Light: Norwalk Fire Department pushing limits with overtime spending

NORWALK — Norwalk Fire Department is still pushing the limits with overtime spending, Norwalk Mayor Dave Light said. Last week, a firefighter received disciplinary action, resulting in time off, and safety-service director Mike White requested the fire department schedule the following days without any overtime spending, Light said. Light said there was one full day and a half-day where the fire department was staffed with three firefighters, instead of the regular four. "If it weren't for the first round of CARES Act money we got, we would already have started laying off police and fire. We're trying to be fiscally responsible and very conservative with spending money in every department in the city," he said. "We've got skeleton crews, all over the city and so (the fire department) has to step up and do their share, as well." Light said while every other department in the city has significantly pulled back on spending and overtime, the fire department's overtime is still over budget. He said hiring new firefighters also would not solve the problem, as the amount would end up similar to the overtime budget when considering health insurance. Light said he and White have been researching other municipalities and their fire departments, like Monroeville, Willard and Sandusky. He said he's asked the fire chief, Ron Luttrell, to explore other options of staffing the fire department, like changing scheduling, using part-time employees or lower minimum staffing. "We're trying to be responsible with taxpayer's money," he said. "The overtime there is like a runaway freight train, we've got to reel it in." The city is looking at $1.4 million in deficit spending this year. "I want the best trained, best-equipped fire department we could have. Norwalk stepped up in such a big way to build this new fire department," Light said. "It's time for them to give back a little and help get this overtime down." Light said he's very fiscally responsible and raising any taxes would be his last resort. He also said Norwalk will not be getting into the ambulance business. If the fire department provided ambulatory services, Light said they would need to purchase three new ambulances and hire six more paramedic firemen. "We are so fortunate to have Fisher-Titus here inside the city. We are so fortunate to have North Central EMS and they do an amazing job," he said. Light said as long as Fisher-Titus and North Central stay in the area, there is no need for the city to provide ambulance services. Luttrell was unavailable for comment.