43
Fire union comes up with alternate plan to save money
YOUNGSTOWN
With city officials planning to take a firetruck off the road in a month as part of a plan to save $1 million annually, the firefighter union has come up with an option that pleases city council and the administration.
The original plan proposed in July by Mayor John A. McNally and Fire Chief John J. O’Neill Jr. and to take effect Jan. 17 was to take a truck from the downtown station out of service.
That eliminates eight employees — three captains, three lieutenants and two firefighters — through attrition, and saves $781,000 annually.
The other part of the administration’s plan, supported by the union, is to use new firefighters rather than lieutenants to do inspections, saving the city $231,000 annually.
The plan discussed at Thursday’s city council safety committee meeting still eliminates eight positions — all firefighters — through attrition, but keeps the truck in service, said David Cook, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 312.
Four firefighters already have retired and four others are expected to leave by Feb. 3, O’Neill said.
Rather than a $781,000 savings, the union plan would reduce costs by $720,000, Cook said.
A key provision is the fire union agreed to have no more than seven of its members on vacation at any given time, down from nine, O’Neill said.
Being down eight firefighters would increase overtime, Cook said. But reducing the number of firefighters on vacation at a time would save money and increase overtime by about $100,000 annually, he said. The administration’s plan didn’t take into account an increase in overtime.
Overall, the fire union plan would save about $851,000 rather than $1 million a year, but keep the truck on the road.
“Without that truck, there are serious safety issues for firefighters and residents,” Cook said.
O’Neill said he talked at great length Thursday with McNally about the union’s plan and both are receptive to it.
“We’re going to look pretty hard at this and make a decision soon,” O’Neill said. “But this plan has a lot of merit.”