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This is a copy of a letter to the editor written by Local 1764 President Clooney in January of 2007. Though it was not printed in its entirety, parts of it were printed in several local papers.
Threats to the Fire Department are an ongoing problem in Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts - January 15, 2007
Dear Editor,
Amherst Town Manager Laurence Shaffer released a budget proposal including the layoffs of 5 Firefighter/Paramedics. The Amherst Fire Department is already among the most understaffed fire department in the state. The layoffs would compromise the town's ability to provide Fire/EMS service.
In FY05, concurrent emergency calls left no professional firefighters in town over 300 times. The number of calls increases every year (4698 in FY05, 4810 in FY06). If we cut staffing, the situation will get worse. (View our Response Stats for more info)
This is also a flawed fiscal strategy. The five positions to be cut are funded by the federal SAFER grant, which was awarded contingent on the local government receiving the grant (Amherst) fundinging these positions for five years. If the Town reduces staffing levels, it will be in default on this federal grant, and will have to refund the funds received from the grant.
In November 2003, the Fire Department Re-Organization Study Committee Report was released (available at http://www.amherstma.gov/departments/Fire/fire-reorgreport.pdf). The Report discusses the dangers and problems we face as a result of understaffing, and outlines the recommended staffing levels for a town the size of Amherst. It cites a study from 1965 which recommended that Amherst have 15 firefighters on duty. Our minimum staffing level is seven, though we do five times as many calls as in 1965. Amherst firefighters had the highest injury rate in the Commonwealth in FY05.
Amherst Fire Department FY05 ambulance receipts generated $1.3+ million dollars. Compared to the Finance Committee's report on the FY05 Fire/EMS budget figure of $3,099,491.00, ambulance receipts generate revenue equivalent to 42% of [the entire department's] costs.
I urge against cutting these five positions and rejecting the grant money that is funding them. It is dangerous to compromise a strapped department that is already offsetting much of its financial burden to Amherst.
Respectfully,
David Clooney
President, Amherst Firefighters Local 1764
dclooney@amherstfirefighters.org
Sources -
http://www.amherstma.gov/annual_budgets/FY2006/PDFs/final_06_Public_Safety.pdf
http://www.amherstma.gov/annual_reports/2005/annual_report_2005.asp (Office of the Collector)
http://www.amherstma.gov/annual_reports/2005/2005_fire.pdf
http://www.amherstma.gov/departments/Fire/fire-reorgreport.pdf
http://www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/
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Last updated: 3.4.08
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