Town Seeks Grants to Hire Firefighters, Police Officers

The Town of Westfield has applied for federal grants to hire new firefighters and police officers, Town Administrator Jim Gildea said at Tuesday evening's Town Council meeting. 

Two of the 's ranking officers are expected to retire this year. Fourth Ward Councilman Keith Loughlin, vice-chair of the public safety committee, confirmed that one lieutenant and one battalion chief will be leaving the department in 2012.

"Their positions will not be immediately replaced," he said in an email. "We have applied for a federal grant (the SAFER Grant: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) in order to fund the salaries and benefits of (up to) four new firefighters for two years at no cost to the Westfield taxpayer. We anticipate learning of the awarding of the SAFER Grant sometime in September." 

Loughlin said he could not speak to the specifics of which positions will be filled should the town receive the grant, but he added that the department will have four lieutenants remaining, which, he said, "is sufficient for our town."

During Tuesday night's meeting, which included a Powerpoint presentation of the 2012 municipal budget, Gildea said the Town has sought the grants in an effort to maintain services in the face of declining revenues. Gildea said the Town has applied for a grant that could assist in the hiring of up-to two new police officers through the COPS MORE program. The Town should learn if the grant has been approved by late summer. 

Both Loughlin and Gildea reiterated that public safety is an area of utmost importance that they do not wish to see compromised in light of declining revenues.

Within the past year, two six-alarm fires have occurred in Westfield; one at in May 2011 and in January 2012. Following the Ferraro's fire residents spoke out about the need for . 

"We are comfortable with the current staffing levels of our fire department, and our Public Safety Committee will continue to closely monitor staffing levels of our police and fire departments," Loughlin said. 

Following Tuesday's meeting, the Council adjourned to meet in a closed session to discuss the hiring of a new police chief. After 31 years with the , announced he will leave the force. His retirement will become effective Aug. 1, but due to accrued sick and vacation time, his last day will come in late March. 

When asked about the process of selecting a new chief of police, both Gildea and Loughlin stated that it was "an internal personnel matter" that could not be discussed yet.