Amid ongoing contract negotiations, Easton officials plan to launch a study of the city’s fire department and its management practices, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said.
City officials have put out a request for proposal to attract management consulting firms interested in conducting the study, he said Tuesday. Panto said it’s still too early to say how much the study might cost.
“We want to look at the overall management of the department, amount of overtime and the overtime process,” Panto said, adding that he hopes to begin the study within the next 30 days.
Interim Fire Chief Kevin Arnold said until all the empty positions in the department are filled, he’s concerned about how accurate the study will be.
“Before they do a study, they need to get the management of the fire department to where it needs to be,” said Arnold, who is deputy chief but stepped in as interim chief when former Chief John Bast suddenly retired last month.
Arnold said he’s been performing the duties of both positions since then.