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...excerpt firoin the 8/14/06 C o u n c i I Meeting Minutes <br />8. Fire Department Daytime Staffing Issue <br />Fire Chief Rich Gasaway summarized previous July 10 and July 24, 2006 <br />staff presentations with the City Council, ensuing discussions, and ongoing <br />challenges to the department. <br />Councilmember Ihlan spoke in support of the department's request; <br />however, noted her concern related to the double pension benefit issue, <br />and sought additional City Council discussion as to a by-law change or <br />other mechanism to rectify that double benefit. <br />Chief Gasaway advised two remedies to the situation: <br />1) By-law change enacted through the Firefighters Relief Association; or <br />2) A change in the State Statute to prohibit that situation <br />Councilmember Ihlan expressed her support for remedy at the local level; <br />and questioned whether local firefighters would support such a by-law <br />revision. <br />Chief Gasaway expressed his personal support of a revision to the by- <br />laws, but noted it would require a vote of the entire Relief Association <br />membership. <br />Councilmember Pust questioned if Chief Gasaway would actively take <br />responsibility on behalf of the City to move for a by-law change; noting that <br />he was one of only two members who potentially benefited from current <br />language. <br />Chief Gasaway assured Councilmembers that he would provide written <br />support immediately. <br />Councilmember Ihlan noted that the only positions that had revenue <br />impact, as per the Department's proposal, was the three part-time (314 <br />time) benefited employees. Councilmember Ihlan suggested that approval <br />only be given for the one regular full-time supervisor and two limited term, <br />full-time employees at this time to keep the request revenue-neutral. <br />Councilmember Ihlan further supported careful review of the two limited <br />term, full-time employees in two years, prior to reauthorizing the positions. <br />Councilmember Ihlan encouraged a change in the by-law provisions as <br />soon as possible to save additional costs on pension issues. <br />Councilmember Kough spoke in support of the department, its volunteer <br />status, and the need to provide more day shift positions; and opining his <br />support of the supervisor position. <br />Klausing moved, Ihlan seconded, approval ofthe Fire Department hiring <br />one regular full-time supervisor, and two limited-term full-time employees, <br />Councilmember Pust opined that in approving the two limited-term, full-time <br />employees, the City Council needed to remember that tough decisions <br />Fire Department <br />Daytime Staffing <br />Date: 9118106 <br />Item: 6.a <br />Fire Department <br />Daytime Staffing <br />