Press Releases
Three Firefighters Hired (2/1/2010)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 1, 2010
FOR INFORMATION CALL MAYOR LINDA WITTE AT 376-5615
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The ranks of the Olean City Fire Department will be nearly full with this week’s addition to the ranks of three new firefighters – the first new permanent full-time hires in seven years.
During her first weeks in office Mayor Linda Witte decided to fill three of four of the Fire Department’s longstanding vacancies, in an effort to beef up the ranks and relieve firefighters of the long hours they have to put in when men are short.
“We also want to meet our goal of bringing down overtime costs,” said Mayor Witte, noting the overtime account funds have noticeably dwindled with four more months remaining on the fiscal calendar.
Eric T. Maurouard, 21, of Olean, Nicholas B. Ramire, 21, of Allegany, and Brian N. Livoto, 23, of Olean, recently completed a three-phase training program and achieved certification while working for the city in a part-time capacity since June.
The three spent 11 weeks in basic training, graduating in October from the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls. There, Mr. Ramire earned the highest score in a class of 58 trainees, and was presented with a plaque for “Outstanding Performance.”
The three then returned to Olean for the Departmental Operations phase, where they learned about equipment, rules and regulations before beginning the final phase in Platoon Activities, completed two weeks ago. Friday morning’s “boot drive” saw Mr. Ramire and Mr. Livoto as volunteers aiding St. Bonaventure’s students as they collected nearly $5,000 from motorists for Bonas Responds Haiti relief effort. Mr. Maurourard was on duty in the fire house.
All three men said they were excited and grateful to be working for the city and that they had been looking forward to the day when they would become permanent Fire Department employees.
“I’m just happy these promising young men are staying in the city,” said Chief Bell.
The appointments count toward the Fire Department’s union contract staffing provision that requires three platoons made up of nine firefighters. When there are vacancies in the staff the off-duty firefighters are called to fill in and receive overtime pay. As permanent firefighters with Basic EMT certification, Mr. Livoto and Mr. Maurouard will be paid $32,903.45 per year. Mr. Ramire will be paid a salary of $35,852.07 as a firefighter, consistent with his certification as a Critical Care EMT.
Fire Chief Robert Bell presented his 2010-2011 department budget request for $25,000 in overtime. Aldermen questioned the adequacy of that figure when they learned that only $11,771 remained in the Department’s $125,000 overtime budget at the end of December. At the same time, all but $34,017 has been spent from a $146,680 supplemental account providing additional overtime pay.
Mayor Witte said the hirings, along with her open-door policy with all four of the city’s unions, are a hopeful step in establishing trust and working toward a consensus, while the groundwork is laid for future contract negotiations next year.