City of Baltimore - File #: 09-0142R

• File #: 09-0142R
• Version: 0
• Name: Informational Hearing - Fire Department - Rotating Company Closures
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 8/10/2009
• In control: Public Safety and Health Committee
• Final action: 11/2/2009
• Title: Informational Hearing - Fire Department - Rotating Company Closures FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore City Fire Chief to report to the City Council on the effect of the newly adopted "rotating company closures" policy on the delivery of fire suppression and paramedic services to City residents, the impact of the policy on the response times to fires and medical emergencies, the impact of the policy on the availability of trucks and engines to jointly respond to fire scenes; and the fiscal impact on budget shortages and the retention or layoff of experience department personnel and the hiring of new recruits.
• Sponsors: Stephanie President Rawlings-Blake, Mary Pat Clarke, Sharon Green Middleton, William H. Cole, IV, Warren Branch, Robert Curran, Rochelle Spector, Helen L. Holton, President Young, James B. Kraft, Bill Henry, Agnes Welch, Edward Reisinger, Belinda Conaway
• Indexes: Closing, Fire Department, Informational Hearing, Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
11/2/2009	0	Public Safety and Health Committee	Recommended Favorably
11/2/2009	0	City Council	Adopted
9/14/2009	0	Public Safety and Health Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
8/13/2009	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
8/13/2009	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
8/10/2009	0	City Council	Introduced
8/10/2009	0	City Council	Assigned

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: President Rawlings-Blake

A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Fire Department - Rotating Company Closures

FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore City Fire Chief to report to the City Council on the effect of the newly adopted "rotating company closures" policy on the delivery of fire suppression and paramedic services to City residents, the impact of the policy on the response times to fires and medical emergencies, the impact of the policy on the availability of trucks and engines to jointly respond to fire scenes; and the fiscal impact on budget shortages and the retention or layoff of experience department personnel and the hiring of new recruits.
body
Recitals

In order to meet budget reduction requirements, the Baltimore City Fire Department ended the practice of filling vacant shifts by paying overtime, resulting in the possible closure of some truck or engine companies on days with staff shortages. It was anticipated that this "rotating company closures" policy would save the Department $5.5 million in overtime expenditures.

Prior to instituting the "rotating company closures" system, firefighting crews worked 4 shifts a day, with nearly 300 firefighters on duty at a time. To fill vacancies, the Department called in off-duty workers and paid those workers overtime. Under the new system, firefighters are redeployed, based on a given da...