Greenwich fire chief warns of overtime and aging fleet; volunteer tanker funding requested

Fire Chief Joseph McHugh told the Budget Committee on Feb. 3 that the department is seeing higher call volumes across response types, including 166 additional motor‑vehicle‑accident responses, and submitted an operating request 3.38% above guideline levels.

Chief McHugh described a restructuring that eliminated floater positions and set a baseline of 23 firefighters per shift, which the department said increases predictability but also raises baseline overtime needs when staff are absent. He reported the department has largely filled vacancies, hiring 10 firefighters last year and six this year, but still carries a $3 million overtime budget and faces many open work orders due to fleet maintenance shortfalls.

The committee heard that more than half of the department’s apparatus fleet is out of service at times, with older vehicles (10+ years) incurring repair costs of $200,000–$250,000 versus under $10,000 for newer apparatus. Committee members questioned why overtime has not fallen with fuller staffing; the chief said the structural change to shifts affects overtime timing and budgeting.

Assistant Chief Tom Lenart told the committee volunteer companies remain important: Round Hill, Banksville and Sound Beach requested capital support. Specific requests discussed included a town‑owned $1 million tanker for Round Hill, $450,000 in matching funds for a Banksville tanker and $150,000 in matching funds for a Sound Beach technical rescue vehicle. The committee asked for updated CIP sheets and written agreements with volunteer companies that reference longstanding mutual-aid arrangements dating to the 1930 town charter.

The committee requested follow-up materials and clarified that written agreements should reflect coverage commitments and funding responsibilities; no vote on capital funding for volunteer equipment was taken at the meeting.