City Hall staffing reviewed

Stems from Fire Dept. request to add two firefighters

A request from the Jefferson City Fire Department to add two firefighters is resulting in a conversation about overall staffing levels at City Hall.

At the Finance Committee meeting Thursday, Fire Chief Matt Schofield requested direction on two firefighter positions that were discussed at last month's Public Safety Committee meeting. At that meeting in February, Schofield urged the council to consider reinstating the two positions to bring the department back to the level it was before a budget shortfall caused citywide cuts three years ago.

In 2013, the city discovered an unexpected budget shortfall of $1.68 million, which led to a near hiring freeze and programs aimed at urging eligible city employees to retire early. The early retirement program led to the loss of three positions in the Fire Department - one training officer and two firefighters, bringing the department down to 72 employees, the same number it had in 1990, though the department responds to thousands more calls now.

Last year, the council approved reinstating the fire training officer position but held off on the two entry-level positions as the department was applying for a grant to cover the costs of two firefighter positions. The SAFER grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency would have paid for two firefighter positions with no requirement of a future commitment from the city, but Schofield learned in November the department was not awarded the grant.

The department is again applying for the same grant this year and if it is awarded, it could be used to restore the two positions. But, Schofield said, it's very unlikely the department will get the grant and they are currently in a round of testing for new hires, with physical testing set for today and tomorrow, and Schofield said it would be ideal to hire for the new positions out of the current pool of candidates.

But 1st Ward Councilman Rick Prather and 3rd Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner expressed some hesitation and concern about filling a personnel request mid-year, noting other department heads likely also have staffing needs they would consider critical.

"It is not good management or good policy to react to individual department heads that are coming to you in the middle of the year and saying, "We want employees for this purpose,'" Scrivner said. "As a matter of policy within this organization, we should be able to plan for it."

Scrivner and Prather asked staff to put together a prioritized report of all the positions needed by department directors and the funding options for those so the council can proceed from there. But, as 4th Ward Councilman Carlos Graham pointed out, the firefighter positions are slightly unique because of a contractual obligation outlined in the firefighters union contract.

Schofield said there is a clause in the contract about keeping the workforce at a certain level of personnel per shift. Back in 2013, when the department had 75 employees, Schofield said they would have, at full capacity, 23 on-shift personnel and an assistant chief on at all times, which is outlined in the contract.

"We've been in violation of the contract for three years," Schofield said.

Even with the loss of two employees, the department has to keep a bare minimum of 19 on-shift personnel plus an assistant chief on at all times, even though the contract calls for 23 on-shift personnel plus the assistant chief.

When too many people are out sick, on leave or vacation (the department allows two people per day on vacation), the department has to call in other staff members to take over, which results in "constant manning" overtime costs.

"I'm ready to move it forward for a serious discussion," Graham said of the proposal to fund the two firefighter positions. "He's coming to us with this need."

While the council can change the minimum staffing number in the contract, Schofield warned against that quick solution, saying it "might send the wrong message."

Ultimately, the committee directed staff to report back next month on where the city is in terms of personnel needs and which positions should be prioritized. If the two firefighter positions rise to the top at that time, Scrivner said, he believes the entire council likely would support funding them.

"I think we can all agree that we need a plan," Prather said.