History was made in Hoboken last week as two of the first female fire captains in Hudson County were sworn in. In addition, the city released a restructuring plan after an audit of the department was completed by a private company.
Hoboken Fire Department members Audra A. Carter and Maria D. Diaz were promoted along with 10 other members of the department to the rank of Captain on Thursday, a day after five captains were promoted to Battalion Chief.
Carter and Diaz entered the force together in 2002, becoming the first women to serve in any fire department in Hudson County.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and I’m honored.” – HFD Captain Audra Carter
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Carter said she didn’t necessarily feel intimidated when she joined the department, but said she was “a little nervous.” On Thursday, she said she believes her hard work paid off.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and I’m honored,” Carter said. “I studied hard, and it’s been a long process.”
Diaz believes that she and her new fellow female captain have “come a long way.”
“It’s been nine and a half years [since we joined],” Diaz said. “We studied hard, earned respect in the department, and now we’re going to be on a supervisory level, so it’s going to be different. I’m excited, but I know it will be a challenge.”
Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who is Hoboken’s first female mayor, said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon that the new female captains are “helping shatter another glass ceiling.”
Zimmer echoed that sentiment on Thursday.
“I’m very proud to be part of the promotions and to help pave the way for more women in the state to succeed,” Zimmer said in an interview at the ceremony. “They’ve done an excellent job to receive this promotion.”
In addition to Diaz and Carter, Stephen DeVincent, Danny Montoto, Joseph Volaric, Brian Crimmins, Baron Ballester, Vincent DePinto, Antonio Tamborra, Robert Chaneski, Ray Martinez, and Bernard Griletti were all promoted to captain in a ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday afternoon, Captain Mario Fini, Captain Anton Peskens, Captain Paul Kasley, Captain John Cunning, and Captain Luis Moyeno were promoted to battalion chief in a crowded swearing in ceremony filled with friends, family, and fellow firefighters.
The restructuring plan
The promotions came during a hiring freeze. The city has not hired any new firefighters since 2008. During the freeze, the department has been reduced by 20 percent through the attrition of 38 employees. Zimmer said there will not be any additional hires, except for one dispatcher, but a timeline for that hire is not clear at this point. The promotions were recommended in the audit to fill the vacated supervisory positions.
The positions vacated due to the recent promotions will not be immediately filled, under the advice of the audit.
Ultimately, Blohm said he would like to have more employees back in the department, but said he is working with the administration, using the recently released audit as a “roadmap” for the direction of the department.
The audit states that the department’s level of staffing and resources is sufficient to allow for the elimination of a company truck, according to a release. Blohm said he would have liked to keep seven companies, but said he “can’t argue with the statistics” in the audit. The staffing levels will remain the same, and the members of the one company will be moved to a different location.
Implementing 3-1-1
The restructuring will also allow for the implementation of a 3-1-1 system, or a non emergency number for residents. The dispatch and the 3-1-1 call center will be relocated to City Hall.
The positive financial aspect of the plan for the city is that the restructuring will save $2.2 million in annual funds compared to the 2008 levels before the freeze.
The mayor also announced that the city’s fire department museum is now open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 213 Bloomfield St. The Hoboken Fire Department was originally founded as a volunteer department in 1847.
Zimmer said she decided to wait until after the election for the ceremony.
“I didn’t want the promotions and the announcement to be political,” Zimmer said. “I wanted to let the elections be done and let [the event] be about the firefighters.”
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com