GREENFIELD — The firefighters union is questioning Mayor William Martin’s budget because the Fire Department’s proposed increase would not be enough to hire additional firefighters.
According to Greenfield firefighter Peter McIver, president of the Greenfield Permanent Firefighters Union, the mayor’s proposal shortchanges the department, leaving it understaffed — despite needing four additional firefighters.
The need comes after five firefighters have retired in three years, according to McIver, reducing the number of personnel on each shift.
“Those positions are currently not filled and they will not be filled in next year’s budget,” Fire Chief Robert Strahan said.
The proposed budget, released by Martin on Friday, had a $426,816 increase in the public safety line item, one that includes the fire and police departments, as well as dispatch and parking enforcement. Of that total, $21,154 is going to the Fire Department and would not be enough to fill the holes in staffing left by the retirements.
The Police Department is set to receive $366,427, including the addition of two school resource officers.
“They obviously have their job to do,” McIver said of the Police Department, “but they’re seeing a $366,000 increase when all of the positions they have currently or have had in the past are funded. That is simply not the case for the Fire Department.”
According to Police Chief Robert Haigh, his department is staffed at what he considers to be its minimum at 34 officers.
“If anybody goes down, if anybody is off, you’re filling it with overtime. There’s no extra fluff to put it anywhere,” he said.
And the two school resource officers would not help to alleviate that, Haigh noted, since they will be officers dedicated to the school system.
Currently, the Fire Department has six firefighters scheduled each shift, with minimum staffing of four, according to Strahan.
Strahan said his goal has been to increase those on shift and the minimum staffing by one firefighter each.
McIver and Strahan noted that three firefighters are needed for an engine, and two are needed for other vehicles, such as an ambulance.
Now, according to McIver, if staffing is at a minimum, then a person may need to be called in and paid overtime to adequately staff the engine if two other firefighters are sent to a call on the ambulance or another vehicle.
Despite what the firefighters union may think, Martin believes the Fire Department is adequately staffed.
“As the union president for the Fire Department, I can understand his stance looking for money and more people, but we have to address the actual reality of Greenfield and the service provided,” Martin said.
And though the desire for more money is there, Martin said it may not be feasible.
“It’s a typical confrontational situation where the department wants more money and more positions,” Martin said, adding that while each department wants additional money and staffing, the city’s budget cannot meet every department’s demands.
You can reach Dan Desrochers at:
ddesrochers@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257