By Joseph L. Wagner
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Copyright 2006 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
WESTLAKE, Ohio — Firefighters are going public with their demand to increase staffing levels, lobbying citizens groups and asking in a recent mailer: “Westlake - Are you safe enough?”
At issue is whether Westlake should implement recommendations of a consultant’s report completed in November for the city that called for increasing the minimum number of firefighters/paramedics on duty to 12 from the current nine.
“Response times have improved, but it still takes us in some parts of the city seven to eight minutes to respond,” said Pat Grealis, a firefighter and president of fire union Local 1814. “In a heart attack situation, that isn’t any good.”
Clough and Fire Chief Richard Pietrick did not return phone calls for comment this week.
Disputes between safety unions and city administrations are not unusual.
In Parma, Mayor Dean DePiero challenged the fire union over staffing and lost arbitration in December. He wanted to eliminate minimum staffing rules as a way to reduce overtime.
“That should be a management right,” DePiero said.
Solon Mayor Kevin Patton said he has been at odds with the fire union over adding another firefighter per shift and overtime.
There has been no resolution. North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O’Grady is battling with the fire union because of automatic overtime rules.
Middleburg Heights Mayor Gary Starr said he finds it prudent to work with the fire union.
He said the union recommended increased staffing in the late 1990s and made its case. He included the union’s proposal in a tax increase package that called for four new firefighters, as well as other city improvements, including a new recreation center. The tax was approved.
In Westlake, Grealis said challenging Mayor Clough publicly is a risk worth taking.
“If you make waves, he gets upset with you,” Grealis said. He said the fire union is trying to be proactive and adjust to the city’s rapid growth, including Crocker Park.
“We don’t want it to take a disaster for them to change what firefighters are doing,” said Grealis.
Westlake has two firehouses serving the city’s 16 square miles.
The 142-page report prepared by the McGrath Consulting Group said that to add three more firefighters around the clock, the city would have to hire nine because of vacations and other off time.
“There are more homes, more children, more elderly and more commercial places like Crocker Park,” said Westlake resident Cecelia Baker, who has been supportive of firefighters. “It’s putting a lot of stress on our firefighters.”