Volunteers propose putting execs on front lines

By Kathleen Miller
Examiner Staff Writer 11/21/08

Some Montgomery County firefighters in management positions would return to the front lines and others would give up their take-home county vehicles under proposed cost-savings measures.

County Executive Ike Leggett proposed slashing ambulance staffing in Glen Echo, Hyattstown and Laytonsville to 10 hours a day/5 days a week, instead of the 24 hour/7 day a week staffing currently in effect, as part of a mid-year savings plan.

He also suggested taking a Silver Spring ambulance out of service entirely, to help combat a budget shortfall of at least $251 million for the coming fiscal year. The memo acknowledged that increased emergency response times are likely with the reduced ambulance staffing, even though other stations would cover affected areas.

“We think every administrative position should be reviewed first before ever suggesting a cut to service, we think that’s
fear-mongering,” said Eric Bernard, executive director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association.

Bernard also suggested slowing down the implementation of four-person staffing on fire trucks, most of which have three workers per vehicle now.

Council Vice President Phil Andrews, who chairs the public safety committee evaluating Leggett’s savings recommendations, asked Acting Fire Chief Richard Bowers to respond.

A Friday memo from Bowers said many of the recommendations were not compatible with labor agreements or industry standards. He said delaying putting a fourth person on fire-and-rescue trucks could also jeopardize more than $1 million in federal grant money used to fund entry-level salaries for 12 firefighters, including benefits.

“This will adversely affect the public we serve and the safety of our personnel,” Bowers wrote.

John Sparks, president of Montgomery’s firefighters union, said the volunteers proposal is “dangerous” and “would set the fire service back at least 20 years or more.”

“We can ill afford to reduce staffing, whether at the rank-and-file or supervisory level,” Sparks said.

Sparks also said career firefighters called off negotiations with Leggett Friday over furlough days and potentially reducing their raises to help with budget problems because some council members have balked at approving an ambulance transport fee.

“This is all a result of not enough revenue to support fire and rescue service, if they would pass that fee we wouldn’t be talking about reductions to ambulance service,” Sparks said.

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