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City Council Meeting <br /> September 13, 2004 <br /> <br />Page 8 <br />Mayor Pro Tem Guest called for consideration of an ordinance to amend the <br />staffing levels of the Fire Department. Mr. Schenk said the ordinance would <br />reduce the number of fire fighters from thirty-three to thirty. Interim City <br />Manager Shaw reminded Council that if they did not pass this ordinance, they <br />were bound by law to fund the thirty-three fire fighters. Councilman Wilson <br />made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Councilman Guest. <br />Councilman Wilson and Councilman Guest voted aye, with Councilman Poston <br />and Councilwoman Fisher voting no, and Councilwoman Wilkerson abstaining. <br />When it was decided that Councilwoman Wilkerson could not abstain, she <br />changed her vote to no and the motion failed 2 ayes, 3 nays. <br />Mr. Schenk asked if the Council wanted to bring this back at the next meeting <br />when there would be a full Council, otherwise they would have to make <br />accommodation in the budget for the three firefighters. Councilman Wilson <br />said there were several ways to fund this, more money or better management. <br />When asked by Councilman Bell if he could find $132,000.00 in his budget, <br />Chief Grooms said he would try but he didn’t see how, since the budget was <br />already streamlined. <br />Interim City Manager Shaw said the only way to avoid the automatic overtime <br />was to have enough staffing so they could send firefighters home if they were <br />above minimum staffing and had met the FSLA minimum hourly standards. He <br />did mention that some cities did not classify that automatic overtime as actual <br />overtime, but rather, imbedded it in the salaries. He said they would get their <br />regular hours, even if sent home. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Guest called for a break at 7:55 p.m and reconvened the <br />meeting at 8:02 p.m. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Guest entertained a motion to revisit the ordinance concerning <br />the staffing levels of the fire department. Councilman Bell made a motion to <br />reconsider, which was seconded by Councilman Wilson. The motion carried <br />5 ayes, 0 nays. Councilman Bell made a motion to table action on the ordinance <br />nd <br />until the Sept 22 meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Fisher <br /> <br />