Arbitrator will determine firefighter pact

BOARDMAN — The issues surrounding a new pact for the township’s firefighters will be determined by an arbitrator.

Township trustees last week rejected a fact-finder’s report by a 3-0 vote. The pact called for raises of 1.25 percent the first year, 1.5 percent the second year and 1.75 percent in the third year.

The wages for firefighters this year range from $15.38 per hour to $26.23 per hour, depending on rank and years of service.

Elaine Mancini, trustees chairwoman, declined to say why the panel rejected the report.

The trustees’ rejection of the report negated the need for the union to vote on it, said Jim Hoover, president of Local 1176 International Association of Firefighters. The issues will now go to binding arbitration, he said.

“We’re disappointed,” Hoover said. “This has taken a long time and we thought we were pretty close to a deal.” He added that the union wants to know trustees’ reasons for rejecting the factfinder’s report.