By Rikki Cason
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Talks aimed at bringing back a city-operated ambulance service were ordered by the state Public Employment Relations Board, which issued a decision in favor of Lockport Professional Firefighters Association on Monday.
The decision is the result of a union grievance filed over the removal of a city-run ambulance service in September of 2014. Since that time, Twin City has taken over as the city’s ambulance provider.
Fire Chief Pat Brady made the announcement during Tuesday’s fire board meeting, stating he believes LPFA and Mayor Anne McCaffrey will have some discussions going forward.
McCaffrey confirmed the PERB decision and said “we don’t agree with the decision. We will be appealing it.” She said she plans to make a full statement on the decision to the Common Council during today’s meeting.
David Blackley, deputy corporation counsel, said he is “somewhat surprised” by the decision and that city administration is currently reviewing all of its options. After reviewing the transcripts of testimony in the case, Blackley believes the city has “very strong grounds” for an appeal.
“We feel confident going forward on the appeal,” he said. “I think the city will prevail ultimately.”
In other news, Brady requested the fire board consider changing its hiring requirements to allow firefighters with a basic EMT certification to take the city’s next Civil Service exam in March. Currently, the city will only hire those who are already at a paramedic level. LFD started requiring this level of hire in about 2008, following a decision by then-fire board members and Fire Chief Thomas Passuite.
“I personally would like to make a recommendation that the board consider moving our qualifications back from paramedic,” Brady said. “The paramedic qualification, quite frankly, is keeping a lot of people out.”
He proposed that paramedic not be removed from the hiring requirements, just that a new hire would now have three years to get his certification. This would provide Lockport with a “wider pool of candidates.”
This past March, Brady said, there were fewer than 10 interested applicants who took the firefighters’ Civil Service test in Lockport. In Tonawanda, which only requires a basic EMT level, there were more than 50.
The reason for the three-year time frame, Brady said, is it will take a person two years to complete the necessary schooling to become a paramedic. There is also the 14-week fire academy, along with other requirements that add to the time frame.
This option will be discussed at the fire board’s December meeting. Brady said he tried to make the change last year, but the board at the time did not agree.
Brady has also talked to union leadership about this option, as those employees in school would need the latitude to be able to leave their shift and have it covered. He said they “seem agreeable to try and work on something to make that aspect of it work. So it’s not costing city taxpayers an undue amount of money, and it’s making us more able to have a better list of candidates.”
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