The Mount Vernon City Council has set the compensation and benefits for the fire marshal position during its meeting on November 13. The hourly wage range is established between $34.96 and $48.95, with salaries paid bi-weekly.
According to the draft minutes from the November 12 meeting, the fire marshal role is classified as an exempt professional position. Exempt employees are required to work as needed, including outside regular business hours. The position qualifies for annual longevity increments starting at $400 for the first five years, increasing by $50 each year until reaching $700 in the tenth year. Eligibility for these increments is based on the anniversary date of employment in this or a comparable fire inspector position.
The draft minutes further state that the fire marshal will receive benefits identical to those granted to fire personnel under the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters. These benefits include jury and witness duty pay, holidays, vacation, personal leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, injury leave, training programs, hospitalization and medical insurance, uniforms, contributions to Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F), family and medical leave, leaves of absence, and tuition reimbursement. Benefit hours are determined for 48-hour or 56-hour work weeks if no 40-hour benefit levels are specified in the agreement.
The ordinance was declared an emergency measure partly due to provisions in the agreement between IAFF and the city effective July 1. The city council conducted a first reading on October 28 and held an Employee and Community Relations Committee meeting on November 12 to discuss it. Councilmember Tammy Woods moved to suspend the rule requiring three separate readings of the ordinance; her motion passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote.
The city's website provides historical context about its fire department. Established in 1849 with paid firefighters appointed in 1891, Mount Vernon initially operated three stations but later consolidated operations at North Gay Street in 1914 after closing others. Currently, its West Gambier Street facility opened in 2000 houses approximately 40 employees along with necessary equipment.
