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Hernando Today

4-Week Paid Leave For Drug Abuse

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: October 2, 2008

SPRING HILL - Spring Hill Fire Rescue firefighters can fail a drug test and get paid their full salary and benefits for the next 28 days.

That policy varies significantly from the two-weeks-without-pay policy for the county's firefighters and other employees.

Someone working in the clerk's office in Brooksville would be suspended without pay for two weeks and be required to sign a "last-chance clause" that would lead to a termination following the second violation, said interim Human Resources Director Jerry Haines.

A Spring Hill firefighter would receive four weeks of paid leave before he or she could return to work. That isn't fair because the district's employees are fighting fires and handling life-saving equipment, said fire commissioner Rob Giammarco.

"If they administer an EKG or (defibrillate) you and if they turn that knob too much, someone could get killed," said Giammarco, who was the only one on the board who voted against the labor agreement Tuesday. "It seems like you're condoning drug use in the district if you approve that."

Fire board chairman Charles Raborn, who has been in fire rescue for 30 years, said the drug policy is in line with a lot of other companies and fire departments.

"I don't look at Hernando County as a (good) role model," he said.

He has served on the board for four years and he could not recall a single instance of a Spring Hill firefighter failing a drug test, he said.

He also said a second violation would result in a firing with "no questions asked."

Tuesday's meeting was called after the district's attorney told Raborn and the other fire commissioners they needed to schedule a separate meeting to ratify the labor agreement.

The union and the district agreed on a three-year contract last year, but decided to revisit the salary and medical benefits portions each year because of the unpredictability of the economy.

Both sides agreed on a 3-percent raise, which Raborn said was less than in past years when 5 percent was the norm.

"I feel very good about it," said Raborn. "I think the contract is very fair and equitable."

The final vote was 4 to 1 in favor of the contract. At least 30 firefighters were present for the meeting, along with a few residents who have accused the district of being too carefree with the taxpayers' money.

Raborn said it is critical to continue to pay Spring Hill firefighters a competitive wage and good benefits to avoid turnover.

"Every time someone leaves, you spend money training someone else," he said.

Spring Hill Fire Rescue is known for offering a medical benefits package that is free to firefighters, if they opt for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.

Dental insurance is no longer offered and life insurance benefits were scaled back last year.

Raborn said the county offers its firefighters a "cafeteria plan" that includes up to $300 that would go toward health insurance coverage.

"That got missed," he said of the recent media coverage regarding the district's insurance plan. "We're not (paying) the big numbers that people say we're spending."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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