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Ohio Firefighters Not Paid for Two Months
RICK ARMON
The Akron Beacon Journal
BOSTON HEIGHTS - Boston Heights firefighters are upset they haven't been paid in more than two months.
Village officials say the small community isn't refusing to pay; it's just a matter of getting enough council members together to approve new pay legislation.
"They are going to get paid," Fire Chief James Robinson said Monday. "It's not that they aren't going to get paid. The wheels are turning slowly."
In the meantime, though, the 20 volunteer firefighters, who are paid per call, are irked, the chief admitted.
The village this year reworked pay for employees. That included restructuring pay for different firefighting duties into one hourly rate, and increasing that rate to $12.60.
The legislation also contained some controversial policy changes, such as paying firefighters for every 15 minutes when responding, instead of giving them at least a full hour.
The fire chief said he and others failed to read the original legislation close enough to catch the differences.
The six-member council has agreed to redo the legislation, and officials decided not to issue checks until council acted.
The problem? There haven't been enough council members attending the June or July meetings to approve the legislation as an emergency.
A special meeting has been called for July 28. A special meeting also was set for the end of June, but not enough members showed up.
"We need to get this straightened out," Mayor Bill Goncy said.
Councilwoman Janet Miller said she expects the legislation to be approved this month.
The amount of money owed isn't a fortune, but firefighters are frustrated.
"It's more or less the principle," said one firefighter, who asked that his name not be used. "At least pay us for the gas to get there and back."
Copyright 2009 Akron Beacon Journal
July 14, 2009
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jack on
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Then these firefighters should of been paid at the old rate until the bill was passed. There should be no excuses from the council members as to this. As for the dedicated firefighters working you have my utmost repect.
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Permalink Reply by Dustin J. Millis on
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If these so called "officals" are too busy to show up to an emergency meeting, they should not be the elected officals any longer. I'm sure they would notice if the firefighters stopped showing up to their emergencys!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on
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It's sad, if the firefighters went on strike andstopped showing up then it would make a big impact and probably get things done; but it's just not in our nature to do that. Those guys have my respect, and they could atleast repay them the gas it takes to travel from where they are to where they need to go.
-Logue
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Permalink Reply by Walter Ringgold Strong Jr on
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I feel as others have responded and hope, no pray, those who are sitting on their laurels will get with it. But I must say the amount is meeger(sp) considering the service these men and women give not to mention their families. It is good to hear they DO get paid for their work. It has only been in the last few years that we (vol. in Kent Co. and maybe all of Md. have received any monetary {in the way of state income tax rightoff-if you meet qualifications) compensation. Few people realize the savings volunteers provide: tax rates, insurance rates to name two. Maybe the town father's need to spend a year in the fire/ems field and LEARN.
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Permalink Reply by Shaun Hansen on
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I say suspend the city official paychecks until all Firefighters have been paid. Or take it out of thier projected wages. Our department went through something like this a while back. But we did get paid the old amount until the change was finalized. You all know that the Officials get compensated for thier time. And thier time is WAY more important than ours.. Just ask them they will tell you.... You guys got my respect. I would have made the dispatch call mutual aid a couple of times on calls to show that this is unacceptable. No pay, No play.. I know it is not our nature as Fire Professionals, but sometimes you got put a foot down on these small town politics.
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