Cutbacks in the Fire Department

One of the two assistant chief jobs in the Strongsville Fire Department will be eliminated this year to save money for the city.

The position held by Greg Brown will not be filled when he retires this month.

City Council on Monday formally eliminated one assistant chief job in the department, which has traditionally had two.

"This is a financial move," Fire Chief Jeff Branic said. "It's not one I'm particularly happy with, but I think it's the right one."

By eliminating the job, the city will save $155,000 in salary and benefits this year, Finance Director Joe Dubovec said.

Branic said the assistant chiefs typically handle the "nuts and bolts" of daily operation, including manpower, equipment and discipline.

"It's going to be a lot on your shoulders," Councilman at large Joe DeMio told Branic at a Safety Committee meeting Tuesday.

Mayor Tom Perciak said the city continually analyzes each position in the police and fire departments to see if jobs can be reduced or combined and pointed out that the police department eliminated one deputy chief position last year after Jim Spickler retired.

The cuts have been "in an area where they will not affect the service or the safety to residents," Perciak said.

But he said the state is cutting money to cities this year, as well as eliminating the estate tax, which makes cuts necessary. Each department this year.

The other assistant chief position, left vacant when in April, was in October.