||| FROM PATRICK SHEPLER |||


How, in good conscience, can the Board of Fire Commissioners approve another new Admin. position, while simultaneously threatening layoffs of the most tenured actual responders? And how can they add another position while threatening layoffs with the Union’s blessings and support?
 
Pay and benefits could easily add another annual $150.000 to their self-induced budget crisis.  
The announcement of the new Assistant Chief job is posted somewhere on the OIFR website, and also posted in the Washington Daily Dispatch, under their Jobs Section: 
 
 
The applications are due by September 18th. 
The same day as the next Commission meeting.
This suspiciously short application period could be for a number of reasons, but the Top Two come to mind.
Number Two: 
The Commissioners don’t want to give external applicants time to research what a financial risk they’d be taking, given no chance of the same, recently crushed, levy passing in November.
Number One:
The Chief and Commission have already made their choice for the new Assistant Chief.
Reccomendation to OIFR Local 3911 Union President: 
Mr. Weibling, 
I suggest you demand Impact Bargaining because these proposed changes would affect: “Wages, Hours, Terms, and Conditions of Employment”.  
It would be a nice touch to send PERC (Public Employees Relations Commission) a friendly heads-up, that you’ll be spending some time with them soon. After your initial demands for bargaining (for your members) fall on the deaf or addled ears of the Commissioners.

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