Danville firefighters plead their case
DANVILLE – More than three dozen citizens and 10 aldermen were treated to a YouTube video Monday night of people in a burning high-rise bidding on a safety net as part of a presentation by the local firefighters union.
The union used the video to show what they don't want – citizens paying fees for safety.
Mayor Scott Eisenhauer proposed cutting nine firefighter positions in February as a way to cover a projected budget shortfall.
Last week, Public Safety Director Larry Thomason proposed a fee schedule for most firefighter services in response.
The union, though, has other ideas.
During Monday's presentation, Union President Aaron Marcott said the union does not endorse or recommend fees for services when people are in need of help.
An insurance adjuster on Monday examines the downtown Danville building that was destroyed by fire last week. Bobby Lilliard, the deputy director of the Danville Fire Department, said that nearly all of the city's 57 firefighters came out to fight the blaze, which started Wednesday morning and destroyed two businesses. By Rick Danzl
"People who need help in an emergency should get it from their fire department without worry or consequence," Marcott said.
"Nowhere do I read in our mission (statement) where it has ever been the responsibility of the firefighters to raise revenue and make the fire department for profit," he continued.
Instead, the union proposed either imposing or enforcing some fees for services such as nonresident billing, stand-by services for large fireworks displays and excessive false fire alarms.
The union also proposed fees for open burning permits, new business plan reviews and annual company inspections.
The fire department could also charge the state for coverage of the prison on the east side of Danville, Marcott said.
The fees would come, though, after a joint committee made up of firefighters, administrators, the city's legal department and council members has been established.
The proposal comes two weeks before the council is scheduled to adopt next year's budget.
"We basically needed time to put it together," Marcott said.
They hope that aldermen will give them more time to figure out how to address some of the issues, he said.
The union again asked aldermen to remove the proposed fire department cuts from the budget.
Most of the aldermen present said they do not support the cuts. Aldermen Terry Baldwin, Dale Brandenburg and Ron Candido did not attend.
Alderwoman Lois Cooper was absent, as was the mayor. Alderman Steve Foster said the mayor and three of the absent council members were sick.
"We're going to have to decide what services we're going to cut," Alderman Jerry Askren said.
The decision could be postponed, though, until the 2009-2010 budget year. Aldermen could then use the next 12 months to decide how to proceed, he said.
"Nobody wants to have to cut firefighters, nobody wants to lay off police, but at some point you have to decide what you're not going to" fund, Askren said.
Several of those attending opposed the cuts.
"I will gladly pay taxes to support the fire department in this city and the police department in this city. Let's keep the people we need," Pam Hamblin said.
The city council will have a public hearing on the budget at 6 tonight at city hall, 17 W. Main St.