Buffalo's control board signed off Wednesday on a contract between City Hall and city firefighters, sending the deal to the Common Council for a final vote.
Fire union President Dan Cunningham still won't talk about the details until there's a final decision, although the deal provides firefighters their first raises since 2007. It also includes greater contributions to health care and a residency rule for new employees. Union members rejected proposed agreements in 2007 and 2008, but overwhelmingly approved this one.
"It's looking like this year, the third time, is going to be the charm," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
Brown says the pact will save the city $43 milion over the length of the contract with cheaper health insurance and greater control over days off to limit overtime.
Cunningham says he expects many firefighters to retire if the deal is approved.
"We believe that just by the nature of our job and the city not hiring for seven years, we have an older workforce. We have many members who are eligible to retire," Cunningham said.
Those retired firefighters would be replaced with younger employees, who would earn less and take longer to hit top pay. In addition, they will have to live in the city from the time they are hired to the time they retire.
City officials say the new pact will cost $4 million the first year which is in the city budget. That spending plan calls for a new training class for firefighters and another next year.
Control board members also discussed the tattered fiscal shape of the Buffalo school board. Control board members say the situation is bad and getting worse.
Member Frederick Floss is concerned about plans to cut $12 million from the $100 million annual cost of special education.
"I have enormous worries about this...it seems to me to be not only highly speculative but very likely inappropriate," Floss said.
District CFO Barbara Smith says the plan is to look at where cuts can be made in services provided by outsiders to students through special education.
