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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />NOVEMBER 27, 1991 <br />The Fire Chief expressed concern about the Fire <br />Department compensation that is proposed to be cut. <br />The Fire Chief pointed out that for the past several <br />years it has held the line on its budget and is now <br />trying to make up for falling behind. The Chief <br />pointed out that City employees are not working for <br />minimum wage, and it is hard to justify paying the fire <br />fighters below minimum wage for the tasks that they <br />perform other than fire fighting. The Fire Chief <br />pointed out that for years the fire fighters were <br />performing these tasks for nothing. The Fire Chief <br />stated that he would like to pay the fire fighters $7 <br />per hour for tasks, such as keeping equipment ready. <br />They are currently getting about $3 per hour. <br />Scalze stated that this is a new subject to her and <br />that she was not aware that not everyone at the fire <br />station was a volunteer. <br />The Fire Chief reported that his view is that the fire <br />fighters volunteer a commitment to the City when they <br />first join the Fire Department. The Fire Chief felt <br />that the Fire Department was being singled out in the <br />budget cuts that are being proposed. <br />The City Administrator disagreed. The Administrator <br />pointed out that it was easy to identify the reduction <br />of costs for things that have never been done in the <br />past. The Administrator pointed out that he identified <br />$15,000 in cuts of Fire Department compensation, while <br />Blesener is recommending $10,000 in cuts. <br />The Fire Chief stated that no one else in the City does <br />anything without a salary, and he felt the fire <br />fighters should be compensated as well. <br />The City Administrator stated that he did not feel <br />being a volunteer meant a lack of commitment. The <br />issue is that the City cannot implement all the <br />increases being requested in one year. The <br />Administrator pointed out that fire fighters were paid <br />$4.31 per fire call last year, and to increase that <br />figure to $7.00 is a substantial increase. The <br />Administrator questioned where the money would oome <br />from. <br />The Administrator also pointed out that every <br />department in the City could make the same arguments as <br />the Fire Department. Cuts are being made on a <br />City-wide basis. The City's resources are limited and <br />the City is locked into the levy limits set by the <br />State. The Administrator did not agree that the Fire <br />Department has been singled out in the cuts. <br />Page 8 <br />