Saugus firefighters blast budget: ‘It’s criminal’

SAUGUS – Saugus firefighter Bill Cross told the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night that closing the Essex Street Fire Station is the “worst idea I’ve ever heard” after the board voted on a budget Monday night that cuts overtime from the Fire Department by $450,000, which would essentially close the station.”It’s not right,” said Cross. “I’m not even talking about the joint labor decision that we got. I know that’s probably not a possibility. We’re in trouble. I find it hard to believe with the history over the last four or five years that we can think closing Essex Street is a good idea. I’m asking you to re-consider your vote. Essex Street is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”Cross said the board was under the misconception that the station is run only on overtime, which he said is not true and only needs overtime when one of the 10 firefighters in a group is out.”This can’t be just an accounting issue,” said Cross. “There has to be a human issue with this as well. There’s no way you can close that station. It’s a shame. It’s been eating me up. It keeps me awake at night.”Cross said he feels that the Fire Department is the only department getting cut.”I asked the manager how much my brothers in the police were getting cut and he said they weren’t getting cut,” said Cross.Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he’s been in constant contact with Fire Chief James Blanchard over the issue and pointed to the former Town Manager as the reason for the cuts.”This is a conversation that needs to happen,” said Crabtree. “The things that are happening now, the past administration has been taking money illegally from the water and sewer accounts to fix these problems. We’re trying to spend within our means. The residents of this town need to know what they’re facing. This is very difficult for all of us.”Blanchard told the board closing Essex Street is “ludicrous” and said he was upset he was finding out about his budget at the same time as the public.”To fund this year’s budget on the backs of the firemen is wrong,” said Blanchard. “It’s criminal. It’s criminal. I don’t understand it. I’ve been here 41 years in town and you’re cutting my budget and I’m finding out at the same time as the public.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].