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Residents urge retention of SAFER firefighters and criticize rental policy; town manager says arbitration is in process
Summary
Public commenters pressed the council to retain eight SAFER-funded firefighters and criticized short-term rental policy and spending. Town Manager Tierney said the IAFF local chose interest arbitration and that staffing levels have not been affected; solicitor informed the council a temporary restraining order prevents enforcing short-term rental requirements until litigation is resolved.
Several residents used the Oct. 7 public comment period to press the Narragansett Town Council on firefighter staffing and the town’s rental policies.
Supporters of the fire department urged the council to keep the eight positions hired through a federal SAFER grant. Chris D'Ambrosio, a long-time resident, said the additional firefighters decreased response times and “can be the difference between life and death,” and asked the council to continue funding the SAFER positions.
Multiple commenters, including Catherine Salaberto and Dr. Al Alba, criticized council actions on rentals, tax policy and what they described as mismanagement. Salaberto reiterated a claim she has made on social media that the council “is trying to negotiate away those 8 positions” even though they are included in the current budget. Dr. Alba criticized town spending and the council’s handling of memorial recognition and other matters.
Town Manager Mr. Tierney responded in his update that the IAFF local has exercised its legal right to interest arbitration, that collective bargaining negotiations are ongoing, and that, as of the meeting, staffing levels had not been affected and those hired under the SAFER grant remain employed. He also noted an earlier statement from Town Solicitor Mark Davis that a temporary restraining order related to short-term rental rules prevents the town from implementing or enforcing certain requirements until a court decision is rendered.
The meeting record therefore contains competing claims from residents about the council's intentions and the town manager’s procedural description of the collective bargaining status. The public record at this meeting did not include a council vote to eliminate SAFER-funded positions; the town manager said negotiations and arbitration are the current process.
Next steps: The town will continue collective bargaining processes and interest arbitration as required by labor law; enforcement or further action on short-term rentals remains on hold pending judicial resolution of the temporary restraining order.
