By SAMANTHA GHOLAR
sgholar@newssun.com
SEBRING - The Sebring Fire Department will have a few new faces soon since city staff approved the hiring of eight part-time firefighters.
The ongoing issues between the city and SFD have yet to be resolved; mandatory overtime included. Due to the hiring freeze that was placed on the fire department as a result of the contract negotiations, firefighters have been forced to work overtime each week to ensure that there is adequate coverage in the community in the event of an emergency.
City Administrator Scott Noethlich confirmed that the new hires will begin their employment very soon.
"We have hired eight individuals. They have all been through their testing and we are finishing up with the final application process and drug testing," Noethlich said.
The new hires will work in an effort to cut back on the full-timers overtime. Complaints (non-formal) have been vocalized by some of the SFD members regarding the long hours, though many employees understand the position they are currently in.
Noethlich stated that close to 30 applications had been submitted for the part-time positions. City staff will continue to review those qualified and keep the applications on file in the event more firefighters are needed.
"By the end of this month we'll have them working," Noethlich said. "I'm not sure which of the eight hired are local firefighters. We did have several from outside of Highlands County apply, but we also had some from within Highlands County apply as well."
As the end of the month approaches, both the city and the fire union will be submitting their briefs to a special magistrate in Tallahassee for his recommendations. The two sides sat down three weeks ago during a special meeting to hash out the issues within the departments contract. The parties received the minutes from the court report last week to use for the brief preparing.
Both the city and the union were given until Thursday to submit briefs to the magistrate; the magistrate will then give his recommendation within 15 days of receiving the briefs.
Sunday, February 24, 2013 - www.newssun.com/022413-sg-New-firefighters