The city administration wants to hire the Center for Governmental Research for a pair of studies related to the Rochester Fire Department. One would look at the duties and schedules of the RFD's seven deputy chiefs; the other would examine the possibility of combining the department's Fire Apparatus Division with a division of the city's Department of Environmental Services.

Together, the studies would cost no more than $20,000 total. The aim of the studies is to find out whether costs can be cut.

The CGR agreement was due to be taken up by City Council next week, but Council member Adam McFadden, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, has delayed the legislation. The agreement has to go through McFadden's committee before coming before the full council for a vote.

McFadden says he has concerns about the scope of the agreement and whether CGR is qualified to study the fire department.

CGR President Kent Gardner says the institution has been involved in many police, fire, and general public safety studies over a number of years. And CGR brings in consultants with specialist knowledge when necessary, he says.

The RFD requested the first study, says Executive Deputy Chief Sam Mitrano, because it is concerned about overtime accumulated by the RFD's deputy chiefs. Those costs have risen immensely, he says, due to a deputy chief's long-term injury. He didn't have specific numbers on hand.

The Apparatus Division is responsible for maintaining the department's apparatus and equipment, including fire trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles, as well as smaller equipment including lawnmowers and snow blowers.

The division employs a supervisor and six mechanics.

The RFD isn't sold on the idea of merging the division with the DES Equipment Services Division, Mitrano says. The RFD believes the Apparatus Division is a solid organization, he says, and officials are confident the study will back that up.

The division is located on Scottsville Road near the county's Public Safety Training Facility. The location is convenient, Mitrano says, because mechanics can work on equipment while RFD employees are getting trained; no special repair trips are necessary.

"It reduces the down time on the vehicle," Mitrano says.