More clarification of latest PGFD furlough plan after meeting with volunteers
We told you Thursday about the latest furlough plan for the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. Under the current method, all fire stations and medic units are essentially staffed at the current levels and the furlough hours are taken during leave time.
Below is the email sent this morning from Volunteer Major James McClelland to volunteer leaders. It provides a little more insight into the plan:
From: McClelland, James E.
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 8:17 AM
To:
Subject: Furlough Plan
Last night a Special Chiefs’ Council meeting was convened so that Lt. Col. Wells could brief us on the current furlough plan. The meeting was sparsely attended.
Lt. Col. Wells reported that the furlough plan has been revised as follows:
No units will be placed out of service as a result of the furlough plan. Individual furlough time will be achieved by converting their use of scheduled and unscheduled leave (annual, sick, etc.) to furlough time. For example F/F Smith is on 24 hours of annual leave. That time is converted to furlough leave and his pay is adjusted 8 hours for the next 3 pay periods.
These slots will be filled as they usually are when someone is on leave. For example some stations with 5 personnel on the floor each shift, can drop to 4 as a minimum shift and there is no draw on the detail pool or overtime. For stations or functions with must fill positions, the position is filled first with any available detail personnel. Once that detail pool is exhausted, then overtime is used to fill the spot.
The basis for the department’s plan is the department has always planned for the use of overtime as needed for filling positions due to scheduled or unscheduled leave.
As we get closer to the milestones established by County government, some employees that have not used any or enough leave will be put on leave. County employees must have achieved a total of 56 furlough hours by mid March 2009 and the entire 80 hours by June 30, 2009.
I asked the Colonel specifically what the volunteers could do to help with the furloughs. He said by being available and riding apparatus at their station. I suspect that as the fiscal constraints get tighter, the use of overtime is likely to draw some restrictions as well. I don’t know what the overtime budget is, but it is likely to be exhausted pretty fast.
