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Mr. Geiger opposed giving the firefighters more shift exchanges. He felt the <br />rules needed to be changed, so the 10% abusing the system would be forced <br />to comply. He also opposed giving the firefighters additional annual and <br />sick leave, believing they should accrue the same amount as other County <br />employees. <br />Discussion ensued throughout the speaker's comments regarding the abuse <br />of sick leave; operational needs; potential carveouts; and limitations. <br />Attorney Mandel pointed out that he had suggested at the Special <br />Magistrate haring, giving a carveout for the Firefighters Fair, and giving <br />extra leave or extra shift exchanges for Union business, and it was accepted. <br />Attorney Mierzwa responded that if the County did not carveout Union <br />business, there would never be an agreement reached on the restrictions. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Flescher, SECONDED by Vice <br />Chairman Solari, to adopt the County's proposal on Paragraphs 19.01, <br />19.02, 19.03, 19.04 and 19.05, with a caveat under Paragraph 19.01 that the <br />Emergency Services Director may provide a carveout for union business, <br />the Firefighters' Fair, and education. <br />Further discussion ensued regarding shift exchanges and the consideration <br />of an automated tracking process. <br />Commissioner Flescher asked if the motion, which includes the carveouts, <br />would address all of the Union Representatives' concerns. <br />Mr. O'Connor said the Union would be willing to accept unlimited shift <br />exchanges for rank -for -rank, solo -for -solo, and out -of -rank for out -of -rank; <br />and potential carveouts for the standby arrangements for the Fair, union <br />business, and medical leave. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan did not like that the Motion included Paragraph <br />19.05, which was charging sick leave at twice the rate used, or the open- <br />endedness of the carveouts. He preferred seeing a fixed number for all the <br />work related to the Fair, and asked if the Motion could be amended so the <br />Fair Chairman or his designee could assign 70 stand-by arrangements, and <br />the Union President or his designee do the same. He also wished to adopt <br />the Special Magistrate's recommendation that employees may exchange <br />"up to a maximum of 12 full shifts and 6 partial shifts per fiscal year." <br />After a brief discussion, it was decided to remove Paragraph 19.05 from the <br />original motion; therefore Paragraph 19.05 will remain unchanged. <br />Impasse Hearing <br />March 20, 2015 Page 15 <br />