The Norwich volunteer fire departments believe the changes Norwich Fire Chief Sam Wilson made to the city’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system make their services redundant.
In a statement sent to The Bulletin, the volunteer departments said the system changes, which went into effect March 24, automatically send a paid City of Norwich unit and a battalion chief to the majority of emergency incidents in the city’s town consolidated district, which the volunteers historically service.
The volunteers feel that the system change makes them redundant in their own service territories, at the expense of Norwich taxpayers. They also said the changes were implemented without any consultation with Norwich’s five volunteer fire departments.
Volunteer chiefs call Wilson’s latest move more overreach
“As he continues his quest for power and control, Chief Wilson’s latest move—which comes a week before mediation without any prior discussion with any of the volunteer departments—is yet another overreach that clearly demonstrates his lack of leadership ability, and his lack of respect for Norwich taxpayers and the value and cost savings its volunteer firefighters bring to the community,” Yantic Fire Chief Bobby Allen, Taftville Fire Chief Timothy Jencks, Occum Fire Chief Scott Eggert and Laurel Hill Fire Chief Aaron Westervelt said in a press release.
“Make no mistake, Chief Wilson and City Manager Salomone’s endgame is to shut down the volunteer fire service in Norwich at a time when state and local officials from across Connecticut are struggling to build and support volunteerism in the firefighter and EMS ranks.”
The volunteer chiefs went on to say in the statement that the changes are concerning, as automatic aid was rejected by voters with a margin of nearly 4 to 1 in February 2023 when Ordinance #1832 was repealed.
“City officials are imposing it [Ordinance #1832] on taxpayers regardless, disrespecting the will of the people,” the volunteer chiefs said in a statement issued to The Bulletin. “The Council has both the authority and the responsibility to provide direction to the city manager and to ensure that major policy changes reflect the will of the voters and comply with the city charter.”
Wilson and Salomone defend the change in the interest of providing the best fire service
Wilson said the changes to the CAD system were made to improve responses to emergencies in Norwich.
“The city has an obligation to ensure safe, reliable and consistent fire and EMS coverage for every resident,” Wilson said in a statement sent to The Bulletin. “This new CAD technology is designed to help us respond more quickly and efficiently when people need us most.”
Wilson added in the statement that since the Yantic, Taftville, Occum and Laurel Hill fire departments have declined to operate under a unified command, it is up to the city to move forward with the necessary changes to ensure public safety standards are not just met, but exceeded.
Salomone said the changes to the CAD system were made to provide the best fire services to Norwich residents, not to fulfill the interests of the city’s government or volunteer firefighters.
“Our goal is to use the best technology available to provide top-notch public safety services to everyone in our community,” Salomone said in a statement issued to The Bulletin.
Salomone said the volunteer departments were aware that the CAD system was coming to the city.
“Planning for the new CAD system has been ongoing for more than two years, and those (volunteer) departments have played an active role in the discussions throughout that time,” Salomone said in a statement.
https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/local/2026/03/26/yantic-volunteer-fire-department-chiefs-object-changes-dispatch-system-automatically-sends-paid-unit/89322713007/
