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WEIRTON -- A proposal, which supporters said would help to cut down on overtime costs for the Weirton Fire Department, was voted down by city council during its meeting last week.
Ordinance 2154 was set for a second reading at the May 10 meeting of Weirton Council. It passed its first reading, 4-2, in April. Last week, it received a vote of 2-4, with Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell, who sponsored the ordinance, abstaining after officials cited a potential conflict of interest.
Under the terms of the ordinance, a new captain position would have been created for the Weirton Fire Department, with plans to fill the post with a current lieutenant. That lieutenant post then would be filled by a firefighter.
"We started a movement to sell Weirton," Connell said, noting the city has been working to build up Weirton's police and fire departments to improve safety in the community.
Part of those measures, he said, was adjusting the fire department from a 48-hour per week schedule to a 56-hour per week schedule, and switching from two platoons to three.
The ordinance would have placed a captain at the head of each platoon.
Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick explained another aspect of the plan, while not included in the ordinance, would be to hire two new firefighters. An additional three could be hired if the city is awarded a S.A.F.E.R. grant later this year.
This would provide 10 personnel per crew, he noted, compared to the current eight-person crew.
"Instead of having to call out an officer, we'll call out another firefighter," he said.
The fire department has 26 personnel, counting the chief, but Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich explained they had budgeted for 28.
City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo, who brought up Connell's possible conflict saying Connell's grandson is on the list of potential probationary firefighters for the department, said the proposal also didn't go through the proper procedures as he had no opportunity to review it and the ordinance also did not go to the city's Finance Committee.
Those voting in favor of the ordinance were Councilmembers Mike Adams and Flora Perrone, while those voting against were Councilmembers Fred Marsh, George Ash, Enzo Fracasso and Terry Weigel.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)