Dear Bucyrus City Council,

I am writing to ask that you vote NO Tuesday on the legislation to add part time Police and
Firefighters.  I had 29 years experience on the Fire Department and can tell you that there is a
huge difference in the training of a full time firefighter and someone that would be hired as a
part time firefighter.  We both know this is nothing more than a power play by the Mayor to
eventually take the Fire Department to part time department.  The taxpayers of Bucyrus voted
6 ½ years ago for a strong Police and Fire departments when they passed a ½ percent safety
forces tax.  Unfortunately this Mayor has continued to not use this money to increase the
staffing at the Fire Department.  Not one dollar of this money has been used to increase the
staffing by one hour.  In fact the Fire Department has had it staffing reduced by 3 members
since the passage of this tax.  How do we bring in 1.7 million dollars last year alone with the
safety forces income tax but reduce the Fire Departments staffing.  If we are not going to use
the Safety Forces tax for the purpose is was approved for is it time to repeal it?
On the issue of the labor attorney telling the City that they can add part time firefighters I
would like to remind council that this is the same attorney that told the City they could fire an
employee at the fire department.  I was involved with helping the union during this difficult
time and assured them that he would receive his job back.  As I predicted he was awarded his
job back with all benefits.  This cost the City in excess of $100,000 by the time they paid the
attorney, arbitrator, overtime to cover his shift and the employee.  If this attorney is so sure of
his advise maybe he would be willing to only accept payment if the city wins this argument in
arbitration which is where I am sure the issue would end up.  There is current contract language
in reference to part time employees in the Fire Department.  I know because I helped negotiate
this language to protect our employees from a over zealous Mayor as we have now.  There is
also some past practice that would come into play in arbitration.
The last issue I would like to address is the manpower needed for EMS as stated by Councilman
Myers.  The City has known for the past several years that this was a possibility but has done
nothing the address the manpower needs.  Why have we not been hiring instead of eliminating
positions in preparation for this day.  The administration refuses to bring the union leadership
to the table to discuss this because they do not like the union or its leadership.  I am told that
when they have had labor management meetings in the past the Mayor has been at times
belligerent and arrogant with the union.  What a great way to institute unity within the City.
This Mayor is a “my way or the highway type of leader” and my hopes is that this council will
stand up to him and start to right some of the wrongs that he has done to the Fire Department.
In closing I again thank you for your time and ask again that you vote NO on Tuesday. 
Thanks,
Mike Hassinger