The Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Request to appropriate $1,500,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to Fire Rescue Overtime. According to the report, Fire Chief Gentile explained that the bulk of this overtime request is for minimum manning to staff the fire apparatus (engines, trucks, etc). He said that when the Department is fully staffed, they have four personnel assigned to each company but when someone is out – vacation, illness, injury – the vacancy needs to be filled with overtime. He further reports that the Department has 9 vacancies – which explains the high amount of overtime as well as an increase in vacation time which he attributes to carryover vacation that was not taken during COVID. Committee members questioned the difference in the number of reported vacancies – noting the number listed in the Chief’s letter as 11, the number reported here is 9 and the budget book lists 3. The Chief explained how the vacancies were accounted for: only 2 of the 5 candidates graduated but they expect 6 to graduate on 6/9. Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux explained that they hope to have a more substantive discussion about overtime and staffing in the fall after an analysis is completed in the summer. She also explained that vacancies are listed in the budget book as step one and that the overtime shifts are filled by more expensive senior staff and that the new recruit time does not go to free cash but go to defray overtime costs.
- Request to appropriate $640,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to a Newton Police Department Capital Account to fund several technology initiatives, including a Storage Area Network and significant technology infrastructure improvements. According to the report, Police Superintendent McManis explained that $375,000 is for a new Data Center and network infrastructure replacement that would be used to create a network for the Police Department and a joint network for the Police and Fire Departments that would share the Data Center and add security from cybersecurity threats. He added that $265,000 is for tablets and replace the current consumer-grade ones for police cruisers, which often shut down (batteries die) and parts are no longer available.
- Request to appropriate $250,000 of June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to the Police Patrol Overtime Account. According to the report, Superintendent McManis explained that the request would cover overtime expenses through July 1, 2023. These expenses include: a Lieutenant vacancy, approximately 10 officer out injured on duty, vacant crossing guard posts, and dispatch positions.
