NORWICH – Overtime costs are up at the City of Norwich Police Department and Fire Department according to Chief Joseph Angelino.

On Tuesday night, Angelino told the members of the Finance and Personnel Committee that overtime costs at the police department are currently at 101 percent of the budgeted overtime amount. According to a copy of the 2007 budget, the city had budgeted $79,000 for overtime costs.

“It started in April with some of the major cases,” Angelino said. In an attempt to lessen the effect of the costs, Angelino told the committee that he currently had both of his assistant chiefs, who fill salaried positions, covering shifts, including night shifts.

“There’s no end in sight until the recruits are out of school,” Angelino said. The recruits are scheduled to return on April 16, but on the same day one of the Norwich officers will be leaving for the Air Force Reserve basic training. “We’re just hoping everybody stays healthy,” Angelino said.

The chief then discussed the overtime expenses at the fire department. “We were traveling at a good pace to finish out the year in the black,” Angelino said. “But, the first week in August we had one firefighter go out with an injury; he came back and we had a second firefighter out with an extended injury.”