Safety Committee
July 2, 1997
Meeting called to order @ 6:20 p.m. by Chairman M. Stasny
Present: Chairman Stasny, Committee Member Aho, Daniel Weir, Jerome Lemire
Visitors Present: Robert Gregg, Robert St. John, Jack Felde, Tim Wojnowski, Dave Locy, Lloyd Gasho, Jim Yancey, Bob Cornell, Greg Lachey, Joe Hamper, Phyllis Wayman
M. Stasny - We are meeting this evening to discuss the memo received by Jerry Lemire plus other discussion.
D. Locy - Firemen get paid $7.50 per run $5.50
J. Lemire - We must follow Compensation Laws, Ordinance says firemen are considered employees for provisions for Worker Compensation coverage.
D. Locy - No. Firemen were always covered for $1.00 per year.
J. Lemire - Extent of pay more than in previous years under IRS Codes we have an obligation to take deductions.
D. Locy - Money means nothing to these people. Why is Jefferson Fire Department always being brought up in the newspaper? We cost the Village per man per fire $7.50, that's all. We are here to serve the public and we are concerned about what is going on.
J. Lemire - Chapter 250 of the Codified Ordinances was reviewed by me for the first time.
D. Locy - Is there any amount before you pay taxes.
A. Aho - No. You are required to pay on all compensation.
J. Lemire - There is no way that the Village can not call you employees to avoid income tax obligations. The purpose of this meeting is to explore options.
A. Aho - Can set rate to corner cost of taxes.
D. Locy - Village never gets charged for maintenance, training, cleanup. No one ever turns in time for extra work.
J. Lemire - We need to talk with Patty regarding any questions concerning any retirement funds. Fire Department will not generate enough wages to allow for firemen to participate in P.E.R.S.
What is the typical number of fire calls per year?
D. Locy - Over two hundred.
J. Lemire -Calculations equal maybe $1,000 per year.
A. Aho - The second part of the memo states that the Mayor appoints the Fire Inspector. The Mayor has not done so nor has Council. The Ohio Revised Code sets procedures for hiring a Fire Inspector.
J. Yancey - I was appointed by the Fire Chief.
J. Lemire - We need to follow procedures and get in compliance or change our procedures. If we are to continue we need to contract for your services or hire you as an employee.
D. Locy - Fire Inspector has to be certified.
J. Yancey - Fire Chief does not have control of the Fire Department?
A. Aho - Council has to give stamps of approval of procedure.
J. Lemire - Nothing in the code says that we can't have an inspector from the Fire Department on staff.
D. Locy - The Fire Inspector has more authority then any building inspector.
A. Aho - Inspections are on the increase. Who should be fire inspector, someone appointed or should this be the responsibility of the Fire Chief? If we look at the Fire Chief we are stretching volunteers too thin. I am not ready to jump on the band-wagon. The work load is quite high for Captains, Fire Chiefs, etc.
J. Yancey - The Fire Chief has a lot of responsibility for $5,000.00 a year.
D. Locy - The Fire Chief makes this place run. We all have responsibilities. Captains and assistant Chiefs have a lot of responsibilities. The Fire Chief is being compensated for his leadership ability.
J. Lemire - Is the Fire Chief always at the fire scene?
J. Yancey - Almost all. Fire Inspections are an all day job.
A. Aho - I agree, I do not believe this is something that could be done. It would be too much work for the Fire Chief.
J. Lemire - The Firemen have employee manuals.
J. Yancey - How does this effect our S.O.P.
J. Lemire - We need to look at both and see if we have conflicts. If we do not need to clarify and fix them.
J. Hamper - calling us employees can cause problems such as time clock use.
J. Lemire - Fire Department is not effected by time clock use. Council needs to do what is legally correct.
J. Yancey - We could get back to uniform allowances and $1.00 per year.
J. Lemire - Maybe we could find a solution by looking into this, Art seems to think that we could do that.
D. Locy - Fire Chief should appoint Fire Inspector with approval of Council.
A. Aho - You need approval by council for your protection and it permits you to be part of the pension fund. Council has to be involved with training approval.
L. Gasho - We continually need new people. We do not want to be part of the politics. It is impossible to get good people when things look like they are in turmoil. Questioned restructuring the Fire Department.
Stasny & Aho - Not restructuring the Fire Department
A. Aho - Expenses for fire fighters, maybe we should look at paying in cash to firemen.
J. Yancey - Fire Chief has suspended fire inspections.
A. Aho - I believe that we have a good volunteer organization. What about term limit on the Fire Chief position?
J. Lemire - Council has power to create term limit. However, term limits would not effect the current Fire Chief but future Fire Chiefs.
M. Stasny - I think that term limits should be created, maybe five or six years.
Meeting Adjourn by M. Stasny @ 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Stasny, Chairman