Letter: Council Republicans Defend Fire Dept. Restructuring

This is an open letter to the taxpayers of North Kingstown to clarify the facts regarding fire negations and the reorganization of the fire department by ordinance.

.  The council has the ultimate authority to reorganize any offices or departments by ordinance pursuant to section 310 of the North Kingstown Charter.  We expect the change to save our taxpayers more than $1.2 million per year. At the same time, we voted to increase each firefighter’s annual salary by 10 percent which, incidentally, will increase each firefighter’s pension payment for the rest of his/her life by 10 percent. 

As explicitly stated in section 14-26-c and 14-26-d of the ordinance, the salary and all effects on the working conditions remain negotiable between the Town of North Kingstown and the union’s elected representatives.

The majority of the Council voted to implement a work schedule that the vast majority of paid firefighters follow across America. .  With their generous vacation and other leave time, our firefighters will work about 100 days per year, will have 17 full weekends off and one day off every weekend.

The Council has been studying the three platoon organization structure for years.  We have heard from some of the leading experts on sleep, workplace safety and firefighter safety, that this is a safer, healthier way for firefighters to work than the current four platoon schedule.  In addition to the safety of the three platoon system, it is much less costly to the town than the four platoon system organization because 25 percent fewer line firefighters are needed.  It has also been found to not affect public safety.

After many informal discussions about our serious consideration to reorganize the department, on October 29, 2012 our negotiating team formally told the firefighters’ negotiating team that – absent an alternative proposal that would achieve similar savings – the town intended to exercise its managerial rights to reorganize the department pursuant to section 310 of the Charter. 

To their credit, the union did discuss their demands for wages and hours associated with the three platoon organization.  The town offered a generous salary increase for current employees, increased vacation and sick time, and a no-layoff provision for the remainder of the contract.  Although our proposal would not have realized a substantial savings immediately, by keeping pay rates and paid time off at their current level for future hires, over time the town would have realized savings of $2 million per year.  The union rejected the town’s offer and would not allow its members to vote on the terms of a proposal that contained different terms for future hires.  The union’s counter proposal, which was rejected by the town, would actually cost the town over $400,000 in a little over a year.

The town’s current financial condition is at best distressed.  The town’s reserves have dropped below the standards set by bond rating agencies for the favorable rating the town enjoys and will diminish by $800,000 this year.  Next year’s budget already is projected to require $2 million more than we can legally raise in taxes. Every town department, except for the fire department, has incurred reductions.

Because the town so desperately needs savings, the town’s negotiators made one final effort to reach a win-win agreement for both the town and firefighters.  At the eighth bargaining session, the town’s negotiators offered to immediately increase salaries by 20 percent and by another 2 percent on July 1, 2013.  The annual salary would increase the firemen base pension by 20 percent for life.  Our offer included a no lay-off provision, an increase in clothing allowance, and an increase in educational reimbursement

On the Friday before our meeting on Jan. 30, we learned the union had unanimously rejected our proposal.

We are proud of the men and women who bravely serve our town as members of the fire department. The issue for us, however, is one of financial management. It is our sincere hope that the union will return to the negotiating table to find a mutually acceptable agreement on hours, wages, and working conditions under the reorganization of the department.

Liz Dolan, Town Council Chair 401-294-9952

145 Cassandra Lane

North Kingstown, RI 02852

Carol Hueston, Town Council  401-294-9680

58  Deerfield Court

North Kingstown, RI  02852

Charles Stamm,  Town Council  401-268-3922

85 Pleasant  St.

North Kingstown, RI  02852