Fire Chief Hopes Grant Will Pad Department Roster

City officials are contemplating the acceptance of the Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, issued by U.S. Homeland Security, that would give the $3.56 million to buffer the department's staff roster.

If accepted, the grant would allow the fire department to hire an additional eight firefighters, to allow an extra firefighter on each of the two ladder trucks per shift, a safety recommendation from the National Fire Association. The department applied for and received the grant last year; city officials now have to decide whether or not to accept it.

Why wouldn't the city accept $3.56 million of "free" money? Because if the city accepts the money, it will be obligated to pay for the additional eight firefighters after the first three years.

According East Providence Fire Chief Joseph Klucznik, the department would save more than $1 million over five years, mostly by using the additional firefighters to reduce high levels of overtime. The chief said firefighters are routinely asked to work double shifts, which can amount to more than 20 hours without break. Four staffers are also out on injury leaves.

"We've never had this many firefighters injured ever ... We're down so many people and we have more calls than ever before," Klucznik said, noting the constant overtime doesn't allow the staff to rest. "We're not robots. They're getting older."

When the city applied for the grant, it was planning to hire 20 firefighters, but the current plan is to hire only eight. Because of that change, the fire department must go back to the Homeland Security department to revise the $3.56 million agreement.

According to the chief, 31 East Providence firefighters will be eligible to retire in the next few years, making it all the more necessary to hire additional staff. He estimates they'll be replaced with lower-paid firefighters, decreasing total staffing costs over the next few years.

"We know the city is hurting for money. We're looking for this grant to help the city ... It's immediate short-term relief," the chief said. "We mentioned to the council back in January, we want to get the city over this hump. We're cutting down expenses and bringing in money."

But officials have yet to sign off on the grant. According to the chief, he will be meeting with Finance Director Ellen Eggeman and City Manager Peter Graczykowski this week to discuss the grant's impact on city finances. Officials have been meeting with state officials to develop a five-year plan to cut the city's looming deficit. City councilors have tabled acceptance of the grant for the time being.