Board Says Westport Can't Afford SAFER Grant

In the long-term, Westport can't afford the eight lieutenants that would be hired through the Westport Fire Department's recently awarded $1.2 million SAFER grant without concessions from the union on benefits and pensions, the Board of Finance said Wednesday night.

The seven-member body voted not to accept the grant for now, unless the union can offer Westport an affordable plan.

The grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would cover the cost of hiring those firefighters for two years, while committing the town to fund their employment for a third year.

Know as a SAFER Act grant – from the 2004 "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act" – Westport also would be required to maintain the same staffing level of firefighters it has when the grant goes into effect for two years.

Westport Fire Chief Christopher Ackley told the board Wednesday night that the grant is critical to the safety of the townspeople and the safety of his firefighters.

In a previous meeting, Ackley said that two of the town's four engine companies are staffed by only two firefighters while the other two companies have three, which is "where we need to be" on all companies. The grant would allow for that as well as complying with federal occupational safety regulations.

Undermanning engines violates those regulations, and currently Westport has the lowest manning of fire apparatus in Fairfield County, Ackley said in a previous meeting.

"Adding additional staffing helps our operation, helps continuity, increases our level of safety," Ackley said Wednesday.  "I know there is an economic issue, we understand that, which is why this was put off for two years ... Somebody making this decision will set the level of protection. This is for the safety of my firefighters, in the two stations I feel deserve that kind of protection. I encourage you and ask you, respectfully, to support this process to the RTM."

Committing to the grant's requirements triggered a lengthy and at times contentious discussion by the board over what Westport's long-term costs could be, particularly because the town's current retirement benefit plans have been described as untenable into the future.

Hiring eight new lieutenants under the town's existing pension plan "would cost the town millions of dollars in the decades to come," board member Kenneth Wirfel said at the meeting.

Board member Charlie Haberstroh echoed his concern and said  "massive tax increases will be needed to pay for this."

Board chairwoman Helen Garten said accepting the grant would mean a commitment of "three-quarters of a million to a million" for the third year of their hire and more after that. In salaries, benefits and pensions, the eight additional firefighters would cost the town millions in years to come, she said. It also means no attrition and no layoffs for the first two years and accepting the grant is a "decision to commit to permanent staff."

"If we do this, we're making a moral commitment to keep them," Garten said of what would result to the firefighters after the grant expires. "If we decide to go forward, we are saying increased staffing is so important we have to find ways to pay for it."

When it seemed the board was not going to approve the grant First Selectman Gordon Joseloff had some heated words for the board and urged them to stop "bemoaning the costs" and work together with the town.

"For 30 years in this town we skated, we put safety at peril and we're catching up now," Joseloff said. "What cost is a life? That's what it comes down to and at some point it will come back to haunt us."