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25 Part-Time Firefighters to Lose Jobs in
Maplewood
25 Part-Time Firefighters to Lose Jobs in
Maplewood
January 18, 2018 06:35 PM
At least 25 part-time firefighters in Maplewood are expected to lose their jobs in a matter of
months.
The fire department is planning to transition to a new system where the community will be
served only by full-time personnel.
While the move will help position the department to better respond to an increase in emergency
calls, firefighters said it could have been handled differently.
Maplewood Chief of EMS Michael Mondor said the administration reached the decision after
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commissioning a year-long study.
The change means eliminating 25 part-time positions and adding six full-time positions.
“These people have given a lot to this community and it's difficult to make these decisions,”
Mondor said. “There was disappointment. There is a lot of emotional attachment with the
services we deliver.”
One firefighter described the decision as more than just disappointing.
“We don’t understand why there isn’t room for a gradual transition," said the firefighter, whom
KSTP agreed not to name. "Ramping up full-time staff over a few years… and why such an
option was never discussed.”
Mondor argues the administration has tried to be fair and open.
“I realize this is a difficult transition, and the communication is not always perfect, but we have
engaged them to try to make this process go as smoothly as possible,” he said.
Mondor said the new system is expected to shave a few seconds off response time – going
from 8.3 minutes to a straight eight minutes.
The firefighters had a closed door meeting Wednesday night with the city. There remains a
dispute over severance pay, their pension and also a cut-off date.
The city proposed the 25 firefighters impacted have their lockers cleaned out by the start of
March.
Credits
(http://kstp.com/news/ryan-raiche/4539192/?cat=13037)Ryan Raiche(http://kstp.com/news/ryan-
raiche/4539192/?cat=13037)
Updated: January 18, 2018 06:35 PM
Created: January 18, 2018 04:55 PM
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