Fire/Rescue News - 8 Atlantic City firefighters demoted from interim jobs

By LYNDA COHEN, Staff Writer | Posted: Friday, January 8, 2010 | 0 comments

ATLANTIC CITY - The administration calls it "house cleaning." The fire union calls it unfair.

Eight firefighters who were in interim positions for nearly 10 months were ordered back to their lower ranks just before the new year, in a memo sent by Personnel Director Karen Upshaw on Dec. 28.....Continue Reading

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Kevin Hall, Mayor Lorenzon Langford's spokesman, said the moves are not demotions but could not specifically describe the order or what it did.

"It's all house cleaning," he said, declining to elaborate. "I don't know the particulars of it, but there are no demotions in it."

The eight positions run from five firefighters who have been working as captains to a battalion chief who has been serving as deputy chief.

Langford sent a memo to City Council members Thursday about an unrelated matter, but mentioned his intention to offset expenses through demotions. However, he did not provide any specifics in the memo about who would be demoted or what departments he would focus on.

The difference in yearly salaries for all eight Fire Department positions would amount to just more than $100,000, according to payroll numbers.

The highest-ranking firefighter affected is former Mayor Scott Evans, who has been working as a deputy chief, which has a base salary of $125,771.36. His battalion chief salary is $110,019.52. That does not include longevity pay and other additions that are unique to each member.

Firefighters Union Local 198 is gathering information on the move to bring to its labor attorney, union President Angelo DeMaio said.

"We really don't have a whole lot of answers," he said. "It's about getting all the information squared away. That's where we're at right now."

Fire Chief Dennis Brooks said he did not know what would happen to the positions that are being vacated.

"That's something you would have to ask the administration," he said. "I know we were having problems with the budget. I imagine (eliminating those higher-level jobs) is a logical conclusion."

DeMaio said it's disheartening for those who have been serving in these positions, many since May 1.

"Guys take promotional exams for spots that are available. They're looking for upward mobility," he said, emphasizing that the interim placements were approved in accordance with their contracts and the Department of Personnel promotions list.

Staff writer Michael Clark contributed to this report.

Contact Lynda Cohen: 609-272-7257 LCohen@pressofac.com

Posted in Atlantic_city on Friday, January 8, 2010 2:20 am