The Jersey City Fire Department (JCFD) is “the most top heavy fire department in the country,” according to Councilman Steven Fulop.

Fulop had a heated exchange with firefighters union president Joseph Krajnik after Fulop suggested the need to restructure the JCFD at the May 26 City Council meeting, following the recent promotion of five captains to battalion chiefs.

“Forty percent of the department is comprised of supervisors,” Fulop told Krajnik. “It’s not about public safety. This is cronyism,” he said of the promotions. “The numbers speak for themselves. You have 2.5 firefighters to every supervisor. That’s a problem. I advocate for the taxpayers; you advocate for the union. My goal is to get the best deal possible for the taxpayers.”

Krajnik stormed off from the podium and shouted to Fulop, “Stop the bullshit. You’re lying.”

“Enough is enough. We can’t pay our taxes,” an unidentified woman shouted from the audience,” in response.

The city has paid $343,000 in overtime to firefighters and police so far this this year, after 50 retired to avoid future state caps on payouts of unused sick and vacation time. The 50 individuals received a combined $5 million.

Krajnik noted that he’s working on getting 84 more firefighters hired by next year, to cut overtime costs.

Councilman Peter Brennan defended the promotion, adding that the city is saving $100,000 because the new battalion chiefs are forgoing their raises until 2011.

The JCPD has 367 firefighters, 127 captains, five deputy chiefs, and 22 battalion chiefs.

The five new battalion chiefs are Matthew Ferro, Charles Lind, Jr., Steven McGilol, Paul Drennan and Michael Borrelli.