City approves additional positions for fire, rescue

By Kipp Hanley

Published: August 12, 2008

The Manassas City Council approved the immediate hiring of 11 new fire and rescue positions during a special meeting Monday.

Last week, the Finance Committee unanimously recommended approval of the positions after learning of the magnitude of the departments’ staffing issues.

This spring, the council passed a 10-cent fire levy to help pay for these positions, which could cost the city nearly $1 million in fiscal 2009. However, the positions themselves weren’t approved with the idea that the yet-to-be-hired fire and rescue chief would make a recommendation later in the year on necessary staffing.

But an inordinate amount of overtime for both departments is being worked, since the council hired five 24-hour shift firefighters on an emergency needs basis earlier this spring.

With the approval, the fire department will be able to staff two additional firefighters per 24-hour shift. There are three 24-hour shifts for paid employees and currently three per shift.

It will also allow the rescue department to staff two additional EMTs per shift minus one day shift person, who will start a 24-hour shift. The Rescue Department currently has only three paid EMTs and a paramedic on staff during a given shift.

Also on Monday, the council approved the budgeting and appropriating of $37,100 for the Manassas Museum to contract with The Donning Publishers Company for an illustrated, hard-bound coffee-table style book on the history of the city and the surrounding area.

The book will be sold for $39.95 and only be available at the museum store Echoes.  Museum curator Roxanna Adams is hoping to have the book in stock by Christmas.