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Commission approves $108,910.46 appropriation to close last year's overtime
Summary
The Public Safety Commission voted to send a $108,910.46 appropriation for last year's overtime to the finance and government committee. Chief Albert said persistent vacancies, multiple FMLAs and a military deployment drove overtime costs.
The Middletown Public Safety Commission voted by voice to forward a $108,910.46 appropriation to the finance and government committee to close out last year's overtime, Fire Chief Albert said.
"It's the amount of a $108,910.46," Albert said when formally requesting the appropriation. Chair called for a motion, and the measure was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the Chair recorded that Councilwoman Zalowski would make the motion and Councilwoman Gennaro would second.
Albert described the operational pressures that drove overtime: two light-duty members, two vacancies, multiple 12-week Family Medical Leave Act absences that have already occurred or are pending, and at least one current military deployment. He said those factors meant staffing has been "at minimum or below minimum pretty much every day since July 1," and that the department may need to budget differently next year to account for full use of paid leave.
The chief also described an apparatus-related staffing pressure: an intermittent bucket-control fault on Truck 1 that requires a third person to be present when the bucket is flown, sometimes creating overtime for coverage. He said the replacement part is custom, costs roughly $13,000, and has a six-week lead time.
What happens next: The appropriation will go to the finance and government committee for review; no council-level appropriation vote or final spending authorization occurred at this meeting.
The commission adjourned at 06:52.
