Newark, Ohio fire department cuts off overtime, drops below minimum staffing

From The Newark Advocate, December 29

NEWARK, OH – Concerns about the city's interim budget led Newark fire officials to cut off overtime expenses this week, causing the fire department to fall below minimum staffing standards Wednesday, Acting Chief David Decker confirmed.

As a result, the department placed one of the city's three medics temporarily out of service Wednesday, he said.

Last week, Newark City Council passed an interim budget that is 20 percent of the budget for 2010. Although interim budgets typically fund city operations through March 31, council members don't expect this budget to last all the way through the first quarter.

The idea, some council members said, was to force a full budget earlier in the year. But now, the fire department is concerned the overtime line item will run out much sooner than the remainder of the budget.

Although the expense for overtime has been down all year because of additional firefighters on staff, recent retirements have not been replaced and the cost has risen slightly since the beginning of the year as the department works to fill each shift.

The $36,000 budgeted for overtime in the interim budget would be exhausted within the first five weeks of the year at normal spending levels, Decker said.

Decker said he has discussed the issue every day with Fire Chief Jack Stickradt and Tuesday they decided to issue a directive that there would no longer be any overtime issued to meet the minimum staffing of 19 firefighters mandated by the contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters.

"We typically have around 22 or 23 (firefighters) available,” Decker said. "It is when firefighters are on vacation or they are off on sick leave, that's when we'll dip below 19.”

As a result, the department "browned out” use of the West End medic Wednesday, located at 1800 W. Main St. That station still had one engine staffed, and the city's two other medics still were in operation. The city also relied on mutual aid from other departments at least three times Wednesday.

"We made the decision we can't run the overtime right down to zero because there are some situations that we would be absolutely required to bring people in,” Decker said.

That includes state-mandated pay to fire investigators and having a captain or assistant chief available at all times to command a battalion shift.

Stollard questions training

But Safety Director Roger Stollard said the funds also were exhausted because of two training sessions the department was obligated by contract to provide off-duty firefighters, not because there is not enough money to pay the staff.

"That's what they chose to do with the funds they have available,” Stollard said.

Decker defended the decision and said the training sessions are held quarterly and pay for the 63 paramedics to maintain their advanced life support certification. Although the class costs the department about $14,000 now, if it is canceled and the certification lapses, it will cost the city double that amount to have the paramedics recertified.

The medical director also strongly recommended the certification continue and the department is worried about the potential liability if it is canceled, Decker said.

Stollard also said his understanding is the department has been paying as many as 25 or 26 people per shift because there has been six or more firefighters off per shift.

"For some reason there is an inordinate amount of people calling off,” Stollard said. "You need to know why when there are so many guys not at work that are scheduled to be there.”

Decker said there have been more people off for the holiday season and there are a few people on extended sick leave.

"Let's not mince words. If there is a sick leave abuse issue we'll take care of it, but I don't think that is the case,” Decker said.

"I don't understand why we are having so much difficulty getting the appropriate amount of money. At no time (before passing the interim budget) did anyone seek the advice of the fire chief, and that is why we are in this mess.”

Council members react

According to Advocate archives, the last time the city dropped below 19 firefighters was in 2006. Although the union contract requires the city to "make a concerted effort to maintain sufficient staffing,” it does allow the city to temporarily revise manning levels because of "excessive absenteeism or financial limitations.”

"I think what we are up against is the city does have very little money and that's going to make everybody very uneasy, but we are going to have to deal with it and the way we deal with it may not make everybody happy,” Councilwoman Irene Kennedy said. "This is a struggle the fire department is going to have to work out.”

Some members of the council's Finance Committee said they would be willing to consider a further appropriation for the department.

"All they have to do is bring it to the Finance Committee and ask,” Councilman David Rhodes said. "I for one don't want them to fall below minimum staffing.”

But Councilman Doug Marmie also said he does not want to see requests that are above 93 percent of this year's budget because 7 percent of the budget likely will have to be cut.

He said his decision on the request would depend on the amount and what reasons were given. Still, he said safety forces are a priority.

"I don't know why the decision was made to go below minimum manning,” Marmie said. "I would just hope the safety of the citizens is not in jeopardy.”

The remaining members of the Finance Committee and Mayor Bob Diebold could not be reached for comment.