FinCom Keeps Tight Rein on Fire Department Vacation Budget-August 29, 1979

During a brief meeting yesterday afternoon, the Finance Commission (FinCom) approved a modest $385 reserve fund transfer for firefighter vacation substitutes while withholding action on a broader $11,000 funding request from Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr.

The approved $385 matched a submitted three-week vacation schedule indicating only one firefighter had signed up for leave between August 27 and September 15. This marked a sharp drop from the previous two weeks, which had seen expenditures of $4,000 weekly for vacation coverage. Chief Barry, currently on vacation himself, submitted the schedule remotely after failing to attend the session. Four on-duty firefighters attended the meeting but offered no comments before departing.

Budget Miscalculation and Overtime Friction

Chief Barry previously explained that his vacation account shortfall stemmed from a budgetary miscalculation: he had anticipated that four new recruits currently in training would be available to cover summer shifts at straight-time rates. However, due to extensive academy paperwork and training hours, the new personnel will not be ready for deployment until September 15, forcing the department to pay existing firefighters time-and-a-half overtime to maintain staffing levels.

FinCom members pushed back hard against the escalating costs. Member E. Peter Bamber argued that the department lacked a valid justification for the $11,000 request, noting, “The chief has not presented a valid case (a vacation schedule) showing he needs $11,000 more… If they want more money, let them ask town meeting for it. Just stop playing these games with substitution.” Member Norman Rickard similarly criticized departmental vacation policies, remarking that he knew of no outside business allowing employees to take vacations on a few hours’ notice.

The friction over overtime and staffing—specifically maintaining a mandatory 13-man shift—has fueled a decade-long climb in the fire budget. Meanwhile, the firefighters’ union has notified Chief Barry that it has filed unfair labor practices charges against him over recent changes to departmental vacation policies.

Equipment Concerns Addressed

FinCom members also addressed recent public safety concerns following an incident last Thursday where two fire engines failed to start during an emergency response to a house fire. While department critics pointed to tight funding, Bamber countered that records showed $8,000 remaining in the $10,000 fire maintenance account at the time. “We cannot justify why the equipment was allowed to deteriorate with that kind of money available,” Bamber said, sharply criticizing the mechanical failures as resembling a “Chinese fire drill” given the department’s $1.5 million budget.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger