Firefighter contract gets final approval

Feb. 28--ASHLAND -- The Ashland Board of City Commissioners on Thursday gave final approval to a new three-year contract with the union representing the city's firefighters.

The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement between the city and Local 706 of the International Association of Firefighters.

First reading of the ordinance authorizing and directing Mayor Chuck Charles to execute the agreement was approved by the commission at its Feb. 13 meeting.

The contract covers approximately 40 members of the department. According to Local 706 President Carl Stambaugh, the agreement is substantially similar to the one it replaces, which expired on July 1.

The only major differences, Stambaugh said, are a new promotional process and a new streamlined grievance procedure. Salaries will remain the same, he said.

"If the city gets raises, we get raises," he said.

Health insurance also will remain unchanged, Stambaugh said. However, if the city changes its plan, the union has a 14-day window to accept or reject it, he said.

The changes in the grievance procedure were instituted to make it less complicated and to "make ours a little bit more like the city's," Stambaugh said.

Under the new promotional procedure, tests for promotions will be given only once a year, according to Fire Chief Scott Penick. Previously, tests were given on an as-needed basis as vacancies occurred.

With the new process, the department will be able to build a waiting list of firefighters who have passed the tests and promote them as vacancies occur, Penick said. The department will save money by not having to give the tests multiple times throughout the year, the chief said.

The city and the firefighters' union had been in negotiations since August. According to Stambaugh, the talks were somewhat slowed by the situation of former City Manager Steve Corbitt, who was often unable to attend negotiating sessions because he was busy attending to matters relating to his impending retirement.

However, when new City Manager Ben Bitter came on board in December, it kick-started the talks and the city and the union were able to arrive at an agreement fairly quickly, Stambaugh said.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.

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