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City Council Meetrng <br />August 10, 2004 <br />Page 9 <br />related that the Fire Department tested for only certified Firefighters in the early <br />1980's and Civil Service lawyers said they were opening themselves up to <br />liability. He said that even Civil Service evolves and that, possibly for their <br />next text, they may be able to do that again. <br />Councilman Wilson asked if the Firemen were in favor of being in Civil <br />Service. <br />Chief Grooms said he felt they did want to be in Civil Service. He felt it makes <br />hiring practices fair. Councilman Wilson said that sometimes the test was very <br />exclusionary and because of that, they weren't always getting the best person <br />for the job. Chief Grooms said they were researching to see what exams are <br />available. <br />Councilman Poston asked Chief Grooms to look at what response time would <br />be if the Bonham or Jefferson Road Fire Stations were shut down. Mayor <br />Fendley said he wanted him to look at the cost savings, also. <br />Chief Grooms said the Fire Department tried to respond to industry within four <br />minutes and to residential within five minutes. He felt closing a station would <br />hamper their ability to respond within those times. <br />Mayor Fendley closed the open session for a break at 11:24 a.m. He reconvened <br />in Open Session at 11:35 a.m. <br />Mayor Fendley called for consideration of the EMS budget. Kent Klinkerman, <br />director of the Paris EMS, directed the Council's attention to the handout on <br />the current fiscal year's financial information. He noted that the projected <br />income for this year was $1,807,000.00 and the proposed budget was <br />$118,000.00 or 6.2% less. <br />Mr. Klinkerman pointed out that some of the overtime was mandatory for out <br />of town trips, to Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, etc. and they call personnel <br />in for that. He said there is a potential for income every time one of the trucks <br />