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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#04 - Hiring of Fire Department Chaplain STAFF REPORT DATE: March 6, 2018 CONSENT ITEM #: 4 TO: City Council FROM: Greg Malmquist, Fire Chief AGENDA ITEM: Hiring of Richard “Woody” Glanzer as Support Services Department Chaplain for the Lake Elmo Fire Department with Compensation at Minumum Wage. REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator BACKGROUND: On 8/20/2013, at the city Council Meeting, Richard “Woody” Glanzer was introduced to the City Council and Public as the first ever Department Chaplain, under Support Services with the Lake Elmo Fire Department. There was no action requested of, or taken by the City Council at that time, as he would be a “Volunteer” under Support Services. He is not a Firefighter. He has served since that time and continues to serve at present, by attending drills, department functions and responding to emergencies. He also makes himself available to personnel as needed. Richard came to us from Willmar FD where he served as Chaplain. He purchased a home in Lake Elmo and approached us offering his assistance. His background and training in Chaplaincy and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, (CISD) has proven its value many times over. Since 2013, Richard has responded to many major events with us and utilizes his training and background with the victims impacted by the event, while crews work. He has the ability to explain what is going, console and offer resources to the victims at a very difficult time. He is there with that family as they stand and watch the Firefighters work to save their home. There have also been times when Firefighters have had struggles in dealing with difficult emergencies that they have responded to. Richard has been a very valuable resource in helping them cope with the stress. He has far exceeded all expectations the department had and over time has become someone we “count” on. I believe officially hiring and moving him from a volunteer position to a compensated Support Services position with the City and Department is long over due and will continue to be a valuable asset to the department and those we serve. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the Council approve the “Hiring of Richard “Woody” Glanzer as Support Services Department Chaplain for the Lake Elmo Fire Department with Compensation at Minumum Wage, retroactive to January 1, 2018”? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: If approved, this would be retroactive to January 1, 2018 as it was budgeted for 2018. The basis for making this recommendation is as follows. When Richard Glanzer first came on board, we had no idea what benefit he would bring to the department. His involvement began as very casual. Over time, he has demonstrated his value in ways we never imagined. Prior to Chaplain Glanzer, when we responded to an event that displaced people, they were more often than not left on their own, until we had stabilized the event and the Incident Commander found time to speak to them. Now, our Chaplain arrives early on in the event and goes to these people and stays with them, during this very traumatic time. He is able to explain what operations are going on, ensures they are cared for and their needs are being meet. Is the liason between the family and the IC. During this time we have received great feedback from victims in this regard. An additional benefit we have experienced, and again did not foresee, is to our personnel on the FD. During his tenure, we have experienced some “difficult” call responses that have impacted different personnel in different ways. Chaplan Glanzer has recognized changes in personnel and seeks them out, with positive outcomes. Our personnel, though initially skeptical, now seek him out to talk about various things. Chaplain Glanzer is a very giving person that volunteers outside the department as well. At his church and his involvement with the Washington County Chaplain Corp. Approving this will help ease the burden and time committement that Chaplain Richard Woody Glanzer has demonstrated over the years by responding to emergencies and attending department fuctions to make himself available to the public and department. The reason for the change, is that I saw him providing more and committing more time that originally anticipated. While I’m fairly certain he would continue to volunteer, as that is his nature, I would venture to guess we would see him less and less. So to help ensure and maintain his level of participation and availability, as well as to pay him for his time, which has value, I proposed we pay him. I feel we’ve certainly gotten great value from his volunteered time to the City, but we should also consider that we may be taking advantage as well? I also, felt that the minimum wage, while not a lot, was at least something. This would be consistent with our other Support Services position, held by Richard Sachs Jr., that has received minimum wage for years. FISCAL IMPACT: 2018 Budget shows $1,710.00 for his projected annual compensation. This projection was based on 15 hours per month at $9.50/hr. Since then, the minimum wage has increased to $9.65/hr, which would adjust the projection to $1,737.00 OPTIONS: 1) Approve Motion to hire Richard Glanzer as paid Support Services Chaplain 2) Deny approval and continue his status as volunteer Support Services. RECOMMENDATION: Approve Motion for the Hiring of Richard “Woody” Glanzer as Support Services Department Chaplain for the Lake Elmo Fire Department with Compensation at Minumum Wage, retroactive to January 1, 2018”? ATTACHMENTS: Copy of Council Memo from 8/20/2013 showing “Introduction of Richard “Woody” Glanzer to Council” MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION DATE: 8/20/2013 PRESENTATION ITEM #: 2A AGENDA ITEM: Introduction of Richard “Woody” Glanzer to Council SUBMITTED BY: Greg Malmquist, Fire Chief THROUGH: Dean Zuleger, City Administrator REVIEWED BY: Adam Bell, City Clerk SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS: - Introduction of Item ................................................................................. Fire Chief - Report/Presentation ................................................................................. Fire Chief - Questions from Council to Staff .................................................. Mayor Facilitates SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: No action required. This is to introduce Richard Glanzer to Council and Public. He will serve the department in a Support Services role as our first ever Department Chaplain. STAFF REPORT: Richard comes to us from Willmar FD where he served as Chaplain. He has recently purchased a home in Lake Elmo and approached us offering his assistance. His background and training are in Chaplaincy and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, (CISD). We believe he will fill a critical void in dealing with and supporting family members when disaster strikes as well as helping department members in dealing with “difficult” call responses. RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests that council recognize Richard Glanzer in the Voluntary Support Services role of Department Chaplain. No formal action is required.