MIDDLETOWN – The City of Middletown’s firefighter overtime so far this year is about $400,000. That’s down from $650,000 or more some three years ago. While the numbers are going down for the full time paid fire drivers, Mayor Joseph DeStefano wants them to be reduced even more.

To that end, he has instructed the department’s top brass to cut unnecessary expenses including not participating in community events if that is going to drive up overtime.

DeStefano also wants to explore enhancing the 27 full-time paid drivers with part-timers.

“We’re talking about paid staff to supplement the existing full time staff to cover overtime shifts and vacation shifts that we could utilize part time employees in the fire department,” he said. The mayor said it is permissible under civil service law and they have called for a civil service list to canvass to see who would be interested.

DeStefano also hopes to lower overtime costs by taking equipment out of service when applicable and reducing staff by selling the more than 25-year-old two-man hook and ladder truck and replacing it with a new one-man vehicle.