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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />DECEMBER 11, 1991 <br />Blesener pointed out that there are things in the Fire <br />Department budget that cannot be ethically funded by <br />the City if the department is not a volunteer one. <br />Blesener suggested that if the method of compensation <br />is changing, then there are some other changes that <br />need to be made in the budget. <br />Collova pointed out that the general public is <br />completely unaware of what is being discussed, and <br />although the compensation to fire fighters is not <br />large, the general public believes there is no paycheck <br />at all. Collova felt that the public needed to be <br />aware of this issue since it is the public that is <br />being served. <br />Mike Fahey, Fire Department, agreed with the need for a <br />workshop between the Fire Department and City Council. <br />However, Fahey did not agreed that additional funding <br />for the Fire Department would mean cuts for other <br />departments. Fahey pointed out that the initial goal <br />of the City was to allocate gambling revenues to the <br />City's Park Fund. However, the need in the public <br />safety area should be put before the City's park <br />system. Fahey stated that it has never been a secret <br />that the Fire Department has compensated its members, <br />and Fahey felt that to now say in a critical way that <br />the Fire Department is no longer volunteer is a low <br />blow. Fahey pointed out that in the past three years <br />the Sheriff's Department budget has increased by <br />$50,000, $62,000, and $30,000. This budget is not <br />negotiated. Over the past three years, increases to <br />the Fire Department's budget have been $16,000, $2,000, <br />and $1,800. Fahey stated that the Fire Department <br />cannot operate like this, and suggested that the simple <br />solution is to reprioritize the use of gambling funds <br />for public safety. Fahey pointed out that the Fire <br />Department has donated over $60,000 to the City and <br />suggested that this money be used to make up for the <br />budget cuts. <br />Blesener stated that he agreed with using donations for <br />capital improvement purchases, and pointed out that <br />this was already discussed by the Council. However, <br />Blesener stated that he could not support the use of <br />charitable gambling money for general budget items. <br />Blesener also stated that the City was aware that fire <br />fighters were compensated for attending meetings and <br />fire calls, but the did not believe the Council was <br />aware that salaries were being paid for cleaning trucks <br />and other jobs. Blesener also pointed out that the <br />Council has not said these hourly wages would be cut, <br />or not increased, but rather that the full increase <br />Page 8 <br />