OK to shop on job?

Fire Chief to review practice, develop policy

By John Howell
Posted 12/3/15

It’s a common sight – a fire engine or ladder truck stopped outside Dave’s Marketplace or Stop & Shop. There’s no fire, no emergency. Rather, firefighters are food shopping.

That practice …

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OK to shop on job?

Fire Chief to review practice, develop policy

Posted

It’s a common sight – a fire engine or ladder truck stopped outside Dave’s Marketplace or Stop & Shop. There’s no fire, no emergency. Rather, firefighters are food shopping.

That practice has enraged Robert Cote, who led the car tax revolt. He estimates each shopping trip takes a half hour that amounts to 1.5 man hours, as each apparatus is staffed by three firefighters.

Given the number of city fire stations – nine with the opening of the Potowomut Station this week – he estimates eight shopping trips a day for a total of 84 man-hours a week. Cote calculates Warwick taxpayers are paying firefighters $131,000 a year to go shopping.

That’s not the way Chief Edmund Armstrong and some members of the City Council see it.

Armstrong said Tuesday that most of the shopping stops are made on returning from a run. He notes firefighters remain on call and would be dispatched from wherever they are should there be an emergency.

Armstrong has been in conversation with Mayor Scott Avedisian and, according to an email sent to Cote yesterday, has started a review of department policies and procedures that he expects to provide the Board of Public Safety in several weeks. Issues that might fall under such a policy, Avedisian said last week, could include restrictions on the number of apparatuses used for shopping trips at a given time and reporting requirements.

Under legislation introduced by Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, firefighters would have been extended the right to shop while on duty. Cote argued vehemently against the ordinance, which never reached the floor for a vote and has since been dropped.

Cote also wrote Avedisian outlining his issues with the practice. He questioned whether the mayor can establish a verbal policy or to enter into a verbal contract without the consent of the City Council on matters affecting the budget.

“Thereby, because you have clearly ventured outside of your duties and obligations, and since you took an oath to uphold the laws of the city of Warwick and the city charter, I request that you immediately suspend your ‘verbal policy’ with the firefighters as it pertains to use of the apparatus for shopping needs immediately,” Cote writes.

In a letter dated Nov. 17, Avedisian responds: “I share your concerns, as do all taxpayers, that the delivery of fire services in an efficient and effective manner is of paramount importance. On-duty food shopping using fire apparatus is not supportive of these goals.”

The mayor goes on to say he has asked Armstrong to evaluate the current practice and develop new policies regarding shopping by fire personnel.

Cote questioned Tuesday whether that means the mayor will end the practice. He said that Avedisian should say, “No, this behavior is not to be tolerated. I challenge him to draw the line in the sand.”

What about settling rules on shopping? Might there be a workable department policy?

“It’s very simple,” Cote answered, “you bring food to work.”

Cote notes there’s nothing in the firefighters’ contract giving them the authority to shop while on the job or the unrestricted use of apparatus, and denying them those privileges is within bounds. However, he suggested if the administration were to arm firefighters with brooms and shovels and instruct them to sweep sidewalks between calls, he is sure there would be a protest.

Cote has videoed firefighter shopping trips and said he has shots of two engines stopped outside Dave’s and of firefighters leaving the store with a bag of popping corn and nothing more. One of his videos that stirred comment on social media was taken at a marina and showed on-duty firefighters at a barbecue.

In addition to the issue of shopping, Cote argues the department is overmanned yet continues to rack up overtime.

“They’re just taking advantage of the taxpayer,” he said.

He went on to cite the number of paid holidays, sick days and uniform allowance firefighters get.

Comments

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  • BettyWheeler

    Does anyone else's employer insist that they bring food to work and not leave their area? I also have witnessed fireman shopping and have at times see them leave their purchases and go to a fire or rescue without them. They may be at that fire or rescue for several hours without having a lunch or dinner break. Does anyone else have to do that? I believe that we all are entitled to a break from our jobs. Let's not go back into the dark ages!!!

    Friday, December 4, 2015 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Betty, do you understand the fundamentals of a contract?

    Friday, December 4, 2015 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    No, it is not ok to shop on the job. Nor is it ok to make a personal call, check any non-work e-mail, text, voice message, etc. If it is an emergency, tell your family to call your superiors and request that you be able to clock out so you can deal with whatever has arisen.

    Also, I am sick and tired of seeing National Grid trucks, snowplows, police cars, etc at doughnut shops, gas stations, etc. You want a snack? Bring one from home, punch out, and eat it on your own time.

    Where is this country headed?

    Friday, December 4, 2015 Report this

  • Rogerb

    Looks to me like Mr cote knows nothing about the job he dislikes so much. Maybe he needs a taste of what waits for Firefighters at 02:26 in there sleep.

    Let him but on full ppe and spend 20 minutes in a training fire or have him come help at the next MVA with kids badly hurt or killed.

    The list is long as to what the job requires a F.F. to deal with a seconds notice and all he cares about is shopping???

    There must be bigger problems then this to nit pic?

    Saturday, December 5, 2015 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Mr. Cote probably couldn't get on a fire department in the past and is still carrying that grudge- reminds me of a former WPD dispatcher who was laughed out of the reserves and thought he was smarter than all the cops on the street.

    A procedure for shopping with apparatus should be established and followed. Commonsense changes such as shopping for the station (and not allegedly stopping for a bag of chips) should be included.

    I've seen firefighters leave the market to answer a call and the market staff have to put their baskets in the cooler until they can return. What Mr. Cote doesn't understand, or is trying to change, is that the city pays for their on-duty meals. Does he expect them to pay for and haul a cooler of food to the station when they show up for a hitch? He must think they work 9 to 5 and go home every day like him.

    Monday, December 7, 2015 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    RISchanfreud,

    The city absolutely does not pay for our meals at the station. Most crews shop on their own on their way in to their night shift. The day shift is different. Sometimes we take the truck while returning from a call. But we do not get any money from the city for our meals.

    Monday, December 7, 2015 Report this

  • Daydreambeliever

    As for the previous comment. Warwick Taxpayers DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT pay for firefighter meals. They never have and never will. I don't know where this rumor started but it has to end. My goodness how old can one story get?

    It is amazing when Mr.Cote gets his panties in a bunch he attacks. He never confronts anyone as a man face to face but makes numerous phone calls to the mayor and chief of the WFD regarding seeing a fire truck. We better watch out or they won't be used for parades in the near futiure, be sent to schools for the children to see and during fire prevention week. Oh my what could that cost be?????

    Take a ride to DD in Bayside, Hoxsie, Wildes Corner everyday and you will see numerous at one time DPW trucks for 15-20 minutes a day. Let's calculate this? Hmmm they leave there post drive to DD, go on break, drive back to there post so maybe it's a 45 minute break daily. What cost is that Rob?

    We have a fine police department who often stop at various businesses also using fuel driving around all day long is that ok Rob? Should they just park at various locations and turn the cars off to save fuel?

    We have many city vehicles on the road Rob should they also stay put and not be used?

    I am a Warwick Taxpayer also have been my whole life, born and raised here, love this city, love all the services I receive for my taxes. Granted the schools are out of whack but dollar for dollar compared to other cities Warwick is above the rest.

    Rob says no to shopping I say yes !!!!!!

    Tuesday, December 8, 2015 Report this