By Bill Brown
Buffalo News (New York)
Copyright 2007 The Buffalo News
All Rights Reserved
BATAVIA, N.Y. — Attempts to privatize the city Fire Department’s ambulance service, a target of City Council discussions seeking to reduce a $23.7 million budget with a 23 percent real property tax increase, have brought a threat of legal action.
Attorney Aaron E. Kaplan last week sent faxes to city officials, including the nine Council members, on behalf of Batavia Firefighters Local 896, International Association of Firefighters.
He wrote that the “Taylor Law does not permit a public employer to contract exclusive bargaining unit work to . . . independent contractors or outside corporations.”
The ambulance service, with four vehicles and 16 medics, serves Genesee County and has stirred debate over whether it is profitable or loses money. But no one disputes that the service has amassed nearly $1 million in unpaid fees in recent years, mostly from rural clients.
The proposed 2007-2008 budget for the fiscal year starting April 1 has $5.35 million in spending, an increase of 10 percent. That includes $285,000 for ambulance personnel and $200,000 in anticipated overtime.
Some Council members believe the city should contact private ambulance services such as Rural/Metro to see if expenses can be reduced without hurting service. That would mean layoffs.
Kaplan’s letter warns: “Should there be any layoffs as a result of an illegal action, Local 896 is confident that it will obtain an order that all employees be reinstated with full back pay and benefits with interest.”