Money would be saved in overtime costs
By PAUL BOOTH
With the help of a federal grant and concessions by the firefighter’s union, Asbury Park could actually save money over five years by hiring 12 new firefighters, according to Fire Chief D. Kevin Keddy.
Though it sounds unlikely, Keddy admitted, once the numbers were crunched, “it actually turns out to be a benefit to the city,” he said.
After a Department of Community Affairs audit of the city’s fire department determined that it was understaffed for the volume of calls, Asbury Park officials were notified in September that they were eligible for a five year Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from FEMA worth $1,265,100 towards the hiring of 12 new firefighters. The economy has changed somewhat since that time however.
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