SFD pay scale scrutinized
By JACQUIE BRASHER

At a special called meeting Monday, Nov. 26 to discuss Swainsboro Fire Department pay scales, hiring and promotions, Swainsboro city council members approved the motion to authorize City Administrator Al Lawson and Fire Chief Mike Strobridge to work out, within 30 days, several options to realign the pay scale at Swainsboro Fire Department. "We must bring uniformity back into place," said Mayor Charles Schwabe. "We need to allow some restructuring."

At issue is a recent motion by Councilmember John E. Parker to promote firefighter Wendell Powell to assistant fire chief; promotion of Frank Nasworthy to captain; re-alignment of Fire Chief Mike Strobridge's salary; and hiring of a new firefighter. Council members discussed the fact that overtime at SFD had "spiraled out of control" and "skyrocketed" and that no solution had been reached to stem the massive overtime at that department. It was suggested by Councilmember Rita Faulkner that SFD's pay scale needs to be in line with other fire departments of its size in the state. Administrator Lawson reminded council that the position of captain had not been filled in order to distribute that position's salary to the rest of the department. "Every firefighter received a $1.06 raise per hour with exception of the chief," said Lawson. All city employees also received a two percent pay raise this year. Lawson also told council that some employees at SFD had their salaries adjusted in the past which has now resulted in every- thing being "thrown off kilter."

Fire Chief Strobridge said that the department needs to have four firefighters on duty at each shift (three at headquarters and one at Southside) and currently only three are available. Problems arise when one firefighter is either on vacation or on sick leave, which sometimes leaves a shift with only two firefighters on duty. Chief Strobridge usually has to fill the vacant position. Council discussed hiring a "floater" firefighter to handle the gap and control overtime.

It was noted that if Firefighter Powell were to be promoted to assistant fire chief, his pay scale would be raised four levels. That raise, plus overtime, would result in a higher salary then the fire chief's.

Councilmember Johnny Ray Stafford also asked if it was fair that an assistant fire chief could potentially have a higher salary than the assistant police chief. Councilmember Bobbie Collins made the observation that much of the problems currently surrounding SFD is due to "closing the gate after everything has been let out" in regards to overtime. Councilmember Cleve Edenfield reiterated his desire to get the issue of overtime "under control."

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