretched daytime staff with the help of the SAFER grant offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency fell by the wayside.

The council voted by a 7-1 vote to reject the federal funding, saying that while they understood that the plan could assist in reducing response times during major fire events and reduce overtime, it would handcuff the town into taking on rising costs both short- and long-term. Council members said they are uncomfortable asking taxpayers to front the bill.

"To walk into fire as these guys do is worse than hell, and I appreciate everything they do," said Councilman Louis J. Martocchio. "But we have a responsibility to look at this from both sides of the fence, to look at costs versus savings. With this, there will still be costs to town."

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“At the end of the grant period, we will have a cost of at least $410,000. What comes up repeatedly tonight, as well as in the past, is that it is not prudent to strap the town into these costs. Maybe there are things we could explore without incurring that debt on behalf of the taxpayers.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Congressman John Larson that the town was one of two in Connecticut to receive funding from FEMA’s SAFER, or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, grant program.

Under the approved grant, the town would receive $720,000 that would be used specifically to hire and provide the salaries and benefits for a lieutenant and three firefighters over a two-year period. The firefighters would be stationed at during weekday daytime shifts in an effort to enhance fire response times in the southern and western ends of the community.

Clark said Monday that response times are “beyond inadequate” to daytime major fire events, due in large part to volunteers being unavailable daytime. He praised volunteer efforts but said the economy has driven a change and in recent years, the department has added 25 volunteers without seeing any improvement in those who are available daytime.

“It will reduce response times significantly and lead to significant reductions in overtime,” Clark said. “The grant would allow us to increase staffing beyond the minimum and reduce overtime by $124,000 in the second year and $250,000 by third year. These are relatively conservative figures.”

The town is currently operating at bare minimum staffing levels, with seven firefighters during peak hours and six on weekends, said Fire Capt. Alan Zygmunt. During daytime emergencies such as the one at Mack’s on West in extreme heat Friday, it puts the town in a tough position, he said.

Zygmunt told members of the council that during the response, only ten of the towns volunteers from all four of the volunteer companies were available and it left the department incredibly short staffed.

“Hearing ‘Mayday’ from one of our firefighters was something that really hit home and it is honestly something I hope I never have to hear again,” he said.

Councilman Al Natelli Jr., the only council member who voted in favor of accepting the grant, said he sees the grant as an boost in town safety and felt that the council should do more to look at it as a business investment.

But not all firefighters supported the grant either. Several volunteers stood up saying they understand the concerns and do feel the town needs to address manpower, but did not believe the grant was being used in the right way. It was a sentiment that council members agreed with.

Council Chairman John Dobbins, Vice-Chairman Peter Romano and Councilman John Barry all expressed concerns that they should have been notified before asking federal legislators for assistance. They said they understand the manpower concerns, but could not justify supporting a grant that “severely ties the council’s hands from a budgetary standpoint.”

While the grant would help provide training for firefighters, it also comes with a requirement that there be no layoffs over the next several years. In addition, Dobbins said there are additional costs that are not included in the proposal set forth by Clark and the Southington Fire Department.

“All of us here have a fiscal responsibility to the town and we realize safety is one of top priorities,” Dobbins said. “However, when state and federal grants come with hidden costs, we need take a moment to think. There are underlying costs for equipment, overtime, vacations and more and we can’t put that on the backs of the taxpayers.”

Monday’s discussion wasn’t completely without political influence, however.

Members of the council said Monday that they were also concerned that the first time they were notified of the grant was on June 28 – after the Board of Fire Commissioners had already approved it.

Barry said he was also concerned with Republican support of a plan to hire four additional positions in town government but turning away when the fire department requested assistance. He said while he agrees it was not right to accept this grant at the cost of taxpayers, he also did not support that proposal.

“This represents a complete 180 from the council,” Barry said. “Two months ago, the Republicans had no problem supporting four positions at town hall. We could afford to pay $100,000 for them and now we are unable to support our firefighters? I don’t know where our priorities are.”

Republicans including Romano defended their position, saying politics never played a role in their vote for either the town budget or Monday’s decision to reject the grant.

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