 "Photo: Andrew Martasian")
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.--After hearing 35 minutes of heated complaints about a proposed reorganization the fire department, the Town Council split 3-2 along party lines Monday in favor of an ordinance that will require firefighters to work 24-hour shifts and longer hours.
The ordinance, which takes effect March 1, will reorganize the 64-man fire department will into three divisions. It states that firefighters will work "24 consecutive hours followed by 48 hours off-duty" as part of a work week that averages 56 hours, a 14-hour increase.
Before the vote, Council President Elizabeth Dolan said she did not like the position the council had been put in. But though she said the council "would still leave the door open to negotiate the effects of this [the ordinance]," she and her two fellow Republicans Carol Hueston and Charles Stamm voted for the ordinance.
Democratic Councilmen Michael Bestwick and Charles Brennan opposed it. Brestwick said he would like "to see everyone collectively work together" and suggested that a vote be put off for a month to give arbitration a chance to work.
According to the ordinance, the reorganization will save the town more than $1.2 million per year," and "enhances public safety."
None of the residents and firefighters from around the state who filled Beechwood House on Monday night appeared to share that point of view.
"I am concerned about having folks on for 20 hours, and then there's a rescue call at my house, or your house or my neighbor's house, and these gentlemen have been out working all day," said Richard Welch of 8 Arrow Lane. "Life safety in my mind is not a budget issue, it's a priority for the taxpayer and the residents."
Raymond Furtado, the president of the North Kingstown Firefighter's Association, called the ordinance a "legal technicality" and a way to "go around the law."
The town is entering its second year of arbitration with the Fire Department's union, Local 1651. Furtado told the council that "by state law, we have a right to collectively bargain these issues."
Furtado read Section 28-9.1-4 of the "Firefighters Arbitration Act" to the council. It states that "firefighters in any city or town have the right to bargain collectively with their respective cities or towns and be represented by a labor organization in the collective bargaining as to wages, rates of pay, hours, working conditions, and all other terms and conditions of employment."
Furtado told the council the town could face lawsuits if the new ordinance was passed.
"You'll be laying the first brick on the path of financial destruction for this town potentially," said Furtado.
North Kingstown firefighter Justin Puckett felt the change of hours and schedule was unfair.
"It's often said that we chose this job, and I agree," he said. "I did choose this job, But I chose to work a 42-hour work week, I did not choose to work 24-hour shifts and I definitely did not chose to be treated so unfairly by this council." His words were met with thunderous applause after he spoke.
Elizabeth Gledhill, the wife of a North Kingstown firefighter, told the council that the message being sent to "firefighters and their families is that their time is not valuable," and asked that the ordinance not be passed.
Shouts of "see you in court" filled the air as the firefighters and their supporters left the meeting after the council passed the ordinance.
Dolan said after the meeting that she did not want to wait to pass the ordinance because "this has been going on for months and months" and alleged that the union used "delay tactics."
"There comes a time when you need to make a decision," said Dolan.
In other action, the council decided to postpone a public hearing on the proposed development at Rolling Greens Golf Course until Tuesday night's Planning Commission meeting.
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