By Margie Kacoha
The Palm Beach Daily News
PALM BEACH, Wanted: Firefighter/paramedics
Pay range: $55,425 to $82,043
Opportunities: Well, that’s the sticking point between town officials and Local 2928 of the Professional Firefighters/ Paramedics of Palm Beach County Inc.
The Town Council on Tuesday authorized the recruitment of new firefighter/paramedics in an effort to create a pool of qualified applicants. The job is attractive for many reasons. Starting pay for a new recruit, regardless of experience, is $55,425, according to Human Resources. The top pay is $82,043.
But recent cuts in the town’s pension plan may not make the job as attractive as one might think, according to union officials.
Joel Brier, executive vice president of Local 2928, which represents Palm Beach’s Fire-Rescue employees, thinks the starting pay is on target but said any potential new hires will not stay more than five years because of the recent pension cuts.
“It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow, but one day the citizens will suffer,” Brier said.
Director of Public Safety Kirk Blouin said applicants will respond to the recruitment drive. With the weak economy and job market, he said he anticipates a large number of applicants.
“We’ll have absolutely no problem recruiting highly qualified applicants to be paramedics and firefighters in the Town of Palm Beach,” Blouin said.
Whether they consider Palm Beach a long-term career home remains to be seen.
“No one has a crystal ball,” he said.
He said the department is under review to determine minimum staffing levels and may keep a list of 10-20 qualified applicants.
“There will come a time, probably later this year, when the town will need to hire new firefighters to maintain a minimum-required complement and ensure adequate protection for the community,” he wrote in a council memo.
A minimum of 17 firefighter/paramedics are on duty at all times, Blouin said, with 69 total on staff.
Kathryn Dyson, a Human Resources analyst, said Fire-Rescue and Human Resources work together in recruitment and had not begun seeking new recruits following Tuesday’s council authorization. She also said the town has no Fire-Rescue applicants on file, and Human Resources only accepts applications when a recruitment period is open.
The Town Council and Town Manager Peter Elwell determined pension benefits needed to be reduced to avoid future budget problems. Pension payments are determined based on the employee’s final pay, length of employment and a multiplier that sets the benefit level. With the new plan, the town lowered the multiplier, froze employee pay for three years and reduced average pay increases going forward.
The cuts fueled contentious debates during recent police and firefighter/paramedic contract negotiations.
In spite of that, Brier predicted the town would not have any trouble attracting new recruits. But that came with a caveat.
“I firmly believe they will not be able to retain them.”
Copyright 2012 ProQuest Information and Learning
All Rights Reserved
ProQuest SuperText
Copyright 2012 Palm Beach Post