Firefighters reclaim seized property
By George P. Hassett

Somerville firefighter Jim Keenan had been storing his grandfather’s wooden bureau in the basement of Engine 7 on Highland Ave. since his divorce. But, on Monday, Nov. 20, the wooden piece of furniture was caught in the middle of an ongoing labor dispute between the fire union and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s office.

   While fire personnel were out battling a two alarm blaze that day, Department of Public Works (DPW) employees went into the Highland Ave. fire station and removed all personal, non-fire related items from the building, including Keenan‚Äôs bureau and tools.
   ‚ÄúI thought my stuff was gone, when I learned it had been taken by the city, I said, ‚Äòwhy? It wasn‚Äôt hurting anybody,‚Äô‚Äù Keenan said.
   On Monday, Nov. 27, Keenan reclaimed his grandfather‚Äôs bureau and a television console from the Powder House Community School.
  ‚ÄúI got it back now, but I thought the whole thing was a little petty. A call asking me to take my stuff out would have been the decent thing to do,‚Äù he said. 
   Jay Colbert, president of the Somerville Firefighters Local 76 Union, said the abduction of furniture and electrical supplies from Engine 7 was orchestrated by Curtatone in retaliation for a planned picket at one of Curtatone‚Äôs fundraisers.
   Colbert said Curtatone was forced to cancel his fundraiser at the Boston restaurant, The Rack, due to threats of picketing by both police and fire unions. Management of The Rack cancelled Curtatone‚Äôs benefit when they learned of the demonstration. Police and fire unions have taken to regular protests as a result of stalled contract negotiations with the city.
   Angry at the firefighters union, Curtatone ordered DPW employees to go to Engine 7 and impound all non-fire related equipment, Colbert said.
   Thomas P. Champion, spokesman for the city, said the items taken included three bureaus, a wooden bed set, a table set, an electrical panel and various electrical tools.
  Colbert said a couch and a gas grill were also taken. He said he did not know the value of the items taken, but ‚Äúthe pettiness is priceless.‚Äù
   Champion said firefighters are not allowed to bring outside, non-fire related work into the station, but he could not produce a written policy outlining such a rule. Colbert and Keenan said they had never been informed of the rule.
  The inspection had been scheduled 10 days earlier and was not related to union negotiations, Champion said.
   For now, Colbert said he believes the episode is over.
   ‚ÄúI‚Äôm hoping this was a one time deal,‚Äù he said.