City Council

(fit e ) I I Council ^-enda " Itern No IIII. B 8-18-70 d..aair COUNCIL MEMO NO. TZ57-70 AUt] i T i IL) August 13, 1970 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: City Manager SUBJECT: Fire Departrnent Special Service Divisions Review of the classifications and salary ranges of the special services divisions within the Oklahorna City Fire Departrnent has been under way for several rnonths. Presently budgeted in the Fire Departrnent Account 47 are six positions of Fire Dispatcher I and five positions of Fire Dispatcher II. Pres ent pay range for Fire Dispatcher I is 251 an:d Fire Dispatcher II is Range 255. The beginning salary rate for Fire Dispatcher I is $490.00 a rnonth and for the Fire Dispatcher II is $587. 50 per rnonth. A cornparable condition exists in the Fire Departrnent that had existed in the Police Departrnent concerning the dispatching operation. Council will recall that on July l, L969, the Police Departrnent Radio Dispatcher I and IIrs were equated with their comparable grades within the Po1ice Departrnent, were rnade Police Officers and were participants in the Police Pension systern. Presently, all fire dispatching personnel are rnernbers of the Fire Pension and Relief Fund. Traditionally, fire dispatching operation and the available positions have been filled by career fire service personnel. It is felt that because of the need for experienced fire fighting personnel to operate effective and efficiently under emergency conditions, that all fire dispatchers should be classified as firernen. Because of these factors, it is recornrnended that the salary range for Fire Dispatcher I be upgraded frorn range ?5I to range 253 which is equal to pay range of the beginning firefighter. The salary range for the Fire Dispatcher II which is presentLy 255 should rernain the sarne since it is equal to the range of Fire Apparatus Driver. There would be no increase in salaries except for those Dispatchers who are below the beginning step of range 253. The cost for FY70-71 to equate Fire Dispatcher I with that of Firefighter would be $t745 ar.d would involve five ernployees presently classified as tr'ire Dispatcher I. This increased cost would be well within the arnount anticipated in salary savings through vacancies. Further studies are being rnade concerning those other positions presently in the special services divisions. Council Merno No. lZ57 -70 August 13, 1970 Page Z Based on the above, the Adrninistration recornrnends that the salary range of Fire Dispatcher I be changed to range 253 and the salary range of Fire Dispatcher II rernain at range 255. It is further noted and recornrnended that all Fire Dispatcher Its and IIrs be considered as firernen for all purposes and that the effective date be Septernber l, 1970. pectfully brnitted, Ro e H. Oldland City r Attachrnent L RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Fire Chief has requested a review of the positions of Fire Dispatcher I and II within his departrnent, and WHEREAS, the Personnel Director has reviewed the present salary range of Fire Dispatcher I and the desirability of all Fire Dispatchers be considered firemen, and W'HEREAS the Adrninistrative Staff has reviewed this request along with the Personnel Director and Finance Director and concur in recornrrlending upgrading the salary range of tr'ire Dispatcher I and that tr.ire Dispatcher I and Fire Dispatcher II classifications be considered for all purposes as firernen, and WHEREAS, the City Council has the sole authority and responsibility to approve such actions concerning the expenditure of funds not approved in the presently adopted budget, and W'HEREAS, the funds for this action are available within the present lirnitations of the FY70-71 budget, and W'HEREAS, this action is deerned to be in the best interest of the City in that it would provide better and rnore effective services to the public; NOW', THEREtr"ORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the personnel actions and appropriation requested in the attached cornrnunication is approved and the City Manager is directed to process the budgetary appropriations in accordanie with State Laws concerning Excise Board consideration. ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS da yof 1970, yb MAYOR ATTEST: TY CL APPROVED as to forrn and legality this /i/4 dayof ry I 970. ASSISTANT MUNI AL COUNSELOR ,4*,*rut/