This week, the Chelsea Fire Department revealed that it has obtained a substantial federal grant to finance the recruitment of eight new firefighters for this year’s budget. Chief Len Albanese indicated that the new recruits could be deployed by Thanksgiving.
The Homeland Security grant delivers $1.4 million in federal funding spread across three years, paying for 75 percent of salary and benefits costs during the first two years. In year three, the grant covers 35 percent of salaries and benefits expenses.
Starting in the fourth year, the City assumes full financial responsibility for the new hires’ costs.
According to Albanese, worries about Chelsea’s Sanctuary City status potentially affecting the grant approval proved unfounded, since the application had been submitted the previous year.
The most significant development is that the Fire Department will exceed 100 members for the first time in several decades. The grant will bring the department to 102 members total.
“We’ve had 92 members for quite a while,” said the chief. “Prior to my arrival and when I got here and that’s a situation I assume goes back to the 1990s – post-receivership. (Last year), we added two members to get up to 94 and with the intention to add more. With the SAFER grant now in place, we can add eight new members and that brings our staffing up to 102…Having 102 is what we consider to be a really good staffing level for the Fire Department.”
Albanese noted that Revere’s force stands at 98 and Everett – which also holds a SAFER grant – has 111 members.
He explained that while the new members won’t completely eliminate overtime, he anticipates a significant reduction to manageable levels, potentially resolving the long-standing controversy over excessive overtime expenditures.
“The purpose is to not just decrease overtime,” he said. “There’s always overtime in a 24/7 business…This will control overtime and put boots on the ground. It will stabilize overtime and increase staffing.”
Albanese has already selected the eight recruits from Civil Service, having anticipated grant approval and acted proactively. This approach will allow them to begin work at the Station promptly.
“We have eight recruits identified and they preparing to attend the Brookline Fire Academy on Sept. 5,” he said. “That means if all goes well, we will have these additional firefighters on the street by Thanksgiving.”
Combined with another recent grant, the fire department has secured $2 million in federal funding through 2016 DHS/FEMA programs.