The Observation Deck

There is an interesting article in today's Plain Dealer regarding the efforts of local mayors to control fire department overtime costs.

See: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindeal ... xml&coll=2

The larger question is this: Can an elected mayor be counted on to challenge the government employee labor unions when that mayor is beholding to those same labor unions for political support?

The PD article mentions several local cities and their efforts to control the explosive growth in labor costs. It doesn't surprise me that the article does not mention Lakewood.

What does surprise me is that at a time when the City is facing a fiscal crisis the administration has chosen to ignore the millions of dollars in overtime and sick time abuse.

Is this a political decisions or a financial decision? Would a city manager take a different view?

Councilman Fitzgerald: How would you deal with this issue?

The City of Cleveland has reached an agreement with its Fire Department to change scheduling and other policies to reduce overtime costs. It seems only Lakewood has money to burn.

Bill---- So has the City of Lakewood. Council was presented with the proposed contract at Monday's meeting and will review it at a committee of the whole meeting this next Monday.
I do like your metaphor of "money to burn" especially when it applies to the Fire Department! You oughta write for Letterman!
Stan Austin

Bill Call, how is that article you were going to write concerning the LFD overtime abuse coming along? I believe it has been over a year now since you first decided to investigate. Just wondering if there is going to be one or if it has been dropped? You do keep insinuating that the LFD and also the LPD are abusing overtime, and I think you do need to back up these insinuations with some facts.

Stan Austin wrote:So has the City of Lakewood. Council was presented with the proposed contract at Monday's meeting and will review it at a committee of the whole meeting this next Monday.

Thanks for the information. Do you have any details?

The Mayor did get some concessions last time around. Employees agreed to pay a portion of health care costs. I know it is not easy to get those concessions and I applaud his efforts.

While I might be critical of his administration as of now the Mayor has my vote. That can change. The burden is on the challenger to prove he can do better.

Bill--

I don't have any details yet. I would point out that the contract negotiations are usually conducted privately.

It is my feeling that both parties- the administration and the firefighters have been very realistic and open in their relationship in the past few years. This, combined with the awareness on the part of everybody that hard fiscal reality has to be respected is framing all worker agreements now.

Council will review some of the aspects of the proposed agreement in public and some will have to be reviewed in a closed, executive session.

I do know that Lakewood's Firefighters have good and aggressive representation and the city has competent counsel. That combination is what produces equitable contracts.

Stan

Bumping this up to remind interested citizens that the proposed contract will be discussed tonight at the Council Mtg.

I understand that the "Minimum Staffing" provision will continue, meaning that overtime will continue as in the past, specifically. costing the city almost 1 million dollars per year.

Council next meets on the 15th, but the COW (Committee of the Whole) may be meeting tonight and discussing the issue.

Grace O'Malley wrote:I understand that the "Minimum Staffing" provision will continue, meaning that overtime will continue as in the past, specifically. costing the city almost 1 million dollars per year.

I think the answer to the question posed by this post is no.

I have heard that the City is offering 2% raises, meaningless employee health contributions and no changes in minimum staffing levels. Since this is what the City is offering the contract that will ultimately be approved won't even have these minor concessions. The proposed contract will have a devastating impact on the City finances.

At the minimum the City should insist on the elimination of the me too clause and a substantial reduction in the minimum staffing levels. When is the last time you had 24 firemen at a fire in Lakewood? While the firefighters union talks of safety their real concern is the preservation of perks and pay.

<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>When is the last time you had 24 firemen at a fire in Lakewood? While the firefighters union talks of safety their real concern is the preservation of perks and pay. <<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

Maybe not quite 24, but to answer your question, the last time someone in my building burnt something in their toaster. For better or worse, LFD responds heavily to calls. I had an elderly neighbor who had a minor fall who was greeted with a police car and 4 fire/ems vehicles, including one ladder truck. Later she stated she would have just called Westlake Cab if she would have known all the ruckus she would cause. I had a friend who was having a party during a very cold winter with deep snow. A neighbor reported her for having a tiki torch safely in the middle of her yard, and LFD came out in FULL force like a nuclear bomb just went off.

Doug

DougHuntingdon wrote:<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>When is the last time you had 24 firemen at a fire in Lakewood? While the firefighters union talks of safety their real concern is the preservation of perks and pay. <<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>.

Doug

You touch on some interesting points. Some of this I learned in the drill down Bill Call and I gave the fire department. Some of it may be impossible to fix quickly if ever.

The fire departments around Lakewood that we call on for help are so thin in staffing that it might not even be safe to go lower. While it appears Rocky River has cashed in on us, it would be impossible for us to cash in on them. I think they have a staff of 6. So they have almost never been able to send anyone here when needed. We respond and help River more than one might think.

Another thing is we have gotten rid of most if not all of our EMS only personnel. So when a fire is called, you get EMS and fire. When you call EMS you get Fire.

Finally, with the rate that fire spreads in a 100 year old wood home, it is more prudent to send more than needed. They are paid when sleeping or awake, so might as well have them when needed.

That said, there is room for improvement. One place was mandatory staffing.

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