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Xenia, public safety union in showdown over charter changes

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By Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer Updated 11:03 PM Thursday, September 2, 2010

XENIA — Negotiations to avoid listing dueling charter amendments for minimum staffing for Xenia police and fire personnel on the Nov. 2 ballot have broken down.

If neither the City Council nor the Get Alarmed Citizens of Xenia Political Action Committee move off their positions, citizens will be voting on two amendments — along with a 0.5 percent income tax increase — that both sides say is critical to the maintenance of proper safety standards.

The groups have been negotiating to meet a deadline of Sept. 3, today, to remove or modify the charter changes.

Council President Patricia Felton released a statement Thursday, Sept. 2, stating the city would remove its amendment if the PAC removed theirs.

“We want (citizens) to understand that we have been negotiating for weeks now, and this is where we are,” she said.

The city plans to use the requested income tax increase to rehire six laid-off police officers, six laid-off firefighters and reopen Station 2 at 849 W. Second St.

The Get Alarmed group — comprised mostly of 80 unionized city safety workers — gathered enough signatures to place a charter amendment on the ballot that sets minimum staff levels. The result would be the same as the city’s plan, except for adding three additional firefighters. There is no mechanism for lowering staffing levels if Xenia’s population drastically falls. No funding source is attached to PAC’s charter amendment.

In response, the council passed an ordinance for a charter amendment stating that Xenia could hire part-time, temporary and volunteer personnel to meet those minimum levels.

“Negotiations have stalled as far as a contract agreement goes,” said Logan Mathews, chairman of local 698 Firefighters P.A.C.

Mathews said the city and union had a preliminary deal, but the council did not vote for it on Aug. 26. The stumbling block: an item stating that 39 firefighter positions ( of 42 sought) would be full-time when hired.

Felton said the last face-to-face discussion was Aug. 31 and a special meeting would have to pull both amendments and get the information to the Greene County Board of Elections.

Neither side sees that happening.

“We sent back our request to the unions and they have not responded,” Felton said. “We cannot support what they wanted us to do.”

The PAC said there is mistrust about how the city would spend the money from a successful tax increase.

Ironically, both sides hope to work with the other to pass the tax, but could face voter confusion and mixed feelings about two charter amendments.

“What we’re saying is, 'Vote for the tax levy, but by voting for our charter amendment, you’re guaranteeing that that money that you’re voting in will go for your police and fire,’ ” Mathews said.

Felton said the tax increase is critical, the raised funds will go to public safety forces as presented and that the PAC’s amendment doesn’t work.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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