25 - Amendment to Seniority Pay of Chapter 6 Fire Prevention & ProtectionItem No. 25
Memorandum
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Thomas McMonigle, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO CITY ORDINANCE 6.02.004
DATE: February 17, 2023
BACKGROUND: While implementing the Comparable Pay Study in previous budget years, the
city council streamlined the seniority pay across all ranks with each rank having the same
number of steps and each step being the same dollar amount. The new steps are based on years
of service in the current rank as opposed to the former system of total years of service to the
Department. Phase 1 of these steps was approved in the 2021-2022 Budget, with the second and
final phase being approved in the 2022-2023 Budget.
STATUS OF ISSUE: The 2022-2023 Budget was approved with the second and final phase of
these steps for seniority in rank approved. This change was effective October 1, 2022. Civil
Service requires that this change be put in place through ordinance.
BUDGET: The cost to implement this change is included in the approved budget for 2022-2023.
No additional costs will be incurred.
RECOMMENDATION: Amend the ordinance to reflect the requested changes.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING SECTION 6.02.004, "SENIORITY PAY," OF CHAPTER 6, "FIRE
PREVENTION AND PROTECTION," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the employment of firefighters in the City of Paris is governed by Chapter
143 of the Local Government Code which authorizes and governs dealing with Civil Service
employment; and,
WHEREAS, Section 143.041 of the Local Government Code further authorizes the
governing body of a municipality to provide additional compensation to fire fighters based
on longevity and/or seniority; and
WHEREAS, in implementing the city's comparable pay study in the 2021-2022 and
2022-2023 budget years, the City Council streamlined fire fighter seniority pay across all
ranks; and
WHEREAS, Civil Service law requires that this change be made by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby formalizes the changes made to firefighter
seniority pay in previous budget years;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That Section 6.02.004, "Seniority Pay,": of Chapter 6, "Fire Prevention
and Protection," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
"Se . 6.02.004 Seniori . Pa
(a) Members of the fire department below the rank of chief shall be entitled to
receive senioritz VU -on the basis of time in service and rank achieved in the Qty
of Paris Fire Department, said seniority a to be in addition to each firefighter's
base pay, as follows:
Years in Rank --Tiers B'- Seniority Pay
Tier 1: 2-3 vears in rank $49.01
Tier 2: 4-5 vears .in rank "98.03
Tier 3: 6-7 years in rank ---------.$147.04
Tier 4: 8-9 years in rank $196.05
Tier 5: 10-11 years in rank $245.06
Tier 6: 12-13 years in rank .'294.08
Tier 7:14+ years in rank "343.09
(a) Members of the G" fire department below the rank of chief shall he entitle`1
toreceive seniority na31
basediia-their- -u and years -vracr-vzcs=rithat -rich='c
with the eity fire department. The senior-" pay %411 be in addition to eac;h
fire fighters base pay as fellows:
(b) All city fire depar-tment eivillf sffrviee empleyeaes, A --f the rrank of fire fighter- shall
re 1 1 lll
receive s rlty nay in addition to their base nay calclated an their dears of
cert rice cwith the citta fire department at the fire fighter rank as fellows-;
(I) Fire fighters with two (2) year- ef serwil-ee -a-p-d lea-gs than four (4) years ef
a ,1,
s�,iee S� rdollars and siv sbE cen�Cy1�6l n�
W ��7
"(2) Lire Fighters with four (4) years of [•e YR1tl•e and less than six (6) dears of
service Thir-ty=three aell-rs nail 1Ntf^tFoc�l�($33.32Tnpn��
"�'�' "J
"(3) Fire rghtens with v (til hears or more of serrvirce less thin eight (v)
years ofser-viEe Forth -nine dollars and ninety seven cents ($49.97)
ts
per paperiod "`'J'
"(/1) Fire
fightercrs with eight (8) ye0.TTOF MGM of service and lesstCIhIan ten
(18)years of sure gimvy_` 1=s-��sixty -thr-ee-cents
($66.63) n r pay nerved
"(S) Fire fighters }ttenf1 n1 :dears or more of service and less t an
twelve (1 7) years of se -Age— Eighty-three dollars an 29 cents
($83.29) per pay period
«(6) Fire fighters with ti twelve (�yna�r- fner-e of 'ic and less thanr
four -teen (14) years of ser-vice—Ninxet.._nine dollars and- nin _five
cents ($99.95) ner nay period
'T71 Fire fighters with four -teen years 9r- mer -e of seMcc—mir=
hundred sixteen dollars and 60 cents ($116.60) 6 60) ner nay period.
"% T fire
-�� ..'..y `.
dyer -/engineer
depar-tITIGnt cavils. ei-Ace employees of e r-ank of
..Y...' car.. J .,....
shah' receive seniority pay in addition to theirs pay
ealeulated-entheir!
.lr.iyer• /engineer-
years -o€seMee with city fire department at
r -a l( as fnllowsi
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(bg) the seniority pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular
base pay received by the member or members of the fire department
qualifying for same."
Section 3. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering any
penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any section
or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
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(bg) the seniority pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular
base pay received by the member or members of the fire department
qualifying for same."
Section 3. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering any
penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any section
or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 5. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 6. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of February, 2023.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney