McLaughlin 'Enjoying' New Post At Fire Department

It's been just over three months since he formally started in his new position, and Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin said that he's having a good experience so far.

"I'm enjoying myself," McLaughlin said during a recent interview at fire headquarters on Atwood Avenue. "I've been in this business since I was 19 — I think it's a part of my DNA at this point."

Appointed by Mayor Joseph M. Polisena on March 16, McLaughlin is a retiree from the Pawtucket Fire Department. He formally started in the position on April 11.

At the appointment ceremony, Polisena noted that McLaughlin's first assignment would be preparing the department's budget for fiscal 2012 — and McLaughlin explained he put a lot of time into the spending plan, as the mayor had indicated.

"Getting through the budget took up a lot of the eight weeks or so since I've been here," McLaughlin said. "I'd say we did pretty well in these economic times."

The town budget for fiscal 2012 includes a $312,000 reduction in the fire department's funding, which McLaughlin explained is a result of moving money from the overtime budget to the payroll account.

"My concern in the budget is operational — 85 to 87 percent is fixed personnel costs that we don't have any control over," McLaughlin said. "We have a pretty bare bones budget."

According to the town budget adopted by the town council on June 23, the fire department's account for so-called "call back" — instances where off-duty firefighters cover the shift of injured or vacationing responders — was cut by about $230,000, and rental fees paid by the department were slashed from $197,000 to $1,400, making up the bulk of the overall reduction for this fiscal year.

McLaughlin said he's planning to start recruiting new firefighters, with an eye toward having a class this fall.

"My suggestion on staffing — and the mayor has listened to me — is that I'd like to get us up to even, so at least we'll have a better handle on where the overtime is," McLaighlin explained, adding that the department is currently seven firefighters short of full staffing, according to the contract with IAFF Local 1950. "Right now, every day — every shift — there's overtime."

New rescues on the way

The town has also funded the purchase of two new rescue trucks under a $1.43 million bond plan approved by the town council on June 13.

McLaughlin said the department needs new vehicles to replace the Ford rescues that have been plagued with problems.

"They have been clunkers, in my estimation," McLaughlin explained — one of the trucks even broke down while transporting a child, he added.

McLaughlin estimated the costs of the new rescues to be about $220,000 each — and he said he's making sure the town gets its money's worth.

"We want to buy the best rescue vehicles we can buy, that will last the longest, and provide the town with the best piece of equipment, but also provide the men and women with the best vehicle," he explained. "They're paying good taxes in this town, and the people of the town deserve to know that when the rescue pulls up at their house, it'll be a reliable vehicle."

McLaughlin acknowledged that he took on a lot of work in a short time since joining the department — but said that's just his way of approaching the position.

"I like to get things done," he said. "I like to hit the ground running."