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REGULAR MEETING JULY 22, 1974
<br />COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED)
<br />Council President Nemeth made a motion that the two salary proposals for the Fire Department, bei
<br />items 3F and 3G, be considered at the same time, seconded by Councilman Parent. The motion carri
<br />ORDINANCES AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF
<br />FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1975
<br />and
<br />AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY OF
<br />FIREMEN FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1975.
<br />This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and
<br />opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Council President Nemeth briefly indicated that
<br />one of the ordinances dealt with a "more or less" $800 across - the -board increase, and the other
<br />ordinance pertained to the increment pay and longevity. Mr. Dennis DeBuysser, 1221 East Victoria,
<br />President of Local Firefighters 362, expressed the feeling of the association that the Council act
<br />favorably on an across - the -board increase. Council President Nemeth made a motion to amend the
<br />one -page ordinance as follows:
<br />Chief ..................... $16,560
<br />Assistant Chief ........... 14,640
<br />Battalion Chief ........... 12,729
<br />Captain 11,790
<br />Electrician ............... 11,790
<br />Lieutenant ................ 11,438
<br />Engineers ................. 10,733
<br />Fireman First Class ....... 9,480
<br />Fireman ................... 9,000
<br />Fireman in Training ....... 8,520
<br />Add a new Section 3 and Section 4 as follows:
<br />The Common Council recommends that the city contribution to dependent hospitalization
<br />be set at $3.50 per pay period for a total increase of $84.00 per year.
<br />The Common Council recommends that the advancement of rank from Fireman in Training to
<br />Engineer be after three years upon satisfactory performance of duty and recommendation
<br />of the Board of Safety.
<br />Councilman Taylor seconded the motion. Mr. DeBuysser felt the minimum increase that was acceptable
<br />should be $1,200. He thanked the Council for the caucus sessions held with the firemen regarding
<br />the proposed salary ordinances. He stated that Councilman Parent was the first councilman in two
<br />years to take a stand to amend an ordinance as he did with the police salary ordinance, even
<br />though his motion was lost because there was no second. He commended Councilman Parent for that.
<br />Mr. Stanley Ladd, representing the AFL -CIO, stated that the officers were good citizens and good
<br />servants, and he felt the firemen have done a good job. He felt the inequity has existed for many
<br />years and the Council has not stopped it. Mr. Maurice Cohen, 725 East Eckman Street, asked what
<br />happened to the funds in the pension fund. He felt that not all of the funds were used. Mr.
<br />Ernest Rozanski, 4822 Craig Road, the pension secretary, stated that the pension funds are carried
<br />over since recently. He stated that this has not always been true. Mr. Cohen felt the fund was
<br />laying dormant. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Consultant and member of the Board of Directors of the
<br />Civic Planning Association, indicated that the pension fund must pay all the men eligible for
<br />retirement. She stated that this could not be disturbed and used for anything else. She indicate(
<br />that the amount in the police pension fund was $911,643 and the fire pension fund contained
<br />$1,308,678; this money going to the retirees only. Mr. James Brien, 315 Ostemo Place, stated that,
<br />in the costs of the program discussed with the Council, the pension played a relevant issue on what
<br />the officers would get. Mr. Randy Magdalinski, Chairman of the Wage Committee for the firefighter;
<br />indicated that the officers had requested there be no disparity in pay and they wanted an across -
<br />the -board increase of $1,200. He indicated that the Council has the sole right to set salaries.
<br />He asked that it not discriminate against the younger officers. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion
<br />Street, talked about the Police Chief and Assistant Fire Chief's salaries. Council President Nemei
<br />indicated that those salaries would be the same. Mrs. Peggy Mahank, 1464 Glenlake Drive, spoke on
<br />behalf of the policemen and firemen and hoped that the Council would approve adequate salary
<br />increases for the officers. Councilman Szymkowiak made a motion to increase all the salaries by
<br />$900 and that there be no disparity between the policemen and firemen, seconded by Councilman Parer
<br />After a brief discussion, Councilman Parent asked that the motion concerning the disparity be with-
<br />drawn. Councilman Szymkowiak withdrew his motion concerning the disparity only. Council Presideni
<br />Nemeth asked about the difference in pension costs. Councilman Taylor asked for the total package
<br />on police and firemen getting a $900 increase. Councilman Miller wondered how many persons were
<br />receiving pensions. Mr. James Barcome, City Controller, indicated that those receiving pensions
<br />consisted of 154 retirees, 53 widows who receive 300 of the first class fireman's pay, and 12
<br />children who receive 10% of the first class fireman's pay. Council President Nemeth mentioned that
<br />the other regular city employees should be given consideration and there should be no disparity
<br />between those employees and the policemen and firemen. Councilman Kopczynski stated that it was
<br />mentioned that the firemen and policemen should be given a "living wage ". He asked what was meant
<br />by a living wage. Mr. DeBuysser indicated that he had not used that phrase but that the firemen
<br />only wanted an adequate cost of living wage. Mr. Walter Lantz, Chief Deputy Controller, stated
<br />that, considering a $900 increase, it would cost approximately $490,000 in salary increases. He
<br />stated that it would be almost impossible to determine the pension cost at the present time.
<br />Council President Nemeth stated that the money must still be budgeted. Councilman Miller stated
<br />that it would be a $620,000 increase in both proposals, including pension. Chairman Newburn asked
<br />for a roll call vote on Councilman Szymkowiak's motion. The motion lost by a vote of five nays
<br />(Councilmen Miller, Taylor, Kopczynski, Horvath and Nemeth) and four ayes (Councilmen Serge,
<br />Szymkowiak, Parent and Newburn). Councilman Parent then made a motion to amend the one -page
<br />ordinance to add the following provision:
<br />Each firefighter shall be paid all of the above holidays whether or not that holiday
<br />represents one of their regular work days.
<br />Councilman Serge seconded the motion. Mr. DeBuysser felt that any firefighter that works a holida;
<br />should be entitled to the holiday pay. He felt the Local 362 would be in favor of Councilman
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