Prov. City Council Hires Consultant to Conduct Firefighter Staffing Study
GoLocalProv News Team
Prov. City Council Hires Consultant to Conduct Firefighter Staffing Study
The announcement comes following a weekend where staffing levels were decreased at several stations in the city on Saturday night.
According to a release from the council, the study will "use extensive data analysis to focus on: engine and ladder staffing, ambulance staffing including organization and rank structure, the number of fire and rescue units, the issues in current litigation, and staffing of the prevention/inspection division."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCity Council President Luis Aponte announced the council has retained MMA Consulting Group to review staffing and organization of the Providence Fire Department.
Next Steps
The city's firefighters' union is currently in a legal dispute with the city over platoon shift changes put forth by Mayor Jorge Elorza this summer.
“Regardless of the outcome on the current platoon shift dispute, the firefighters’ contract expires at the end of next fiscal year,"Aponte. “This report will offer a vital understanding of how the department should be structured and staffed, giving the administration and the union an independent framework to guide negotiations going forward.”
Work is slated to begin in mid-December, 2015, with preliminary results expected in two months.
Providence Firefighter Tweets
Paul Doughty responds to a post by Elorza on another subject, to steer the fight back to the firefighters.
A photo meme that was orginated by firefighters in social media, before being used on signs during a recent firefighter rally at City Hall.
The fighfighters take to Twitter to convey their positions on a number of issues.
Local 799's Derek Silva tweets a cartoon "fantasty" Tweet with Elorza.
Elorza's post recognizing fire chief Cunha's service gets minimal interaction.
On May 21, when Elorza announced the platoon shift, he tweeted instead about a volunteer event he attended -- and not of the firefighter decision.
Other press coverage of Elorza is often commented on by Doughty on Twitter.
Doughty uses Twitter to show the contrast of a prior Elorza statement, versus his current position.
A pro-union tweet garners significant Twitter interaction.
Doughty takes to social media to tell firefighter supporters than any threats against the Mayor would not be tolerated.
Doughty often comments on other actions by Mayor Elorza in an effort to bolster the firefighters' position.
Doughty takes immediate social action after the Mayor weighs on about the recent court decision.
Media coverage on the fight is often retweeted by Doughty -- something which Elorza does not do with firefighters.
A pro-union post retweeted by Doughty; the firefighters often engage other unions' support.
