A Million Dollars In Overtime




To the Editor:

I applaud our village trustees for voting unanimously to reduce the staffing level at the fire department from six to five paid firefighters (Garden City News, October 26, 2012.) In addition to the five firefighters, one lieutenant will continue to serve in this staffing pattern known as “Code 4.” According to Trustee Andrew Cavanaugh and Fire Chief Charles Cavarra, reducing the staffing level by one firefighter will not compromise public safety and it will reduce overtime.

Over the past five years Garden City has spent more than one million dollars in pensionable overtime for about 25 career firefighters plus five lieutenants. And the million dollars of overtime is just the tip of the iceberg because of the way that our state’s public pension system is set up. In New York pension payments are usually based on the employee’s three highest paid years, including overtime. Thus, the actual cost of the one million dollars in overtime is much higher because a firefighter who retires at age 62 could receive an enhanced pension for the rest of his or her life.

Earlier this year Newsday reported that Garden City’s pension obligation in 2013 will be more than double what it was in 2010 going from $2.1 to $5.2 million dollars. By reinstating the “Code 4” operating procedure our eight trusteeswith significant assistance from the current and former voluntary fire chiefs-are taking some of the sting out of our village’s soaring pension obligations and for that I am grateful.

Leo Stimmler



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