HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A new contract for Hartford firefighters
could be costly to other fire departments in the region.
The contract would prohibit city firefighters from responding to
calls as members of other paid or volunteer departments. The
provision would take effect on June 30, 2008.
Paul Fetherston, town manager of Newington, told The Herald of
New Britain that the change would have a "devastating impact" on
his town and volunteer departments in greater Hartford.
"Every community has the right to govern and manage their town
as is appropriate but not to the detriment of their neighbors,"
Fetherston said. "To have people prohibited from volunteering who
want to volunteer concerns and confuses me," he said.
Fetherston said he believes the contract would remove 85
volunteer firefighters from departments in the greater Hartford
area.
Hartford Fire Chief Charles A. Teale said the purpose of the
clause is to decrease injuries suffered by Hartford firefighters
while volunteering in other towns. He also said the provision would
save taxpayers money because the city would not have to pay
overtime to firefighters who cover shifts of employees injured in
other towns.
"I tried to look at it from everybody's perspective - the
firefighters, cities and towns and the taxpayers," Teale said.
"It was a very difficult decision to arrive at, but it's the only
one that benefits the firefighters and taxpayers."
Teale did not know how many of the city's firefighters would be
barred from volunteer service under the new contract because
department employees never needed his, or the city's, permission.
Newington, which may lose two or three of the 125 members of its
volunteer rolls because of Hartford's contract, has already seen
similar regulations in East Hartford, West Hartford and New Britain
affect its volunteer services.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
could be costly to other fire departments in the region.
The contract would prohibit city firefighters from responding to
calls as members of other paid or volunteer departments. The
provision would take effect on June 30, 2008.
Paul Fetherston, town manager of Newington, told The Herald of
New Britain that the change would have a "devastating impact" on
his town and volunteer departments in greater Hartford.
"Every community has the right to govern and manage their town
as is appropriate but not to the detriment of their neighbors,"
Fetherston said. "To have people prohibited from volunteering who
want to volunteer concerns and confuses me," he said.
Fetherston said he believes the contract would remove 85
volunteer firefighters from departments in the greater Hartford
area.
Hartford Fire Chief Charles A. Teale said the purpose of the
clause is to decrease injuries suffered by Hartford firefighters
while volunteering in other towns. He also said the provision would
save taxpayers money because the city would not have to pay
overtime to firefighters who cover shifts of employees injured in
other towns.
"I tried to look at it from everybody's perspective - the
firefighters, cities and towns and the taxpayers," Teale said.
"It was a very difficult decision to arrive at, but it's the only
one that benefits the firefighters and taxpayers."
Teale did not know how many of the city's firefighters would be
barred from volunteer service under the new contract because
department employees never needed his, or the city's, permission.
Newington, which may lose two or three of the 125 members of its
volunteer rolls because of Hartford's contract, has already seen
similar regulations in East Hartford, West Hartford and New Britain
affect its volunteer services.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Comment