The Fire Department is forgoing a firefighter recruit academy this year, but Chief Michael Lavoie told the City Council this week residents should not notice any major disruptions in service.
Lavoie explained to the council Tuesday that the two overriding factors were a relatively low number of positions that will need to be filled, and the need to a focus on officer training programs that would not be possible while a recruit academy is going on.
At-Large Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey said there were other factors, including the loss of a grant that partially funded the academy and a hiccup in the timing of last year's civil service exam.
Toomey said she was disappointed to learn there will be no recruit class, and was concerned about the return of "brownouts": shutting down engine companies for a shift due to a lack of staffing and redeploying firefighters to other stations.