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<br />Special Council Minutes of 11/12/8.6 -2-
<br />Mr. Logan asked. why council was not made aware of this situation, until it
<br />broke in the news media, when the administration knew about it since the
<br />middle of August. Why wasn't it discussed. with council? There is a city
<br />budget of about $21,000,000; transfer of funds have been made for the Recre-
<br />ation Department, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and other things. Budget
<br />and Management Director as well as the Mayor have satin on Finance Committee
<br />Meetings for hours and have never mentioned that there was a problem. Safety
<br />Director Becker stated that he had presented a memo, dated August 12th, at a
<br />Safety Committee Meeting, and the first item on this memo addressed overtime
<br />for the Fire Department. Mr. O'Grady, Chairman of the Public. Safety, Health
<br />and Welfare Committee stated that at the conclusion. of this meeting, Mr. Becker
<br />had advised that he would be getting together with Mr. Cunningham to discuss
<br />the items in the memo and would get back to Mr. O'Grady; Mr. O'Grady has not
<br />heard a word back from anybody.
<br />Mr. McKay asked each councilman individually, "were you advised that the
<br />Fire Station was going to be closed or not fully manned?" Councilmen O'Grady,
<br />Logan, Wilamosky, Lackey, Rademaker and McKay all. responded, "no". Mr. McKay
<br />then read a section from the Charter of the City of North Olmsted: "Article III,
<br />Section 5, Duties and Powers of the. Mayor, (a) Executive Powers. He shall be
<br />responsible for the preparation. and submission of the annual estimate of receipts
<br />and expenditures. and appropriation measures and shall, at all times, keep the
<br />council fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the City."
<br />Mr. McKay stated that the Charter has not been complied with.
<br />Mr. Rademaker asked Chief VanKuren if he made the initial determination to
<br />not man the station between 8 A.M. and 4 P.M., on week days, only if the people
<br />were out on another emergency run.. Chief VanKuren replied that this decision
<br />covered these hours for two reasons: One, .these are the busiest hours when they
<br />have more responses anal would create the most savings. Two, during these. hours
<br />the day people are on duty so there are three additional men on duty .that are
<br />available for fire fighting purposes; they are the Chief, Assistant Chief and
<br />the Fire Inspector. Mr. Rademaker asked if .Chief VanKuren felt he was aeopa.rdizing
<br />the safety of the citizens of North Olmsted by making .this decision.. .Chief stated
<br />he never felt it was a popular decision.; he did not want to make that decision;
<br />the information he had was that he could not have people work if he did not have
<br />.the money to pay them; felt this was the safest way to make a cut, based on
<br />having other people on duty in other parts of .the city .that could help cover the
<br />station and that end of town. if there was an emergency. Mr. Rademaker asked
<br />if off-duty personnel were called in, did they just come in. for an hour and then
<br />go back home. Chief VanKuren stated that the contract provides ,that when called
<br />back, they get a minimum of two hours callback at time and a half, Mr, Rademaker
<br />asked how unusual it was for both stations to be undermanned. .Chief VanKuren
<br />replied that in 1985 there were 109 times when two vehicles were out at the
<br />same time, perhaps eight or nine times a month.
<br />Mr. Lackey asked why Mayor Petrigac was not in attendance; was advised. .that she
<br />was out of town. Mr. Lackey asked Mr, Becker if, when he supported the .Chief 's
<br />cut backs in August, was it the intention of the administration to continue
<br />along these lines for the balance of .this-year and .then continue on into 1987.
<br />Mr, Becker .responded, "no", Mr. Lackey asked when the Chief actually took these
<br />actions; Mr. Becker replied on August 11th, the day he wrote. the memo. Mr. Becker
<br />stated that in September and October, two full months, there were 45 working days,
<br />Monday through Friday; 22 in September, 23 in. October; 45 working days times
<br />8 hours (8 A.M. to 4 P.M,), which is 360 hours per shift, In the course of the
<br />360 hours, the station. was unmanned for 40 hours because of training. In the
<br />360 hours, 45 days, the station was unmanned because of emergencies for 12 hours
<br />and 8 minutes, which is less than 4~ of the time or about 2-1/2 to 3 minutes per hour.
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