Spring Hill Fire Rescue District 2008

Voters approve independence
Spring Hill voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum that would make their fire district independent from county control. The vote was 57 percent yes compared to 43 percent who voted no.
Now that the referendum has passed, the Legislature must approve a bill that would ratify Spring Hill Fire Rescue as an independent special district.
In the same election, voters elected Amy Brosnan, John Pasquale and Rob Giammarco to the board of fire commissioners.
Brosnan became the first woman ever elected to the board in its 40-year history.
Fire board votes in favor of labor agreement
The Spring Hill Fire Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners approved the labor agreement with the firefighters' union.
The agreement, which was approved Sept. 30, includes pay raises of 3 percent. In years past, the increases were 5 percent.
Other county employees making less than $65,000 per year were only granted a 2 percent raise in 2008.
A Spring Hill Fire Rescue employee who opts for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is not required to pay for health insurance. The district foots the bill.
The contract typically is good for three years, but the Local Union 2794 agreed in 2007 to revisit the salaries and health benefits portions of the contract each year because of the status of the current economy.
Some residents accused the fire board of approving the labor agreement too quickly and without seeking public opinion.
Morrison's contract
not renewed; Rampino
is interim chief
The board of fire commissioners voted 4-1 in January not to renew Spring Hill Fire Chief J.J. Morrison's contract for another six years.
In a result no one saw coming, the board cited the chief's health issues as a reason for not wanting to commit to six more years.
Some of the public comments left the board open to a lawsuit. The county's human resources director reached an agreement with Morrison for him to fulfill the remainder of his contact through June 30, which made him eligible for a full pension.
Included in the agreement was a promise from Morrison that he would not file a lawsuit, although he wrote a stinging letter to the board, stating he was "blindsided" by the way the matter was handled.
He resigned Feb. 15.
Mike Rampino was named interim chief. He became permanent chief in December.
Chiefs get raises in spite of salary freeze
The fire district's two highest-ranking officers were given raises in October.
The fire board approved the request by a 3-2 vote. Both interim Spring Hill Fire Chief Mike Rampino and Assistant Chief Bill Davies made more than $80,000 per year.
They received a 3 percent raise.
No other county employee making more than $65,000 was given a raise in 2008. Those who made less only earned a 2 percent increase.
After the vote, Rampino's annual salary increased to $88,802.48. Davies' salary jumped to $82,653.79.