The Investigators
Exclusive: Battle over public safety brewing between two mayors
A public safety dispute brewing between the mayors of Providence and Cranston. Stephen Laffey of Cranston says his city can no longer afford to make hundreds of rescue runs for Providence.
And Providence Mayor David Ciclline says Laffey does not have a good understanding of the mutaul aid system between the communities.
There simply are not enough rescue vehicles in Providence to handle all the calls in the capital city. And surrounding communities make hundreds of runs for Providence under a mutual aid pact. But Mayor Laffey says Providence is abusing the system at the expense of its neighbors.
Cranston rescue vehicles made 545 runs into providence in the last fiscal year. While Providence made only 34 runs into Cranston. And Mayor Stephen Laffey says that's not mutual aid, it's a rip-off.
"So something has to be done about this. We cannot be funding Providence's problems. We do not want them funding our problems."
"I would say to mayor Laffey mutual aid is very important to all communities. That it is important that when there is a need for a rescue or for other emergency equipment that we all be willing to respond to neighboring communities no matter what the numbers are."
Laffey says Cranston would never refuse to make a rescue run for Providence, but he insists that Ciciilline do something to correct the stiuation or cranston could start charging Providence a fee.
If we don't get a response, we'll have to put some ordinance in, maybe charging the city of Providence a differential over a certain percentage. Cicilline says Providence is buying a new rescue vehicle, but the real expense is manning the vehicle and that is a stcking point with the firefighters union.
The union says the city needs two new rescues and additional personnel. Providence's five rescue vehicles make more than 25,000 runs a year. The communities around providence are called into the city for rescue runs about 2,600 times a year. For example, Johnston and North Providence made almost 900 runs to Providence last year, while Providence made about 55 runs in return. But Johnston Mayor William Macera and North Providence Mayor Ralph Mollis say mutual aid is too important to jeopardize. They say they depend on Providence for major emergenccies.
And Cicilline says the numbers are not as bad as they seem.
"Every run is reimbursable. If it is not covered by insurance, then it's recoverable from the person transported. So cranston has that ability."
Laffey says Cranston does not get reimbursed for many of the Providence runs because the people transported don't have insurance and they do not have the money to pay for the run. He and Cicilline have exchanged letters on the subject, but have yet to reach any solution.
"We all want to help each other and I want to help Providence, but the city of Cranston is strapped."
Laffey says Cranston has severe fiscal problems and can no longer afford to subsidize Providence. He also says when his rescues are in providence his own community is at risk and has to call on others for help.
|
