Haverhill, MA, Firefighters, City Team up to Address Looming Financial Crisis

HAVERHILL — As relations between the city and the firefighters’ union continue to improve, both sides are taking a collaborative approach to solving a looming financial crisis.

On Tuesday, Tim Carroll and Ryan Fairbanks of Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 updated city councilors on the fire department’s five-year staffing plan.

Last year, the department received more than $4.1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s ( FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program.

The award helped the department in hiring 16 new firefighters, covering all of their salaries and benefits.

But the grant only lasts for three years.

Now, one year later, Carroll said talks have begun on securing additional grant funding, as the new recruits cost approximately $1.4 million a year.

The union president said they are targeting a retention grant, providing a salary bonus for firefighters who stay with the department.

Mayor Melinda Barrett also addressed concerns regarding the fire department’s future funding, confirming that the current grant program expires in two years.

Barrett said that Haverhill will be working alongside the fire department leadership and union officials, offering the city’s grant officers to assist in applying for funding.

The relationship between the city and its firefighters has significantly improved after years of disputes over contracts and staffing.

Former Mayor Jim Fiorentini took a hard-line approach to the firefighters’ contract but Barrett was able to get a pact approved soon after she came into office in January.

Both sides recognized the positive turn as City Councilor John Michitson joked about their history of back-and-forth negotiations.

“I used to kind of like the Friday night fights,” Michitson said. “But both sides were passionate about what they believed in and I appreciate that.”

Carroll also recognized the improved relationship, relieved that the department is on better terms with the city as former councilors were more opposed to some of their requests.

“When we walked in five years ago I think we had one councilor, maybe two, that was behind us and now we probably got the whole council so it’s a welcome change,” Carroll said.

Union leadership changes

Meanwhile, leadership in the union is also changing.

Carroll, who has served as the president for 8 years, will be stepping down within the next month.

Fairbanks, the organization’s secretary, and Eric Sullivan, the vice president, will both be replaced as well.

During a union election, firefighter Donald Minion was voted in as president, Brian Belfiore as vice president, and Keith Baldwin as secretary.

The union’s new leadership will continue fighting for the primary concerns of the fire department, including hiring an assistant fire chief, increasing staff, and the locating a fire engine near Route 97 in Haverhill.

Councilor Ralph Basiliere said that additional resources for a station at the highway should not come at the expense of the High Street Fire Station.

Barrett said there are some difficulties that come with establishing a new station on Route 97 since it is a state road and the addition would require approval from multiple departments.

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