AGENDA DATE: 2/3/2016
TITLE:
Title
Fire/Rescue Personnel Over-hires
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Authorize the Fire Rescue Department to over-hire up to four full-time firefighter/EMTs
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Davis, Eggleston, Puckett
PRESENTER (S): Dan Eggleston
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: In December of 2010, the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue (ACFR) recommended that the Board authorize ACFR to "over-hire" up to two positions to more effectively manage vacancies, leave, and restricted duty (Attachment A). These over-hires did not change the official FTE count and are funded through a combination of overtime savings and salary lapse from vacant positions. The Board authorized the over-hires and ACFR has been successful in implementing this strategy by reacting to staffing changes more quickly and remaining within the operations salary budget for the past three fiscal years.
Now, due to the expansion of service and an increase in the number of employees on light or restricted duty, ACFR is again unable to effectively manage scheduled and unscheduled leave in the current staffing model without a sharp increase in the number of mandatory overtime shifts. ACFR seeks Board approval to over-hire an additional two firefighter positions, for a total of four over-hire positions.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 6: Operational Capacity: Ensure County government's ability to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
DISCUSSION: Since 2010, ACFR has expanded service to include the Ivy Fire Rescue station, the Berkmar Drive ambulance, and the Pantops daytime ambulance, adding a minimum of 10 staffing positions daily. Furthermore, due to the demands of 24/7 service, ACFR must fill positions that are vacant due to unscheduled leave (including sick leave, illness in family, death in family, leave without pay, worker's comp, light ...
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