Township Adminstrator Fires Back at Council Meeting

Township Administrator Yoshi Manale added fuel to Bloomfield's fire drama at Monday night's town council conference meeting, saying residents can no longer afford to pay for firefighters' "generous salaries and benefits."

Reading from a four-page written statement, Manale used facts about firefighters' salaries, vacation time and health benefits in defending the the fire department's Table of Organization (T.O.) to 78 men, which has since drawn scrutiny from fire officials and residents.

"If the fire union wants the township to hire more firefighters, then I suggest they come to the table and agree to the concessions that our other township employees have already agreed to do," said Manale. Firefighters' contract expires at the end of the year.

The average total salary of a Bloomfield firefighter in 2010 ($115,476.24) is more than double that of the median household income ($53,289 in 1999), according to Manale. The highest paid firefighter made $208,000, while the lowest paid made about $83,000.

"Clearly, the residents cannot afford for this to continue," he said, amid jeers from firefighters who lined the back wall of council chambers. Manale also said firefighters don't pay into their health benefits - unlike other township employees.

In wake of the new T.O., Fire Chief Joseph McCarthy of Bloomfield's four fire stations due to lack of manpower, a decision Manale axed later that day. Fire station 3, which was closed for the majority of the day, was ordered to open at around 7 p.m., while Engine 1 at fire headquarters was permanently closed.

"It is the township's policy that all firehouses in the township are to remain open and manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Manale said. "The chief knows of this policy and no firehouse will be closed from this point forward."

The township administrator has no business telling the fire chief what to do, according to Brian McDade, president of the Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) Local #19.

"It's a disrespect to the fire department and the town to tell the chief how to run his department," said McDade. "He's tried to do the right thing to keep the town as safe as possible under the current conditions and he's being stopped every chance you guys get."

Fire officials have repeatedly said , which provides fire suppression like hoses and water, puts the most densely populated area directly at risk. It's only a matter of time until a fire becomes fatal, a devastating consequence exacerbated by a smaller fire department, according to resident Kevin Perucki.

"It's just going to happen again," said Perucki. "I'm wondering if anyone of you sitting up there can look these families in their eyes and say, 'We cut that fire department down to 78 men because this was the right thing to do'?"