BUENA PARK : County to Take Over Firefighting Duties

The city’s Fire Department will shut down in October as the result of a City Council vote just after midnight Tuesday to contract with the county for fire protection.

The action was proposed as a cost-saving measure. The council voted 4 to 1, with Councilman Don R. Griffin dissenting, to use county firefighters for both fire protection and paramedic services, beginning Oct. 1.

About 170 people attended the meeting, which lasted long into the night at the Senior Center. Of the 37 people who addressed the council, a majority opposed the merger and urged the council to retain the city Fire Department, which has been in operation since November, 1956.

Opponents charged the move will decrease service, cost the city more money in the long run and result in the loss of local control.

“The bottom line is it’s not a good deal for Buena Park, for its citizens and businesses--now or in the future,” Griffin said.

But supporters believe the city will save money while maintaining the current level of fire service. Charles Hintz, a fire captain and paramedic with 19 years of service, said the council made the right decision.

“They voted on the facts. We’re not going to lose service, we’re going to maintain service,” Hintz said.

The cost of the city Fire Department for 1993-94 is estimated at $5.3 million, Finance Director Greg Beaubien said. Based on preliminary figures, the department’s budget for 1994-95 would have been $5.5 million, he said.

The city will save $800,000 over the next four fiscal years by contracting with the county, City Manager Kevin O’Rourke said. After absorbing onetime costs, such as paying off accumulated firefighter sick leave and vacation time, the city also will recoup about $414,131, mostly from the sale of its equipment to the county.

Petitions were submitted from those on both sides of the issue. More than 1,000 signatures were collected by those opposing consolidation and more than 2,200 people signed a petition gathered by city firefighters to support the county contract.

Firefighters have not had a pay raise in four years. In recent years, labor negotiations between the city and firefighters have been difficult, resulting in low morale.

“It’s an opportunity for the guys to really take pride in their job and for the city to get more bang for its buck,” Hintz said. “A lot of the same guys are going to stay here. We’re just going to be wearing different patches.”

The city’s 55 sworn firefighters will all be offered jobs with county providing they pass physical examinations.

The council agreed Monday to a $3.55-million contract with the county for fire protection from Oct. 1 to June 30, 1995, Beaubien said. Under the agreement, the city can terminate the contract with 12 months’ notice at the beginning of any fiscal year.

The contract requires that the county add a fourth firefighter to one truck company whose firefighters will be trained to rescue people caught in confined spaces or fast-moving water. However, one of the city’s four engine companies will be eliminated under the new agreement.

O’Rourkesaid the Board of Supervisors must give final approval of the contract, a move expected in the next few weeks.