Group calls for firehouse layoffs

A group of business people is calling on the city to end "financial waste" in the Omaha Fire Department and lay off 64 firefighters.

Dave Nabity, a financial adviser, former Republican gubernatorial candidate and one of the leaders of the Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector, said Thursday that the Fire Department is overstaffed and "grossly top heavy." He said the firefighter layoffs would save the city $6 million.

"Current leaders in management have allowed the employment ranks to swell to numbers clearly not needed to maintain public safety," Nabity said at a press conference.

Nabity said he hopes Mayor Jim Suttle's administration will take his group's ideas to an independent consultant hired by the city to find ways to improve Fire Department budgeting, as well as to the Nebraska State Auditor's Office, which is reviewing the department.

Suttle spokesman Ron Gerard said the mayor was open to suggestions for improving Fire Department finances, so long as they are "legal and realistic."

Fire administration and fire union representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

Fire Department finances have come under scrutiny in recent months as city officials continue to deal with a $4.7 million shortfall in the department's budget.

The shortfall resulted mostly from unbudgeted payouts for comp time, sick leave and vacation time.

Last month, the City Council agreed to pay $38,703 to Weidner Consulting Inc. of Austin, Texas to identify what services the Fire Department currently provides and what services the public and city actually want.

Nabity said that even after the layoffs, the department would still be able to maintain four men on a truck as required under the union contract.

Nabity said the unnecessary firefighter positions could be eliminated by:

— Removing one engine company, one hazardous materials unit and one aerial truck from service.

— Demoting some upper managers, including assistant chiefs, battalion chiefs and captains.

— Managing limits on vacation and sick days so fewer firefighters are needed to fill those vacancies.

Former Fire Chief Don Brunken, who attended the press conference, said he supports the alliance's ideas. Brunken was fire chief from 1990 to 1995.

"I wasn't the most well-liked guy when I left the job, because I advocated these changes," he said. "It can be done, it should be done."

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