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Fire chief warns of overtime overages, cites staffing vacancy and delayed apparatus delivery
Summary
Gardner City’s Fire Chief told the Safety Committee April 24 that overtime and repair costs have exceeded budget lines — fire overtime at $479,660 and ambulance overtime at $120,004 — and that a free-cash request to City Council is likely; the chief also described grant-funded radio deliveries and a year-long apparatus delay.
The Gardner City Fire Chief told the Safety Committee on April 24 that the department is not fully staffed after a late‑March resignation and is carrying significant overtime and repair costs that will require a funding request to City Council.
The chief said one firefighter resigned to accept a position with the Devons Fire Department, citing higher pay and the chance to receive paramedic training, and another firefighter remains on injury leave while pursuing disability retirement. "We are no longer fully staffed," the chief said.
The most immediate budget pressure is overtime, the chief said: "Fire overtime is currently at $479,660," compared with a $200,000 line‑item budget, and ambulance…
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