TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Daniel Jones, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Request for Addition of Six Firefighter Positions
DATE: March 8, 2006
The purpose of this memorandum is to request the addition of six (6) full time firefighter positions in the emergency operations division of the Fire Department. This request represents the second phase of a proposed 3-year phased installment of 18 new operational personnel as identified in previous reports to the Town Council.
On February 27, 2006, the Town Council authorized using the increased FY 2005-06 state fire protection funding to hire the first six (6) of eighteen (18) requested positions in the current budget year. This additional personnel will serve on existing units to increase the initial on-scene staffing for fires, emergencies, inspections, safety and other public services.
We request that the Town complete the addition of twelve more firefighters, phased over the next two budget years. This additional staffing would bring each shift up to an authorized level of 28 personnel (currently at 22) and that would result into a minimum staffing of 22. Minimum staffing is the level maintained after accounting for vacations, educational leave, and sick or injury leaves. A minimum staffing of 22 would allow us to send 15 personnel on a structural fire response and still have two fire units and seven personnel to respond to another call, thereby relying less completely on mutual aid and providing a “second strike” capability. This proposed level of staffing would provide us with additional depth of coverage and some reserve capability when dealing with a structure fire. The additional personnel would also improve the safety of our personnel at structure fires by providing more firefighters to perform critical tasks. Currently, our personnel must push physical limits to perform critical tasks without appropriate backup and thereby take unnecessary risks.
As workload in the Fire Department increases, there is also a need for additional fire inspectors (Life Safety Division Fire Marshals) to handle increased code enforcement inspections, plan reviews, fire cause and hazard investigations and life safety complaints. Three of the these six requested positions could also serve as “on-shift” Fire Marshals who could handle the additional Life Safety workload on a 24-hour basis while still being available to supplement operational staffing. This staff would also facilitate more frequent occupancy checks at night time establishments like bars and clubs, thus improving community safety in gathering places. They would also respond to fires and other incidents to function as the OSHA required safety officer, freeing a fire company supervisor to remain in a firefighting position with his or her crew.
It is important to address the existing staffing need before the expansive development of Carolina North begins. That development may necessitate the addition of another fire station in an early phase and at least fifteen additional personnel to staff the apparatus assigned to it, making it even more crucial to reach a more equitable funding agreement for fire protection with the state.
FUNDING POTENTIALS
Recognizing that full funding of the remaining request for twelve positions would be difficult with Chapel Hill’s current revenue picture, other potential funding sources continue to be pursued. The first is the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Firefighters Act of 2003 passed by the U.S. Congress, which provides grants to communities like Chapel Hill for the hiring and training of additional firefighters on a four-year declining match, similar to the law enforcement program of the mid-nineties. Although we were rejected for funding in FY 2005-06, we will reapply for grant funding for FY 2006-07.
The second potential is to continue to seek remedy for the funding deficiency for fire protection of the campus and state owned buildings by working with the Governor’s office and the Legislative delegation. The Town received an increase of $213,800 for FY 2005-06 and the Town Council approved a proposal to add the first six positions in the staffing need. The Town now receives $1,063,564 compensation from the state for fire protection of these properties. As the level of service provided to State properties accounts for 25 percent of our budget, an equitable contribution by the State would require an additional $630,000.
Although these funding opportunities will be pursued, we believe it is a matter of public safety that the Town moves ahead with the addition of the second phase (6 positions) of hiring a total 18 firefighters.
COST
Below is a table that shows annual costs for the three firefighter and three Captain positions requested in the 2006-07 budget.
|
Salary |
Overtime |
Benefits |
Uniforms/ Equipment |
Supplies |
Total Cost |
|
$227,200 |
$9,600 |
$110,600 |
$6,400 |
$3,000 |
$356,800 |
We suggest adding the positions in April of 2007, reducing the first year cost to $95,000. Nearly 74 percent of that first year cost could be paid for with the $69,900 balance of increased State Fire Protection funds not used in the current (FY 2005-06) budget year. The additional funds needed in FY 2006-07 to fulfill this staffing increase would be $25,100.
RECOMMENDATION
It is the recommendation of the Fire Chief that the Council authorize the addition of three firefighter and three captain (Assistant Fire Marshal) positions in the spring of 2007 to continue the phased staffing increases as requested in previous reports to the Council. The addition of six positions for three months would require the addition of $95,000 to the FY 2006-07 Fire Department budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2006 Fire Staffing Survey (p. 4).
2. Fire Chief’s Recommended Distribution of Firefighters (p. 5).
3. Fire Staffing Request Justification from Budget Process 2005 (p. 6).
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