Council to consider legislation on fire district, employing counsel for bargaining with firefighter union

The Hillsboro City Council will be presented with emergency legislation for consideration during their regular meeting Monday, July 9 to authorize employing labor counsel in bargaining with the Hillsboro firefighters' union. Additional legislation will be presented, asking council to consider contracting with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District for emergency services.

Both pieces of legislation are being introduced by Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux. The items appeared on council's agenda, which was released Friday afternoon.

The one-page emergency resolution that seeks to authorize entering into an agreement for fire protection and emergency services with the Paint Creek fire district states that the agreement is "in a form substantially similar to the agreement (that has been submitted to council). The resolution shall become effective upon passage of a majority council, approval of the mayor, and following 30 days after publication according to law."

In June, Hastings presented a proposal to members of Hillsboro City Council for the city to "dissolve" Hillsboro Fire and Rescue and contract for EMS and fire services with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. If the city enters into a three-year contract with the district, Hastings said that the proposed agreement would save the city an estimated $1,540,000 "compared to continuing operation of the fire department with an estimated $899,648 deficit and a capital costs/benefits/administration (CBA) deficit of $450,000," for a total deficit of $1,348,648.

That legislation was to be considered by council during a special session held June 27, but was withdrawn by the administration days prior to the meeting. Council, instead, met in executive session for more than two hours with Chief Bradley George and board member Bill Redenbaugh from the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.

Council will have their regular meeting Monday, July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Hillsboro Municipal Courtroom in the Highland County Justice Center.

As previously reported in The Highland County Press, at the request of the city's labor attorney, Hillsboro Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2972 has come up with a "concessions package," which proposes a $100,000 cut in salaries and benefits to Hillsboro Fire and Rescue staff members. However, in order for the firefighters to make those concessions, they say the city would have to work out agreements with local townships, and maintain the fire department.

The current contract between the city and the firefighters' union is not up until December 2013.

The proposed legislation states that bargaining is needed because the manner in which the city has proposed to receive emergency will impact the terms and conditions of the firefighters' employment.

According to the proposed legislation, "the decisions of the State Employment Relations Board require the city of Hillsboro to bargain with the Hillsboro Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2972 prior to implementing changes in terms and conditions of employment affecting matters covered by the existing collective bargaining agreement for the city's fire employee bargaining unit ... and to bargain with (the union) concerning the impact a city concerning the impact a city decision to alter the manner in which the city obtains fire service will have on the terms and conditions of employment of the fire bargaining unit members."

The city is proposing attorney David Blaugrund and the law firm Blaugrund, Herbert, Kessler, Miller, Myers and Postalakis, which has been performing services related to fire department issues for the city since February 2012, be retained for labor negotiations "on an ongoing basis to conclusion of the current negotiating session."