The jobs of 14 Bay City (MI) firefighters remain in jeopardy, but with days left until a decision that could determine their future, the group is hoping an 11th-hour submitted proposal will save them, reports mlive.com. The Bay City Commission during a Monday, Dec. 3, meeting is scheduled to vote on a measure merging the community's police and fire departments by July in an effort to save $1.8 million within five years. The move would result in layoffs of 14 of the 43-man department's least-tenured firefighters and cross-train police officers to battle fires.
Chris Reynolds, president of the Bay City firefighters union, said it's a dangerous proposal that puts at risk both property and lives -- and is unnecessary. The 16-year firefighter has sent to commissioners a two-tiered alternative he estimates saves about the same amount of money and includes less risk to the public. Bay City Manager Robert Belleman said he hasn't seen the plan and, based on a reporter's description of the proposal, has concerns about its makeup. Still, he admits the idea could at least stall the commission vote at Monday's meeting. One part of the firefighters union's alternative plan involves folding the Bay City Police Department into the Bay County Sheriff's Office, effectively turning city officers into county deputies charged specifically with patrolling Bay City streets. Based on estimates compiled by Belleman’s office -- using salary figures provided by Bay County Sheriff John E. Miller, and assuming the sheriff would hire the police force's entire 52-person roster -- contracting services with the sheriff would save the city $354,270 annually. Those figures don't include initial costs for replacing technology -- such as vehicles -- to match the sheriff's department, Belleman said. Reynolds said he believes the savings figure could be closer to $500,000 annually. The second part of Reynolds' alternative plan involves no layoffs, the re-establishment of mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments that would assist in city fire runs, and dependence on the city's part-time firefighter program. Read more of the story herehttp://bit.ly/Qvn9Yo
Chris Reynolds, president of the Bay City firefighters union, said it's a dangerous proposal that puts at risk both property and lives -- and is unnecessary. The 16-year firefighter has sent to commissioners a two-tiered alternative he estimates saves about the same amount of money and includes less risk to the public. Bay City Manager Robert Belleman said he hasn't seen the plan and, based on a reporter's description of the proposal, has concerns about its makeup. Still, he admits the idea could at least stall the commission vote at Monday's meeting. One part of the firefighters union's alternative plan involves folding the Bay City Police Department into the Bay County Sheriff's Office, effectively turning city officers into county deputies charged specifically with patrolling Bay City streets. Based on estimates compiled by Belleman’s office -- using salary figures provided by Bay County Sheriff John E. Miller, and assuming the sheriff would hire the police force's entire 52-person roster -- contracting services with the sheriff would save the city $354,270 annually. Those figures don't include initial costs for replacing technology -- such as vehicles -- to match the sheriff's department, Belleman said. Reynolds said he believes the savings figure could be closer to $500,000 annually. The second part of Reynolds' alternative plan involves no layoffs, the re-establishment of mutual aid agreements with surrounding fire departments that would assist in city fire runs, and dependence on the city's part-time firefighter program. Read more of the story herehttp://bit.ly/Qvn9Yo
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