The Cranston City Council approved changes to the city code to add a full-time fifth rescue unit, a shift officials say is needed because run volumes have more than doubled since the last full-time rescue was added.

In a special ordinance committee meeting Dec. 22, the mayor-sponsored ordinance (12-25-04) to amend Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) was presented as the administrative change needed to add eight permanent firefighting headcounts so Rescue 5 can operate around the clock. Director Moretti explained the proposal, saying the city has relied on part-time and volunteer staffing arrangements for years and that a permanent, fully staffed rescue would reduce overtime but bring an incremental budget cost.

"By staffing 8 incremental folks, we will be saving overtime... but there will be an incremental cost," Moretti said, describing a multi-part implementation that includes a separate budget amendment and a memorandum of agreement with the firefighters' union.

Division Chief Richard Green detailed operational demand that city officials say justifies the unit. "We're over 17, almost 18,000 runs right now, and we still haven't put that Rescue on," Green said, recounting prior incidents that led the department to seek additional capacity and stating that the trial use of a fifth rescue previously demonstrated benefit.

Council members across the floor spoke in favor. Councilwoman Haroyan cited historical run numbers — roughly 7,400 runs in 1994 versus more than 18,000 currently — and said state Department of Health rules that keep rescues on scene for longer periods have increased unit unavailability and mutual-aid costs. "This is definitely well needed," she said.

Officials outlined a funding plan for the first fiscal year that would rely on a one-time sale of underused city property, paired with expected increases in ambulance billing revenue. Moretti said the finance director prepared a fiscal note and provided a rough estimate for next-year costs of about $5,600,000, which city leadership will refine in the mayor’s budget presentation.

The special ordinance committee conducted a roll call and voted to approve moving the ordinance forward; the item later passed a full council vote after Chairman Andujar presented the committee report and urged passage.

What happens next: city administration will introduce companion items in early January — a fiscal-year budget amendment and a formal MOA or contract amendment with the firefighters' union — for committee review and council consideration. The council and administration said they will provide the finance director’s fiscal note and the MOA language for public review before final implementation.

Sources and attribution: Quotes and information in this article come from committee and council remarks on Dec. 22, 2025, including Director Moretti and Division Chief Richard Green. The ordinance referenced in committee was introduced as "12-25-04."