A union leader in Fairfield is asking for an apology after they say a Board of Finance member made insensitive remarks during a recent meeting.

According to Fairfield Firefighters Association President Bill Tuttle, his workers aren't looking for any congratulations for serving on the front lines, but they don't deserve to be belittled or told they're being greedy.

So when Board of Finance member Jim Walsh questioned the amount of overtime pay firefighters and police officers were receiving, Tuttle believes they weren't just innocent questions. He says they were snide, politically driven remarks made with no basis in reality.

Tuttle's message for Walsh and the Board of Finance is simple -- apologize or resign.

"He's held the selectman's position in the town. He's been town servant for a long time, but he crossed a line this time that's beyond the pale," says Tuttle.

Police unions have also been angered by Walsh's remarks, as his remarks also apparently called into question their overtime. Tuttle says first responders have taken the motto that they're all in this together and has no interest in making the town financially insecure.

Tuttle says when he realized the crisis was going to involve more meetings and man hours from firefighters, he actually went to the Board of Finance to reduce overtime costs for the town.

Town documents as of April 15 say out of the roughly $210,000 virus-related expenses, $60,000 went to police and fire overtime.

"So if there was overtime spent in keeping 25 guys from getting sick that would have cost the town ... $100,000, if you spent $10,000 to do that, that's fiduciary responsibility, that's what you're supposed to do," says Tuttle.

Board of Finance member Jim Walsh could not be reached for comment.