By Linda Davis
The Contra Costa Times
PIEDMONT, Calif. — Piedmont’s new fire Chief Edward Tubbs may soon be dividing his time between two cities — Piedmont and Albany.
The Piedmont and Albany City Councils this week approved moving ahead with a one-year pilot program that would save both cities money. The concept has worked well in some cities, such as San Bruno/Millbrae and San Mateo/Foster City, and bombed in others such as Fremont/Union City.
“We feel it is doable. I am only 20 minutes away (from Albany). I don’t see it as a huge thing to overcome,” Tubbs told the council.
The cities would split Tubbs’ salary costs, which include a 10 percent raise for the double-duty. His salary and benefits would be $266,751. Albany would pay half, $133,375. Net savings to Piedmont will be $111,300. Tubbs will remain a city of Piedmont employee who is contracting his services to Albany. A contract will be drawn up to be reviewed by the City Councils on April 4.
City Administrator Geoff Grote said other benefits of the arrangement would be cost savings for shared training, equipment purchases and more grant opportunities.
The cities began discussing the concept when Albany approached Piedmont because their chief, Marc McGinn, is retiring.
Council members were concerned about any compromise to service Piedmonters now enjoy, with three-minute response times. Grote assured them that would not change. Tubbs said Piedmont’s three fire captains would run day-to-day operations at the station and he will be in constant contact when away from Piedmont.
The program will be evaluated in nine months or less to gauge its success.
“We will look at this in a careful way,” Grote said.
Council watchdog George Childs said, “I’m very much in favor of this to save a few dollars.”
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