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Accordingly, 1 recommend that the BCC adopt the County's proposal attached <br />hereto as Exhibit I, which preserves the status quo on 1115.01. <br />4. ARTICLE 17 — STAFFING <br />Issue: <br />The only paragraph of this Article that remains in dispute is ¶17.02. <br />The current language of ¶17.02 reads in pertinent part, "As a general rule, (6) <br />employees per shift may be granted leave and one (1) employee per shift may be <br />granted a Kelly day by the Fire Chief." Local 2201 proposed to change ¶17.02 to <br />allow eight (8) employees off on any combination of annual leave, physical <br />training ("PT") day, or Kelly day. In the spirit of compromise, the County agreed <br />at the Special Magistrate hearing to the limit of eight (8) employees off on any <br />combination of annual leave, PT day (if any), or Kelly day; provided that no more <br />than 2 employees can be off on a Kelly day each shift. This will potentially <br />increase the Division's overtime costs by —$52,000 per year. <br />What remains in dispute is Local 2201's proposal to change the current language <br />of ¶17.02 under which employees "may" be granted leave to employees "shall" be <br />granted leave. The County opposes this change as it would remove the Division's <br />current ability to deny or rescind leave as operational need arises. <br />Special Magistrate's Recommendation: <br />"The County will allow eight (8) employees off on approved leave per shift. Such <br />approved leave may be denied and/or rescheduled due to (1) mandatory <br />specialized training scheduled to be held during that time or (2) if hurricane <br />conditions are eminent." <br />County Administrator's Recommendation: <br />While the County appreciates the Special Magistrate's attempt to address the <br />County's concerns, the Special Magistrate's recommendation does not go far <br />enough. Moreover, the Special Magistrate left out a key piece of Local 2201's <br />proposal — that only 2 employees can be on Kelly days each shift. This is an <br />important limitation, without which the County cannot agree with the compromise <br />it proposed at the Special Magistrate Hearing. <br />As to the issue of "may" versus "shall," there are times when mandatory <br />specialized training is presented by third parties, such as nuclear power plant <br />training, which is only offered at limited times during the year. The County <br />cannot allow employees to take leave and miss such training. Likewise, leave <br />may have to be denied when the County is in a hurricane watch as, <br />8 <br />