City Council May Vote On Firefighters, Second Ambulance
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The City Council will vote on multiple resolutions that have captured the attention of local residents this month during tonight's voting session.
City Council members are expected to vote on a resolution that would lift the hiring freeze and allow the Jamestown Fire Department to hire eight additional firefighters through funding provided by the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant. In recent weeks, City Council members have disagreed with the city administration over the impact that the resolution could have on the city after the initial three-year grant period. While Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Coon and Mayor Eddie Sundquist have encouraged the council to approve the firefighters to increase public safety by bringing the Jamestown Fire Department staffing to full staffing for the first time in over two decades and figure out the long-term financial implications at a later date, City Council members have emphasized the need for city officials to consider the long-term cost and implications for Jamestown taxpayers before approving additional firefighters. Council members have warned that the city does not have the funding in its annual budget to cover the cost of eight additional firefighters in the future without the SAFER grant or without raising taxes, which the city would not be able to do as it is near its constitutional tax limit.
The City Council is also expected to vote on a resolution that would allocate $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Lost Revenue funds for the purchase of a second ambulance for the Jamestown Fire Department. Earlier this month, Coon told City Council members a second city ambulance would alleviate some of the pressure placed on surrounding volunteer fire departments to provide mutual aid for Jamestown due to the high volume of emergency calls in the city.
Following last week's presentation by city officials regarding a new finance and payroll software through Springbrook Holding Company, LLC, the City Council will vote on a resolution that would authorize the mayor to execute with Springbrook for a total of $106,286.50 in American Rescue Plan Act Transparency and Tracking funds.
The City Council will also vote on the approval of an ombudsman position. The ombudsman position would help handle growing issues with human resources, allowing Elliot Raimondo, corporation counsel to focus on additional legal matters for the city.
Also included on the City Council's agenda is a local law that would increase the annual salary of City Council members to $7,000, the annual salary of the City Council president to $8,000 and the annual salary of the mayor to $82,000. The salary increase would not take effect until 2024, following this year's elections for City Council positions and the position of mayor.
The City Council will hold a short work session meeting at 7 p.m. prior to its voting session at 7:30. The public is welcome to attend.