|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Following a month of discussions, Independence Fire Fighters Local 781 Friday presented city officials with a vote of no confidence for Fire Chief Sandra Schiess, citing repeated leadership failures.
City Manager Robert Heacock said he would meet with IAFF President Kirk Stobart next week to understand the union members’ concerns.
As of press time, Schiess had not responded to calls.
Heacock said he believes the no confidence vote took place because of confusion between the intent of the Fire Department to explore reorganization and the interpretation that something had been decided.
“The level of concern that they’ve expressed is disconcerting. It’s something that I take very seriously,” Heacock said. “We have to commit to a due process to understand the issues fully.”
The vote came after Local 781 members (the union includes about 150 people, Stobart said) met through the end of July and into early August, before presenting the measure to Mayor Don Reimal and the City Council early Friday afternoon. The IAFF says it’s the first time in the 169-year history of the department that firefighters have either taken or approved a no-confidence vote over their chief.
“There was really no opposition to it. You don’t only get 100 percent participation, no matter what you do,” Stobart said. “We are looking for a change in leadership.”
Stobart said Schiess’ policies undermine public safety, both of the firefighters and of the entire public they serve. He cited a recent decision to reduce Fire Department resources by taking ladder trucks and pumper trucks out of service as unsafe, especially when call volume is increasing.
Heacock wouldn’t cite specific details of a plan Schiess recently released, but he did say the city intends to look at the configuration of the Fire Department, “which has been largely the same for many years, to the needs of today and how we can make the best of the resources we have,” he said.
“Obviously, the entire city budget has struggled with financial constraints with the state of the economy. I believe we’ve been on the right track.”
Schiess, who came to Independence in 2000 as assistant fire chief of administration, has served in the department’s top role since mid-2005. But the problem began in July 2011, Stobart said, with reduced staffing levels. The department is normally staffed at 39 personnel at any given time, but the city won’t start hiring overtime unless it drops below 36 people.
Following a month of discussions, Independence Fire Fighters Local 781 Friday presented city officials with a vote of no confidence for Fire Chief Sandra Schiess, citing repeated leadership failures.
City Manager Robert Heacock said he would meet with IAFF President Kirk Stobart next week to understand the union members’ concerns.
As of press time, Schiess had not responded to calls.
Heacock said he believes the no confidence vote took place because of confusion between the intent of the Fire Department to explore reorganization and the interpretation that something had been decided.
“The level of concern that they’ve expressed is disconcerting. It’s something that I take very seriously,” Heacock said. “We have to commit to a due process to understand the issues fully.”
The vote came after Local 781 members (the union includes about 150 people, Stobart said) met through the end of July and into early August, before presenting the measure to Mayor Don Reimal and the City Council early Friday afternoon. The IAFF says it’s the first time in the 169-year history of the department that firefighters have either taken or approved a no-confidence vote over their chief.
“There was really no opposition to it. You don’t only get 100 percent participation, no matter what you do,” Stobart said. “We are looking for a change in leadership.”
Stobart said Schiess’ policies undermine public safety, both of the firefighters and of the entire public they serve. He cited a recent decision to reduce Fire Department resources by taking ladder trucks and pumper trucks out of service as unsafe, especially when call volume is increasing.
Heacock wouldn’t cite specific details of a plan Schiess recently released, but he did say the city intends to look at the configuration of the Fire Department, “which has been largely the same for many years, to the needs of today and how we can make the best of the resources we have,” he said.
“Obviously, the entire city budget has struggled with financial constraints with the state of the economy. I believe we’ve been on the right track.”
Schiess, who came to Independence in 2000 as assistant fire chief of administration, has served in the department’s top role since mid-2005. But the problem began in July 2011, Stobart said, with reduced staffing levels. The department is normally staffed at 39 personnel at any given time, but the city won’t start hiring overtime unless it drops below 36 people.
“Over the (2011-12) budget year, we were at that level more than 80 percent of the time,” Stobart said. “Three people short closes down two pumper companies, which is 20 percent of the pumper response.”
But, he continued: “That’s not an everyday occurrence. It just depends on the staffing level of vacation or sick time.”
Heacock pointed to Schiess’ announcement this budget year to pursue the elimination of three captain positions, which would be replaced with four firefighter positions and a battalion chief position. He also said statistics show that response times have improved with Independence Fire Department calls.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Heacock said. “There is no fire response system in the country that is beyond the ability of being compromised, if a number of calls come in at any given time. I believe that Independence offers excellent fire service. We have staff that are very committed to doing a good job and serving the community.”
