Saying the city of Perrysburg could afford it, a conciliator ruled this week that Perrysburg firefighters must receive a 6.25 percent raise next year.
Conciliator Colman Lalka found in favor of the International Association of Firefighters Local 3331 after Perrysburg City Council in June rejected a fact-finder's report that had recommended a 3.25 percent raise this year and a 3 percent raise next year - the same raises given to the city's three police unions in April.
Council members said at the time that police wages were below average compared to surrounding communities, while firefighters' were in the mid to high range. The conciliator said the communities used by the city to compare wages had a wide disparity in fiscal conditions. "More compelling are the comparables between the police and firefighters, combined with the city's ability to pay the increase requested by the firefighters," Mr. Lalka wrote.
He complimented the city's fi-nancial health.
"Through what appears to the conciliator as brilliant fiscal management, the city of Perrysburg has not suffered the general fund/budget debilitating effects of the current economic downturn as have other communities," Mr. Lalka wrote.
City Administrator John Alexander had little comment on the report, which is a binding decision."The conciliator found for the position of the IAFF 3331, and under Ohio law that is the end of the story," he said.
Michelle Sullivan, attorney for the union, said she was pleased with the decision, which supported the union's stance that the raises "were reasonable and appropriate and that secondly, the city could afford them. We were happy to see that was the final result that we were able to get."
The city's 21 firefighters will receive no raise for this year, and their contract will have a reopener on wages in 2011. City Council is to consider the contract when it meets Tuesday.
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