County Firefighters' Contract Approved

Hernando County firefighters Tuesday found themselves with a new three-year contract after county commissioners approved the pact 4-0.

County Fire Chief Michael Nickerson praised the county's negotiating team and the union's bargaining team for coming to terms so amicably. Negotiations have been ongoing for six months.

"It was a spirit of cooperation on both sides," Nickerson said.

The new pact has a one-year reopener bargaining clause on salaries.

Under the new contract, salaries vary depending on level of training.

A first-year firefighter medic 1 would start at $40,000 and a first-year firefighter EMT 1 would start at $33,000.

A clear majority of the union members voted to approve the new contract, Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden said.

A new step plan was put in place that addresses some equity issues between personnel with the same rank and service lengths.

The new plan decreases or eliminates general wage increases, as opposed to across-the-board 2 percent increases received by other board of county commissioner employees.

The steps increase at a constant 2.5 percent per year and movement takes place on the employee's anniversary date. Employees whose pay falls outside the step plan will have their pay frozen.

This new contract is already budgeted in Hernando County Fire Rescue salary reserves and step pay plan reserves totaling $273,576.

In a related move, commissioners voted unanimously to approve a new contract for the nine district fire chiefs. That contract closely mirrors the rank and file pact and is also for three years.

For more details about the new contract, visit: http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1019&MediaPosition=3753&ID=1371&CssClass=

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

•Republican David Russell was elected new board chairman for 2009. Democrat Rose Rocco will be vice chair and Republican John Druzbick is the new co-vice chair.

•Commissioner Jeff Stabins was not present at Tuesday's meeting because of a leg injury sustained during the holidays, according to County Administrator David Hamilton.

•Commissioners voted to establish two standing committees to meet monthly to review and make recommendations on issues presented to the board.

Each committee will have two county commissioners and three citizens.

Rocco will chair the budget committee and Druzbick will chair the economic development committee.