Excerpts from the Chicago Sun-Times: The Chicago Fire Department may be on the verge of making significant budget cuts by shifting 34 non-emergency roles to civilian staff, according to a recent report from Inspector General Joe Ferguson. The move could save the city at least $1.2 million annually and reduce overtime costs that have recently exceeded $40 million each year. This recommendation echoes an earlier suggestion from Ferguson three years ago, when he urged Mayor Rahm Emanuel to civilianize police positions in order to free up resources for more officers on the streets. Now, the same cost-saving strategy is being applied to the fire department, which operates with a budget of over $576 million per year. Ferguson’s audit examined the duties of 555 uniformed firefighters and paramedics, ultimately recommending that 34 of these roles be filled by civilians. One position, in particular, was eliminated entirely — the commissary liaison role. According to the inspector general, this shift would not only save money but also improve efficiency, allowing firefighters to focus more on emergency response and public safety. Some of the targeted roles were surprisingly mundane. For instance, two firefighters were found to be acting as mail carriers, despite their job titles not always reflecting that responsibility. Others were handling administrative tasks like ensuring that scheduling complies with staffing requirements set by labor contracts. The fire department has agreed to implement the recommendations for 32 out of the 35 positions. Commissioner Jose Santiago also pledged to review all roles, monitor temporary assignments, and ensure that job descriptions accurately reflect the actual work being done by uniformed personnel. “There are likely more positions in the CFD that could be civilianized,†Ferguson noted, pointing out that cities like New York and Philadelphia already use civilians for fire inspector roles — something Chicago still assigns to uniformed staff. However, the plan faces resistance from the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. The union has filed a grievance over the move, arguing that certain roles, such as mail delivery, have been part of their members’ responsibilities for decades. “This is a unilateral change that hasn’t been negotiated,†the grievance stated, demanding that the work be returned to union members. Tom Ryan, president of the union, defended the positions, stating that they are essential to the department's operations and covered under the current contract. “These jobs can only be changed through negotiations,†he said. In addition to the cost-cutting measures, the audit also highlighted issues with the fire department’s handling of disability accommodations. Ferguson found that at least 13 reasonable accommodations were provided without proper approval from the city’s disability officer, raising concerns about how these cases are tracked and managed. “It’s critical that the fire department grant and track these accommodations properly to ensure compliance with city policy,†Ferguson wrote in a letter to local officials accompanying the report. Thanks, Dan Meat Band Saw,Meat Saw Band,Meat Saw For Sale,Meat Bone Saw Machine,Electric Meat Bone Cutter Guangzhou Shengtian Machinery Co. LTD , https://www.stfoodmachinery.com