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Chicago Inspector General suggests savings for CFD
From excerpts taken from ChicagoSunTimes.com:
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In a recent report, Chicago's Inspector General, Joe Ferguson, suggested that the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) could significantly cut costs by hiring civilians to take over 34 non-emergency administrative roles currently filled by firefighters and paramedics. According to Ferguson, these changes could save the city at least $1.2 million annually, with the potential to save even more by reducing overtime costs, which have exceeded $40 million in recent years.
Ferguson's recommendations come three years after he proposed a similar plan for the Chicago Police Department, which aimed to civilianize several roles and free up additional officers for patrol duties. His latest analysis of the fire department found that many of the 555 uniformed firefighters and paramedics were being tasked with administrative work that had little to do with fighting fires or responding to emergencies. Among these duties were tasks like mail delivery, which two firefighters were reportedly performing despite the lack of official documentation reflecting these responsibilities.
The fire department has already agreed to civilianize 32 out of the 35 positions highlighted by Ferguson. Commissioner Jose Santiago also committed to reviewing all job descriptions and ensuring they accurately reflect the current roles of uniformed personnel. However, Ferguson noted that there may be more positions that could be civilianized, pointing to cities like New York and Philadelphia where civilians handle fire inspection duties instead of firefighters.
Despite the department's efforts, the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 raised objections, filing a grievance over the move to replace firefighters with civilians for certain tasks. Tom Ryan, the union president, argued that these positions are integral to the fire department's operations and must remain with union members unless negotiated otherwise.
Additionally, Ferguson's audit revealed that the fire department had granted at least 13 reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act without proper oversight. While the department did provide these accommodations, it couldn't confirm whether all eligible personnel had been accounted for. Ferguson emphasized the importance of maintaining systematic tracking and compliance with city policies regarding these accommodations.
As the city weighs these recommendations, it remains to be seen how the union will respond and whether further civilianization will occur. In the meantime, Ferguson's audit highlights opportunities for both financial savings and operational efficiency within the fire department.
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Thanks, Dan.