Conneaut, Ohio Launches Fire/EMS Consolidation

Apr. 1--A new era in public safety arrives today in Conneaut.

After many weeks of wrangling, the consolidation of the fire and emergency medical services officially begins today, said Police Chief-Safety Director Jon Arcaro.

The overhaul ranges from a new command structure to new locations for fire apparatus. Also, after 50-plus years, the city has officially pulled the plug on Fire Station 4, moving that operation to a new location.

The change has been met with resistance from some council members and firefighters, but the community soon will reap the benefits of improved service, Arcaro said.

"It's been very difficult, but we're finally there," he said. "People will see it will work well."

The plan, authored by Arcaro and heartily endorsed by City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr., was designed to streamline the department while improving service. Also, the city plans to divert a portion of the money that ambulances earn from insurance billings, to the cash-strapped general fund.

The change is part of a multipart program to fend off a $820,000 general fund deficit projected by the end of the year.

Highlights of the program:

-- One of the ambulances once housed at Fire Station 3 will be moved to Fire Station 1, home to the city's full-time career firefighters. Putting an ambulance squad in the hands of full-timers rather than on-call volunteers ensures quicker response to medical emergencies, officials have said;

-- Fire Station 4, headquartered in Amboy Hall on North Amboy Road, ceases to exist starting today. Over the past few weeks, trucks and equipment were moved from the hall to Fire Station 3 on Middle Road. The city had been renting the building from the West Lakeville Hose Boosters;

-- Station 4's massive ladder truck will be housed in a Chestnut Street factory. The truck is too big to fit into Station 3. The truck will be used sparingly to lengthen its life span; and

-- The fire department command structure has been rewritten as a result of the consolidation. Nick Colby, former Station 4 battalion chief, is now an assistant battalion chief. The department's three full-time lieutenants are now captains but with no change in pay.

The new chain of command puts Arcaro at top as acting fire chief, followed by assistant fire chief Michael Castrilla, battalion chief Vincent Gildone, assistant battalion chiefs Colby and Michael Smith; three captains at Station 1; three captains at Station 3; and three lieutenants at Station 3.

After much initial grumbling, department personnel have accepted the overhaul, Arcaro said.

"It will be a transparent changeover," he said. "Everybody's on board and cooperating nicely. They've done a good job."

No firefighter resignations have been submitted despite dire warnings from council members opposed to consolidation, Arcaro said. However, some of the full-time firefighters, shaken by council's lack of support for their service, are looking for new jobs, he said.

"Due to the rhetoric from some council members, they feel their positions are in jeopardy," Arcaro said.

To see more of the Star Beacon or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to https://www.starbeacon.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.