10-09-2023 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 9,2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. remove buckthorn so the focus has been on that and not yet other invasive species. Some of that could be accomplished with an Adopt-A-Park Program. FIRE REPORT 9. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PART TIME-FIRE FIGHTERS Chief Van Eyll recommended three individuals, Shea Chwialkowski,Nate Weber and Kayla Kennedy,to be hired as part-time fire fighters assigned to weekday duty crews effective Oct 10,2023 at the rate of$20 per hour.He said none of them are Long Lake Fire Fighters.He is proposed hiring now to manage administrative tasks,and work with vehicles and training.He said the City will also need to start ordering turn-out gear for each fire fighter. Benson asked to confirm that hiring part-time fire fighters is not in conflict with the injunction. Attorney Mattick said he had asked Paul Reuvers,who is representing the City on this issue,to discuss that. Attorney Reuvers said the order is specific as to recruiting. There is no prohibition on hiring. The City is able to hire people who come to the City on their own volition. Benson pointed out that Orono is planning on paying these individuals$20 per hour and Long Lake is paying less. She asked if that would be considered unfair recruiting. Erickson said Long Lake is using a different duty crew models and does not have part-time employees, so the roles are not comparable. Benson said she is not in favor of hiring part-time fire fighters because this venture is costing Orono residents considerably more than it would cost to have a contract with Long Lake and is exposing the City to risk because this program has not been tested by an outside third-party evaluation. Walsh said the City has its own experts and doesn't need to go to third parties. The City has decided to have a Fire Department and needs to fund and staff it.They would be paying the City of Long Lake the same but would be giving it away,he said. Crosby said the decision has been made to go ahead with Orono Fire since Orono is 87 percent of the current department and costs. Benson said it is a significant undertaking and none of the Council or Staff has that kind of expertise without outside review. Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to approve the conditional job offers to Shea Chwialkowski, Nate Weber and Kayla Kennedy as part-time fire fighters at$20 per hour starting Oct 10,2023. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 1(Benson). 10. AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE PAID-ON-CALL FIRE FIGHTERS Page 5 of 10