Branford Fire Department Feeing Impacts of Malloy's Budget Proposal

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

BRANFORD, CT – The fact the state is threatening to send millions of dollars less in state aid the town’s way is having an impact on every single department budget in town.

While much attention has been given to the fact the Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget would take millions of dollars in education funding away from more “affluent’’ towns like Branford in an effort to help the state pay off its $1.5 billion deficit, the Fire Department is feeling the impact, too.

At the most recent meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney was asked by the commission to resubmit his proposed budget for next year.

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“We have to more with less,” Fire Commission Chairman Robert Massey told Mahoney. Nobody is coming to Branford “with a wad of cash,” continued Massey.

Massey and other commission members told Mahoney that the ratio of supervisors to firefighters in the department (six supervisors to six firefighters) may no longer be sustainable in tough financial times.

“Is it feasible to consolidate” some of the supervisory positions, Massey asked Mahoney.

Mahoney answered that it might be possible to consolidate the training officer position and EMS officer supervisory positions into one sole position – and have the other position return to a regular firefighter role.

The board liked that idea, and instructed Mahoney to resubmit his proposed budget including that scenario for them to review.