Niles firefighters pact proposal includes 3-year wage freeze

By Jordan Cohen

NILES — Council gave first reading Wednesday to a new contract with the city’s 29 firefighters, which contains a three-year wage freeze and a substantial reduction in the starting pay.

Council’s vote followed a short executive session to discuss the contract. Because only five members were present, council has scheduled special meetings today and Friday to pass the second and third readings.

Mayor Ralph Infante said that in addition to the wage freeze, the starting salary has been reduced for new hires. While Infante declined to give specifics, council sources said the new starting salary would be under $30,000 compared with the current starting base of $49,800. The starting salary would be raised in increments to the current level over several years.

Attempts to contact Rodney Freel, president of Firefighters Local 320, which represents the firefighters, were unsuccessful. Infante said he believes the firefighters will vote on the contract Monday.

“I’m very concerned about our finances,” Infante said, noting that he still has negotiations pending with three police unions. “We’ll have to see what happens there and if we can’t get a wage freeze, we’ll look at other steps.” Infante would not rule out the possibility of layoffs.

Steve Papalas, councilman at large, said the city owes the firefighters “a debt of gratitude for their cooperation.” Papalas said he believes that should the other unions negotiate a wage increase, the fire department will receive the same consideration.

In other council action, Mark Hess, grant and development coordinator, announced that the Ohio Department of Transportation has given the green light for the long-awaited Niles Bike Path, which will run from the Mahoning-Trumbull County line to downtown Niles.

The $3.4 million project is funded by the federal government.

“This will be a positive project for Niles and the surrounding area,” Hess said. The bike trail is expected to be completed by September 2010.

Finally, Papalas said the outcome of the November vote in Trumbull County on an additional $10 license plate tax will determine the fate of a similar tax in Niles, which was passed two weeks ago. Council added the $5 additional fee to go along with a current $5 city license plate tax. Papalas said that if county voters approve in November, the city will rescind its additional fee, but will keep it if the county tax is defeated.