THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. December 8, 2008: WPCNR has learned from a source familiar with fire department operations, speaking on condition of anonymity, that White Plains Professional Fire Fighters have settled and, (according to City Hall Monday afternoon already ratified) a wage increase sequence calling for 3-1/2% in the first year of the contract 2007-2008, retroactive to July 1, 2007 and  3-1/2% the second year 2008-2009  and calling for 4% in 2009-2010. Usually Fire and Police Department contracts parallel each other.

Another change in the contract, according to WPCNR’s source is that the fire fighters have agreed to a 24-hour consecutive tour of duty system, in which each firefighter is on duty for 24-hours consecutive duty tour, which the source said would go virtually do away with almost all of the overtime the department now spends due to firefighters calling in sick on a regular 8-hour shift.  As our source put it, “Each fire fighter is on 24 hours, and he’s off three days, that way he only shows up for duty for 24 hours every three days. He’s there. He has to stay on duty. It’ll virtually eliminate overtime. This is a smart contract, it is good for the city and the firefighters, the council should pass it.”

The source said the contract is simply money-based with the 24 hour duty change the only change, there are no other givebacks. The source said he did not know what the police union had agreed to, but said the 24 hour duty rule was not part of the police settlement.

The City of Hackensack Fire Department, serving a city of 42,000 persons  (White Plains has a population of 57,000, 200,000 during day) operates  a 24-hour duty system this way according to the Hackensack Fire Department website:

The departments is set at 100 members and is under the command of Acting Chief Thomas Freeman (Car 1). Deputy Chief of Operations Bruce Goldberg (Car 2) is second in command.

The department protects 42,000+ residents (U.S. Census Bureau nightime population) and that figure swells to over 100,000 during the day.

There are 4 platoons with twenty-three officers and firefighters on each, under the command of a Deputy Fire Chief/ Platoon Commander. They work a 24 hour shift and are then off duty for 72 hours.
These personnel operate four Engine Companies, one Ladder Company and one Heavy Rescue Company out of four fire stations located at strategic points in the city.

The department also has one reserve engine, one reserve 110′ ladder truck, one reserve heavy rescue unit and a 14′ boat for water rescue incidents.

All firefighters and officers are subject to call back in the event of a major incident.

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. December 8, 2008: County Executive Andy Spano and the County Board of Legislators, today announced that there will be no raises for commissioners, directors or any non-represented management employees for 2008 and 2009. The pay plan has been completely withdrawn.

“I know that there are many Westchester residents who are hurting in this economy. I fear that the economy will get worse before it gets better,” said Spano. “If it weren’t for the loss of revenue and for expenses out of our control, I would have not proposed any tax increase. I know that even the small tax increase is not what the public wants. That was the reason I slashed my proposed budget by over 11 million dollars, eliminating positions, cutting overtime, equipment and supplies. That was also the reason I eliminated salary increases for 2009, cutting in half my original proposal. But after hearing from the public, we decided to eliminate the 2008 raises as well.”

Board Chairman Bill Ryan said, “As our residents feel the impact of the weakening economy, government must control expenses as best we can and save money wherever possible. The Democratic majority and the County Executive have decided that now is not the appropriate time to move forward with pay raises. Perhaps down the road, when we have pulled out of this recession and our economy is stronger, we can revisit the issue of increased compensation.”

            Spano acknowledged his commissioners and management staff who, he said, have worked very hard to reduce the cost of government, saving  taxpayers millions of dollars. 

“They have done an outstanding job and if times were better, they would be getting the increase they deserve. But we all have to tighten our belts in times like  this – and sometimes that hurts,” Spano said.

Jose Alvarado, chair of the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee said, “It is not that the raises aren’t deserved, it is simply that the time is not right. On a daily basis, I see firsthand the excellent work done by county employees and this action of not granting pay raises at this time is not a reflection on their overall good work on behalf of county residents. This decision is a response to the economic realties that we are all facing today.”        

Spano said, “No one likes to raise taxes. No one likes to pay taxes at all. That’s why the Board’s majority and I have been working together to find ways to reduce the tax levy even further. Eliminating the salary increase is just one step.”

Spano said he hopes that local governments and school districts, some of which are proposing tax increases that the public can ill afford, will look to the County as a model for holding down taxes in this troubled economy.  He offered the County’s assistance in helping them to cut and reduce expenses, where possible.