09/12/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH OLMSTED TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2~6 Present: President of Council Kennedy, Council Members Barker, Gazeau, Dailey Jones, Orlowski, Ryan, Tallon Also Present: Mayor O'Grady, Law Director Dubelko, Clerk of Council Seman Absent: Council Member Miller President Kennedy called the special City Council meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. in Council Chambers, 5200 Dover Center Road, North Olmsted, Ohio. All present joined in the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Ryan. REPORT Councilman Orlowski, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: 1) The committee met on September 7, 2006. In attendance were committee members Tallon, Barker, Orlowski, Council Member Gazeau, Safety Director, Law Director, Fire Chief, Mayor, three fire fighters and guests. On the agenda was Ordinance 2006-157, an ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Safety to appoint a temporary, part-time fire administrator to assist the Fire Chief, establishing a pay range, and declaring an emergency, as amended. Fire Chief Klecan said he hopes to know in the near future the status of the current Assistant Fire Chief. It was established the Assistant Fire Chief left the employ of the city on/or about July 1, 2006. The Chief estimated that it may take three months to process a Civil Service test for the Assistant Fire Chief position. It has been stated that there is somewhat of a safety issue, as the Assistant Fire Chief did administrative work, plans review and building inspections. The temporary, part-time fre administrator position will be a temporary position of up to approximately 30 hours per week at a pay range of $22 to $26 per hour, with no benefits. Estimated monthly pay will be approximately $2,900. By law, the city may be required to pay pension benefits on the employee. There is a potential list of candidates; and, when the funding is approved, the Fire Chief will seek applications. When the Chief is absent, a Captain will be in charge, not the temporary, part-time Assistant Fire Chief. The subject of the new hire performing actual fire fighter work in an extreme condition raised several issues of physical exam testing, command ability of position and ability to function untrained with a trained squad. Both the Fire Chief and the Safety Director stated their intentions that the new temporary position was to do building plan reviews, inspections and administrative/managerial functions, not fire fighters' work or to command fire fighters. The issue of imminent safety concerns to the community was discussed. The fire fighters asked why this was never addressed at the safe staffing meetings. It was established that the Assistant Fire Chief did all of the plan reviews and new project inspections. A