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By MARC BENJAMIN
Fresno Bee (California)
KERMAN, Calif. — Employees in the North Central Fire Protection District are becoming increasingly frustrated with the district’s board, which for the third time in a month Wednesday declined a contract offer from the Fresno Fire Department.
The district board voted 2-2 and will keep its fire department intact. As in two previous meetings, Chairwoman Cheryl Belluomini and board member Ken Abrahamian opposed the Fresno city contract and board members Rusty Nonini and Dennis Yates supported it.
Under the 30-year contract, the district’s sworn firefighters and other employees, about 50 total, would join the city of Fresno’s payroll.
Employees feel the district has missed an opportunity to provide a higher level of service for the district’s 45,000 residents.
“With revenue losses from future [city of Fresno] annexations a certainty, there are no plausible long-term options,” said Bob Firestine, a North Central fire engineer.
Firefighters’ union President Jeff Crask added: “You’re voting no with no plan. It’s complete irresponsibility.”
Before the meeting, Crask said the district’s firefighters are seeking candidates to run in the district’s election this fall. Belluomini’s seat is up for re-election.
Under the $4.33 million plan for the first year, two fire stations in northwest Fresno would close and the services transferred to five city fire stations in northwest Fresno. There will be about $700,000 in additional expenses.
The district’s annual budget for this year is $5.1 million to operate five fire stations. Stations that will close under the Fresno contract are at Bullard and West avenues and Grantland and Shields avenues. Both stations will be used as ambulance stations for paramedics.
Under the city of Fresno’s plans, the three remaining North Central stations in Biola, Kerman and near Rolinda, will have additional firefighters. In Kerman, the station will be staffed with four firefighters, while Biola and Rolinda stations will have three each, an increase from two under North Central’s existing staffing arrangement.
Fresno Fire Department spokesman Ken Shockley said Wednesday night the city’s proposal is still on the table.
North Central’s firefighters were supported by Kerman Mayor Ken Moore, who said the Fresno plan was a no-lose situation for North Central because the contract will add staffing and almost no one has opposed the plan.
He said the Kerman City Council also approved a resolution supporting the Fresno plan.
Belluomini has expressed reservations about financial aspects of the contract and added concern Wednesday about the city of Fresno’s ability to maintain its staffing.
Abrahamian said he is worried about closing two fire stations and the future of the two stations being used as sites for paramedics.
Yates, a supporter of the Fresno plan, said the district needs to have a special meeting to discuss the district’s budget and consider the costs of running each station, and number and types of calls firefighters go to from each station.