HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/1988, C-4 - REQUEST TO HIRE ONE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER BY CONTRACT TO ADDRESS TEMPORARY PERSONNEL SHORTAGE DUE TO INJURIES. I��hII�aII�INlllllllll��llul�l "' f MEETING DATE:
Cl o san lues o6ispo Dec. 6 198
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITM9
BY: Michael Dolder, Fire Chief j
SUBJECT: Request to hire one additional Firefighter by contract to address
temporary personnel shortage due to injuries.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolution authorizing the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to hire one
additional Firefighter by limited term contract above the budgeted personnel
authorization in accordance with adopted City Personnel Policies and Procedures.
BACKGROUND:
During October and November, 1988 four serious off-duty injury accidents or
Worker's compensation injuries have occurred to Fire Department safety personnel.
Recovery time for the various injuries varies and could be as short as eight to
twelve weeks for some and up to one year for at least one individual. During the
recovery periods for these four personnel, each of the fire suppression shifts will
require overtime personnel to meet operational necessities. In the case of one
shift, overtime will be required on an almost daily basis resulting in a monthly
overtime cost ranging between $3,370 to $4,270 per month. Total monthly overtime
expenditures is averaging $5,000 or more per month.
Hiring a contract Firefighter on an overstaffing basis, not to exceed eighteen
months, will provide immediate overtime relief in order to meet the operational
needs of the Fire Department. The existing Firefighter recruitment list would be
used as a basis for identifying an eligible contract candidate. The contract
employee would possess or be trained to the equivalent level of a probationary
Firefighter. If a permanent vacancy occurs during the contract period, the contract
employee would be eligible for a permanent appointment.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative One: Adopt resolution authorizing the CAO to hire one limited term
contract Firefighter for a maximum of 18 months, to provide sufficient fire suppression
personnel staffing to meet the operational necessities of the Fire Department.
Alternative Two: Adopt resolution authorizing the CAO to hire one permanent full-
time Firefighter to provide sufficient fire suppression personnel staffing to meet
operational necessities of the Fire Department.
Alternative Three: Take no action and attempt to continue to meet operational staffing
needs through overtime personnel.
PROS & CONS OF ALTERNATIVES
Alternative One
Pro - Adopting the resolution authorizing the CAO to hire one contract Firefighter
for a maximum of 18 months will provide sufficient fire personnel to meet the
operational necessities of the Fire Department. Authorizing an eighteen
month contract employee as compared to a shorter contract period will
increase the potential candidate pool for a temporary job assignment. A
shorter contract period might deter qualified applicants. The contract
Firefighter will provide sufficient flexibility to meet the variable staffing needs
caused by the impacts of the current injuries. The overtime savings and
111► ►1IIIIIIIIpAlll city Of San LUIS OBI SPO
GNIGa COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
existing salary savings from the deferred hiring of the Fire Protection
Engineer will offset the position's costs through FY1988/89.
Con - The overstaffing may require training to qualify a particular applicant to
perform probationary firefighting functions. The training time may be lost if a
permanent vacancy does not occur during the term of the contract.
Alternative Two
Pro - Adopting the resolution authorizing overstaffing one permanent Firefighter will
meet the temporary operating necessities. Recruitment for a permanent
position will increase the potential number of applicants and will make
recruitment easier.
Con - Hiring a permanent employee for a temporary operating necessity will require
on-going funding for the position. Although first year salary savings will be
offset by the overstaffing costs, the long term costs will be significant.
Alternative Three
Pro - Taking no action will not require the addition of temporary or permanent
personnel.
Con - The absence of four fire suppression personnel will continue resulting in
overtime costs exceeding $5,000 per month. Operational needs of the Fire
Department will be impacted as will tbe_pressure on existing personnel to fill
the injury vacancies. Unscheduled absences compound the problem and require
some persons to work 72 hours straight. Work assignments of 72 hours
increases the risk for additional accidents and additional lost time. Since at
least one of the injuries is long term and could result in permanent disability
a recruitment may ultimately be required regardless of the action.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budgeted Fire Protection Engineer's position was not filled until the end of October,
1988. The resulting salary savings in combination with projected overtime savings
resulting from the hiring of a contract Firefighter will offset the overstaffing costs
through June 30, 1989. The monthly net savings is estimated to be $2,100 per month
through this period. Salary costs, if required during FY1989-90, will be included in the
budget request during the development of the two year financial plan. The Finance
Director concurs that sufficient funding for the overstaffing is available during
FY1988/89.
CONCURRENCES
The Acting Personnel Director has reviewed the current staffing levels of the Fire
Department and concurs with the operational staffing necessities of the hiring a contract
Firefighter. The City Attorney has also reviewed the procedural aspects of hiring a
contract Firefighter and concurs with the action.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt resolution authorizing the CAO to hire one additional Firefighter by limited term
contract above the budgeted personnel authorization in accordance with adopted City
personnel policies and procedures.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. (1988 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY COUNCIL
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO HIRE
ONE CONTRACT FIREFIGHTER FOR MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS.
WHEREAS; the Fire Department currently has four long term Firefighter injuries,
and
WHEREAS; overtime is required to maintain emergency operational needs, and
WHEREAS; sufficient revenues exist to offset overstaffing one
Firefighter position through FY1988/89, and
WHEREAS; the health and safety of the community and Firefighters will benefit
from the overstaffing authorization.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of San Luis Obispo that
the City Administrative Officer is authorized to hire one Firefighter by contract not to
exceed 18 months in accordance with adopted City personnel policies and procedures.
On motion of seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this day of ,
1988.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
APPROVED:
City A inistrative Officer
city At o y
Finance Director
Lu.t� Q_ /a,-�
Personnel irector
Fire Chief