Fla. county looks to sue firefighter for training costs

Anthony Moore resigned seven months after he completed a training course to become a paramedic; the county is seeking partial repayment of nearly $7,000

July 13, 2015 08:55 AM

Florida Keys Keynoter

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. — A former Monroe County firefighter could be taken to court in a breach-of-contract suit over $5,247 in training costs.

County legal staff asserts that Anthony Moore resigned May 15 from Monroe County Fire Rescue, seven months after he completed a training course funded by the county to become certified as a paramedic.

County Attorney Bob Shillinger will ask Monroe County commissioners, meeting Wednesday in Key West, if they want to pursue a lawsuit seeking partial repayment of nearly $7,000 the department spent for Moore’s paramedic training.

If filed, it may be the first suit of its type lodged locally over fire-rescue training costs.

Under a contract Moore signed last October, he agrees to repay the county for his training if he leaves Monroe County Fire Rescue before working at least two years as a local paramedic.

Moore quit to take a position with the West Palm Beach Fire Department, according to a county meeting agenda summary.

The contract’s sliding scale states Moore is liable for 75 percent of the training costs, or $5,247. “Monroe County Fire Rescue and Mr. Moore have been unable to agree on a repayment schedule,” the summary says.

“Having the county advance the funds for the course allows more firefighters to attend the paramedic school, which satisfies the county’s need for more paramedics,” says the staff report, “but also increases the employability of the firefighter to other agencies.”

A high turnover rate largely blamed on the Keys cost of living leaves Monroe County Fire Rescue constantly looking for certified emergency responders. Programs that supply funds for advanced training is one benefit offered to attract quality staff.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has a similar program, mostly limited to recruiting and training new corrections staff for local jails, agency spokeswoman Becky Herrin said. Sheriff Rick Ramsay said even veteran deputies who go through various extensive training programs sign such contracts.

In other legal issues at the 9 a.m. Wednesday meeting at the Harvey Government Center on Truman Avenue, county commissioners will consider:

A proposal from the Marine Mammal Conservancy to pay $70,000 to settle three lengthy code-enforcement cases that have resulted in nearly $600,000 in fines at a Key Largo bayfront property formerly used as a rescue base and rehabilitation center for stranded whales and dolphins.

The MMC also offers to repay the county more than $520,000 that the county spent buying out mortgages on the three-acre property to prevent a foreclosure sale. “Reject this settlement offer,” county attorneys recommend. The MMC, which still holds title to the property on Tarpon Basin, posted for-sale signs in March advertising it for $1.54 million.

Accepting payments of more than $50,000 to close a vacation-rental code case against Nemer Ahmad and Paradise Keys Largo Inc. over two Key Largo waterfront homes. Fines and costs sought by the county at one point totaled about $140,000. Under the county’s vacation rental law, homes cannot be rented for less than 28 days.