WILKES-BARRE, PA—The city expects to begin the process of filling vacancies in the fire department next week when it interviews candidates for the openings.
City Administrator Rick Gazenski on Monday said the interviews will be held on June 25.
Gazenski said he, along with Fire Department Chief Jay Delaney and Nicole Ference, the city ‘s director of Human Resources, will be meeting with the candidates who have passed civil service tests.
“Anywhere between 10 to 12” people will be hired, Gazenski said.
Last month the administration signaled a shift in the wait-and-see approach taken by Mayor Tony George, who has held off on new hires pending binding arbitration with the Wilkes-Barre City Firefighters Local 104 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
George budgeted 63 positions in the department this year. But it’s been operating with fewer firefighters due to 16 retirements in 2018 and the resignation of another one this year to take a job in Bethlehem.
George did not return a call for comment Monday. He has repeatedly stressed the department has been able to provide around-the-clock services because there are a minimum of 11 firefighters on duty per shift.
But firefighters have been working overtime to meet the minimum-staffing requirement.
Last year, the city paid $224,750 in overtime, or 449.5 percent of the $50,000 budgeted, according to a draft of the December 2018 financial report.
This year, the overtime budget was tripled to $150,000 for firefighters. But as of the end of the first quarter, the city paid $85,970 in overtime, or 57.3 percent of the budgeted amount, according to a draft of the quarterly report.
The union has been vocal about the vacancies and added that they affect the five plans that make up the city’s aggregated pension trust fund.
“With 16 retirements last year the unfilled positions result in lost (minimum monthly obligation) from the City, lost State aid, and no contribution from those members, compounding the difficulties already being faced,” the union said in a May 29 post on its Facebook page.
The most recent compliance audit for 2016 and 2017 conducted by state Auditor General Eugene A. DePasquale and released in April listed the city’s aggregate fund in moderate distress status at 58.6 percent when comparing the actuarial value of assets to liability.
The Firemen’s Pension Plan covered 65 retirees receiving benefits, but no members contributing into it. The audit listed its funding ratio at 43.8 percent.
On the other hand, the Firemen’s Relief Pension Plan had 68 active members contributing 5 percent of their compensation annually into it and 37 retirees receiving benefits. Among the five plans, it had the highest funding ratio of 87.5 percent.
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