Firefighter wages spark taxpayer’s ire

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: June 19, 2011 1:00 AM 
Expenses at Vernon’s fire hall have one taxpayer fuming.  Chub Down was the only resident to speak during Monday’s input session on the city’s 2010 annual report, and his main focus was that 26 firefighters earned more than $75,000 a year.  “How did they get out of line?” he said of wages.  “What is the reason to give anyone earning more than $75,000 a cost-of-living adjustment.”  Down also questioned why Vernon firefighters have wage parity with their Vancouver counterparts, but that policy was defended by the city.  “Every community except Prince Rupert has lost rulings on wage parity with Vancouver,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer.  The city unsuccessfully went through arbitration six times in the 1990s over wage parity.  “Do you spend money to challenge it on principle or do you work on other parts of the contract in an attempt to save money?” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
Down also questioned why firefighters are providing  a medical first responders program.  “You see the ambulance go out and five minutes later, the little red (fire) pickup goes out,” he said.  “Does anyone look at the operation and say we have too many people?”  But Lippert insists the first responders program has been valuable for residents in medical emergencies. “We have had letters from people that the fire truck was there first and they appreciated the service,” he said. Coun. Patrick Nicol says council puts a lot of thought into the budget process and the ability of taxpayers to pay, and staff requests for additional firefighters in Okanagan Landing have been denied. “We have been vigilant with expansion,” he said.

In 2010, 66 city employees earned more than $75,000, with Gous being the highest at $172,456 (gross earnings, allowances and expenses).  In terms of council, Lippert topped the list at $74,035 in remuneration and expenses.  The top councillor was Buffy Baumbrough with $26,426 in wages and expenses, while the lowest were Bob Spiers and Patrick Nicol at $20,474 each. They had no expenses.