HomeMy WebLinkAboutESD-019-02
~/ ....... ! 't
CI~ilJglOn
REPORT
EMERGENCY AND FIRE SERVICES
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Report #: ESD-019 -02
PI&.0~
File # 10.12.6
6'/I1-7ftJ;2 -0 ?-
Date: October 21, 2002
By-law #
Subject:
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER COMPLEMENT
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1.) THAT Report ESD-019-02 be received;
2.) THAT pre-budget approval be given forthwith, to provide funds for protective
equipment and training materials required for 29 new recruits in the amount of
approximately $50,995 and that these funds be drawn from Emergency and
Fire Services Equipment Reserve Account No. 111 0-206-x; and
3.) THAT Council waive the tendering requirements in Section 6 of Purchasing
By-law 94-1291 and that the award to provide Bunker Gear for the new
recruits goes to Starfield/Lyons Safetywear Mfg. Co.
Submitted by:
Reviewed bQC~-~
Michael . Creight ,AMCT, CMM11 Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director Emergency & Fire Services Chief Administrative Officer
MGC:sr
901
,-
REPORT NO.: ESD-019-02
PAGE 2
BACKGROUND AND COMMENT
As Council is aware, many of our full time firefighters respond in their off duty hours as
volunteer firefighters. Recently, the International Association of Firefighters and more
particularly Local 3139 of the Clarington Professional Firefighters Association is
pressuring its' members to adhere to the Association's constitution. The constitution
states that as a member of the union, firefighters may not be a volunteer firefighter
elsewhere.
This issue has recently come to the forefront in the media, where a full time firefighter
with the Town of Whitby is facing having his union card pulled, due to the fact that he
responds in a volunteer capacity with the City of Kawartha Lakes, a violation of the
constitution. A tribunal is hearing his case and a decision should be forthcoming within
the next 30 days. This firefighter has two sources of appeal and it is understood this
may take several years before it is sorted out.
To-date, all but three of Clarington's full time firefighters, who respond on a volunteer
basis, have submitted resignations with the majority being effective December 31, 2002.
This reduces our volunteer numbers considerably. Along with a couple of other
resignations we are placed in the position that we need to hire approximately 29
volunteer firefighters to return our complement to the required level.
Unfortunately, the replacement of the full time firefighters, who respond on a volunteer
basis, was not a threat when the 2002 budget was prepared, and funds were not
allocated to provide the protective clothing, wages to train and training materials for this
large number of new recruits. A breakdown of the items required follows.
Item Reauired No. Rea'd. Cost Total
Bunker Gear 29 $1 ,200 $34,800
Helmets 29 $ 225 $ 6,525
Gloves 29 $ 75 $ 2,175
Nomex Hood 29 $ 55 $ 1 ,595
Minitors 6 $ 500 $ 3,000
Training Manuals 29 $ 70 $ 2,030
Training Binders 29 $ 30 $ 870
Pre-Budaet Approval Amount $50,995
Practical Training for each recruit 75 hrs. (approx.) $9.17 per hr. $20,000( approx.)
Grand total (approximate) $70.995
902
Continued.....
.... c..
REPORT NO.: ESD-019-02
PAGE 3
Staff is requesting pre-budget approval for the purchase of protective equipment and
training needs for the new recruits in the amount of $50,995.
Staff is also requesting that the tender requirements in the Purchasing By-law No. 94-
1291 be waived. Starfield/Lyons Safetywear Mfg. Co. has provided the bunker gear to
most departments in the area in the past and we would like to maintain the same
standard.
As staff did not foresee that it would be necessary to hire this large number of volunteer
firefighters, when preparing the 2002 Current Budget, the volunteer salary accounts will
be overdrawn as a result of the increased training required to enable the new recruits to
respond.
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T (905)623 -3379 F (905)623-6506
903