AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date: 

 FORMTEXT Finance Committee

November 10, 2004

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Philip Myer, Chief

Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Topic: 

A Resolution to Approve Six (6) Fire Fighter/Paramedic Positions

Topic Description:

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is seeking to improve full-time staffing coverage in Fauquier County by adding six (6) additional fire fighter/paramedics, which include five (5) Fire Rescue Technicians and one (1) Lieutenant. All positions will be committed to supporting and responding to Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/Fire incidents. This enhancement will achieve the goal of posting twelve (12) people in the six (6) fire stations, and three (3) Lieutenants, 12 hours per day, five days per week, to include at least six (6) “observed” holidays.

 

Specifically, this additional staff will convert Marshall, New Baltimore, and Catlett from 10.5 hour staffing four days a week, to 12 hour staffing five days a week, and allow coverage for the six agreed upon holidays to all six stations. The Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association has also identified the additional staff as a high priority. Both the Public Safety Committee and the Finance Committee recommended approval of this request. On October 14, 2004, the Board of Supervisors held a work session to evaluate this issue. Funding for these positions (including the costs of uniforms, equipment, and adjustment in existing staff structure) is projected to be $320,000. For FY 2005, the costs would be $160,000.  Attached are the elements of this funding request.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

Consider adoption of the attached resolution.

 

Financial Impacts Analysis:

The cost impact for FY 2005 is $160,000 and would be supported from the County Contingency Reserve. For FY 2006 the projected cost is $320,000 and could be support from a number of sources. This could include the normal growth in revenue from the $.07 Levy, use of Fire and Emergency Services Fund Balance, the County Contingency Fund, or other options such as fee for services.

 

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals That Would be Affected by This Request:

Budget Department

Finance Department

Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association

 

RESOLUTION

 

A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE SIX (6) FIRE FIGHTER/PARAMEDIC POSITIONS

 

            WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors has continually emphasized its support in providing public safety services to citizens of Fauquier County; and

 

            WHEREAS, the demands for Fire and Rescue services are expected to increase by forty percent (40%) in the next five years, and additional staffing support is essential to address this growth; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association have agreed that the most effective way to address this issue is to expand the current full-time staffing coverage; and

 

            WHEREAS, this expansion would provide coverage for five 12-hour days a week, rather than the current four 10.5-hour days; and

 

            WHEREAS, achieving this level of coverage will require six (6) additional Fire Fighter/Paramedic positions (five Fire Rescue Technicians and one Lieutenant) costing $320,000 annually, including related expenses; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Public Safety and Finance Committees have endorsed support for this request; and

 

            WHEREAS, on October 14, 2004, the Board of Supervisors discussed this issue during a work session; now, therefore, be it

 

            RESOLVED by the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors this 10th day of November 2004, That six (6) additional Fire Fighter/Paramedic positions be, and are hereby, authorized effective January 1, 2005.