Flaherty indoctrinated to new position 'under fire'

Date: 2/15/2011

Feb. 16, 2011

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Editor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Edward Gibson jokingly called Fire Chief William Flaherty's first few weeks on the job as "his indoctrination under fire."

"He hasn't had any rest since he started. They've been extremely busy." the mayor said, referring to the department's numerous calls for fires and roof collapses due to snow. "Certainly I hope that their workload slows down."

Flaherty, who took over for retired Chief David Barkman last month, described his first few weeks on the job as a great, busy experience.

"All the members here have really received the change well," Flaherty said. "I consider them all my friends and I look forward to the support of the community and we'll continue to serve them as best we can."

Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Culver concurred with Flaherty, calling his leadership an exciting change for the department.

Flaherty said the biggest challenge of his new position thus far has been putting together the budget in these lean fiscal times. "You're just trying to make sure you are still able to do everything that you need to do to fund the manpower and building maintenance," he added.

The department currently employs 67 personnel and operates two ambulances, with 10 firefighter salaries financed by the enterprise fund, Flaherty explained. Gibson asked department heads to submit three budgets including a level-funded, a 5 percent reduction and a 10 percent reduction.

Flaherty said equipment, supply and maintenance line items have been cut to their lowest possible rates, leaving personnel as one of the few options left to cut.

"If we lose personnel, we'd either have to take a ladder out of service, which would hinder our ability to run two ambulances," he explained.

Flaherty said he hopes it doesn't come to that.

"I think that is something that is going to be very difficult but we might not be able to fund them at the levels that they are now," Gibson explained, adding that he's still waiting on state aid figures from the Legislature. "So far we've only heard the governor's side of what he thinks of the budget."

The Town Council must approve the municipal operating budget by June 30, the last day of the fiscal year.