NEWBURGH – The 2023 budget for the City of Newburgh proposed by Manager Todd Venning calls for the creation of the position of fire commissioner. That would be in addition to the current fire chief’s post.
That has raised the ire of Nick Bedetti, president of Local 589 of the International Association of Firefighters, the professionals employed by the city.
“That cost could go towards more boots on the ground as the mayor wants to say – more firemen to ride the fire trucks, more firemen to actually do firefighting duties and have a successful outcome with these fires that we are completely understaffed,” he told Mid-Hudson News on Wednesday.
The proposed new position follows the creation of a police commissioner post several months ago in addition to the already existing police chief position.
Last year, Mayor Torrance Harvey floated the idea of creating a public safety commissioner post to oversee both police and fire departments. No action has been taken on that idea.
