A local fire department is making changes after NBC Connecticut Investigates began looking at what some might consider generous perks for its commissioners.
The bonuses went away after our first set of stories. Now commissioners have eliminated some of the last of the perks.
They agreed to get rid of the weekly free tank of gas they are eligible to receive.
They also announced they will no longer each be allowed to have a district credit card at their disposal, another topic of criticism. Instead, there will be just one credit card for all fire district purchases.
Taxpayers who have complained about the perks fire commissioners have received in the past gave them equal credit for now eliminating most of them.
Former Bloomfield mayor Joan Gamble told NBC Connecticut Investigates, “I think it's heading in the right direction. They didn't need to have some of these perks."
Each fire commissioner still does receive a $5,000 annual stipend.
While not unheard of in Connecticut, fire chiefs have told NBC Connecticut Investigates that amount is on the high end of the scale.