Clergy Blasts CT IAFF for 'Fearful Tactics'

NEW HAVEN -- Members of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association said they are “appalled” by the fire union’s use of “fearful tactics” in its efforts to stop a new city emergency plan.

In a press release, the clergy said there is a lack of professionalism displayed by the executive leadership of the fire union, International Association of Firefighters, Local 825, specifically naming its president, Frank Ricci.

“Frank Ricci does not make operational decisions for the Fire Department and it is incomprehensible that he uses bully and fearful tactics against the city of New Haven residents to intimidate the residents into believing a false narrative,” the release states. “Maybe the reason Ricci goes out of his way to continue to intimidate the Mayor, city staffers, and the residents is because that is the only method he knows how to use to achieve his desired objectives.”

The fire union is objecting to a plan by the city that includes replacing a fire vehicle with a paramedic unit at one of the city’s 10 firehouses. The union launched an initiative on its website that urges residents in bold letters to “Save your neighborhood fire engine” and claims the new plan “could delay firefighters getting to your home for a Fire of Medical Emergency all while decreasing your chance for survival and increasing your insurance rates,” the website states. Firefighters have also gone door-to-door to speak to residents about their concerns with the plan.

“We agree with Reverend Kimber and the clergy association that Acting Chief (Matthew) Marcarelli should be the department spokesperson, as I am the union spokesperson,” Ricci said. “Unfortunately that is not the position of City Hall and Rick Fontana who have made it clear that Fontana speaks for the department on policy issues in the absence of a permanent chief.”

“Furthermore Kimber’s siding with City Hall and attacking this Union and its leadership is not surprising as he did the same when he supported Yale and attacked Local 34 and 35 and their union leadership years ago,” Ricci said. “Kimber, although irrational and irrelevant, is at least consistent.”

Both Mayor Toni Harp and Emergency Operations Deputy Director Rick Fontana defended the emergency plan and refuted claims by the union. Fontana said they want to add two additional paramedic ambulances to the city’s emergency response system, but remove one piece of fire apparatus to make room for one of the ambulances at the firehouse on Ellsworth Avenue.

Fontana said the city’s stance is to minimize the use of a $750,000 fire engine on medical calls where a $90,000 paramedic unit is more appropriate in a city where 75 percent of emergency calls require paramedics.

“This makes the most sense for the city to ensure the entire community is protected with paramedics,” Fontana said last week. “We want to increase public safety and that’s what this plan does.”

On her “Mayor Monday” talk show on WNHH radio last week, Harp called the fire union leadership irresponsible and said they were creating fear by making people think the city was closing a firehouse, Harp reassured listeners the firehouse won’t be closing and said the proposed changes would make the city safer.

“We the clergy are appalled at the recent events unfolding in the media and the lack of professionalism displayed by the executive leadership of the Fire Department Union Local 825,” the clergy said in the statement.

The clergy said they believe the chief, not the union, should be speaking about the matter on behalf of the department.

“Comments regarding operations, deployment, resources or any other matter involving the department should be directed at Chief Marcarelli until such time a permanent replacement for the Chief is appointed,” the clergy statement said.

The city is in the process of hiring a new permanent chief. Acting Chief Matthew Marcarelli, who is the assistant chief of operations when there is a permanent chief in the department, said he has yet to see the final rendition of the plan by the city.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to any proposal and whoever the chief is that’s selected will have to evaluate any plan that’s discussed and proposed operational changes and see if those are fitting the vision that the mayor has for the department and the service we provide,” Marcarelli said. “Any plan that involves the decommissioning of a fire apparatus is a serious matter and will have a definite impact on the ability of the fire department to meet its mission.”

In June, the clergy asked that Ricci be suspended after he confronted then-Chief Ralph Black during a promotional ceremony. Ricci said the fire board did not take the necessary steps to make the promotion as required by city charter.

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