Around New Haven: Aldermen Propose Rethinking of Fire Department

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Aldermen Carl Goldfield and Mordechai Sandman asked Tuesday that Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts ’01 look into whether the NHFD can cut costs by redefining the its role. In the short-run, Sandman said, the city may bill insurance companies for services provided, and long-term, the NHFD may be able to use its “man-power and know-how” to respond to more emergencies and take patients to hospitals, rather than soliciting a private contractor. While constituents have apparently responded positively, the union is wary of decreasing staff requirements.