Boards approve salary resolution, collective bargaining agreement

By RAY BALOGHStaff WriterTurkey Creek fire and township advisory boards Monday, Nov. 12, unanimously approved a resolution determining 2019 fire department salaries and a three-year collective bargaining agreement.Fire department personnel will receive a 4 percent salary increase in 2019 and a 2 percent increase each of the following two years.Full-time salaries for 2019 include: fire chief, $61,750; deputy chief, $55,952; battalion chief, $53,950; captain, $52,214.50; firefighter/paramedic, $50,050; firefighter/EMT-A, $48,490; firefighter/EMT-B, $46,930; and probationary firefighter, $43,550 for the first year. Part-time firefighter/paramedics will receive an hourly wage of $16; paramedic non-firefighters, $14; firefighters up to EMT-A, $12; and EMT non-firefighters up to EMT-A, $10.Several changes were made in the collective bargaining agreement. Paid sick leave for full-time employees was increased from 56 hours to 84 hours per year with a cap of 1,056 hours, equivalent to four months.Full-time employees may now trade shifts when pre-approved by the fire chief and a written agreement between the employees is delivered to the chief at least 48 hours before the first shift to be traded begins.The department is allowed a cumulative amount of 72 hours of union time to be used for union matters or to represent the fire territory at community and state functions such as burn camp. The hours will be paid at the overtime rate.Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported renovations for the territory’s two fire stations are underway. A construction meeting was held last week during which several changes were made, saving $800 on the original bid.Construction meetings between the contractor and fire department personnel will take place the second Monday of each month for the duration of the project.Fire BoardScott issued his monthly report:

• In October the department responded to 22 fire calls and 87 EMS calls, bringing the year’s total to 1,101 emergency runs, or nearly four a day.
• Two applicants accepted full-time position offers and are completing pre-employment requirements.
• Fire and EMS personnel completed 439 hours of training in October on topics such as fighting basement fires, setup and operation of the department’s new tanker, searches and victim removal, rescue boat launching procedures, trauma and medical patient assessment and airway management.
• An auctioneer has been contacted to sell the recently replaced 1999 tanker. No auction date has been set.
• The department’s annual awards banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Eagles Aerie in Syracuse. Scott extended an invitation to all members of the fire board, township advisory board and town council.

Township Advisory BoardTownship Trustee Barb Griffith provided her monthly report of revenue and expenses.

• The township disbursed poor relief of $300 in rent and $1,073.21 for utilities in October.
• The township disbursed $12,000 from the recreation fund: $6,000 for 2018 lifeguard wages and $6,000 to assist in maintenance costs for the football field and ice rink in Syracuse.

The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.