$215,000 in Police and Fire Overtime Requested

Mayor Arthur Vigeant said overtime spending is being brought under control even as he requested an additional $215,605.48 in overtime for the Police and Fire Department.

"Although we have a ways to go, I am pleased we are moving in the right direction," wrote Mayor Vigeant in a letter to the City Council regarding the police overtime.

Overtime in both departments is down compared to the same time last year, he said. The costs are planned to be further controlled in the future by filling open positions.

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It was those open positions and injuries that caused much of the overtime, according to Mayor Vigeant.

"This request is necessary to pay for overtime costs associated with the injuries of several firefighters early in the month of December and the personal long term sick leave of others over the past several months," he wrote to the council. "Some of the injuries sustained in December are now anticipated to be long term."

Additional police overtime — at the cost of $113,000 — comes from vacant police officer positions as well as several injuries, according to the mayor.

Fire department overtime came out to a cost of $102,605.48. This will soon be addressed as the city is sending five recruits to the Massachusetts Fire Academy in April, said the mayor.

The City Council voted to refer the requests to the Finance Committee.