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Belleair Bluffs station in question
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 |
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BELLEAIR BLUFFS – How long will the city of Largo agree to keep the Belleair Bluffs fire station under the proposed fire protection agreement between the two cities?
At least 60 days, according to the latest version of the pact.
A provision that the Belleair Bluffs station continue at its current location on Indian Rocks Road for at least three years was stricken, and the 60 days notice clause inserted into a copy of the draft agreement submitted by Largo fire Chief Michael Wallace to the mayor and commissioners on Oct. 8.
The change, along with others made by Largo, was brought up by City Attorney Thomas Trask at Monday’s City Commission workshop.
The station’s status had been a major concern of residents and commission members as the city has moved to turn its fire protection services over to the Largo Fire Rescue. Prior to last month’s overwhelming referendum vote to give Bluffs officials the right to contract out fire services, commission members had spoken out strongly about the need to keep the fire station, at least for the near future.
At an Aug. 10 commission meeting, Commissioner Suzy Sofer said she wanted a guarantee for the Bluffs station to remain open at least three to five years written into any contract signed with Largo. At the time, Chief Wallace indicated that such an agreement was “probably doable,” even though the Largo City Commission is seeking grant money to build a new station farther south on Indian Rocks Road.
Summarizing Largo’s current position, Trask said, “We were requesting Largo stay in the station for three years. They are now saying, ‘We will stay in the fire station until we don’t want to stay in the station, and we will give you 60 days notice (when we want to move out).’”
Sofer and fire Commissioner Joseph Barkley reacted with dismay to the change.
Sofer said she realized Largo planned to build a new station in the future, but “I was hoping to make the impact a little lighter by keeping (the station) for three years.” Chief Wallace had indicated the station would remain a minimum of two years, she added.
Barkley said the city had already lost control of where the firefighters would be stationed and now was about to lose control of the station lease.
Mayor Chris Arbutine agreed that Largo should be held to at least a two-year commitment.
“We need to make them stick to that,” he said.
Arbutine also noted that Largo was making improvements to the Bluffs station and, in his view, would be there a lot longer than two years. Sofer pointed out that plans for a new station are well along.
“They have already designed it, have done the engineering,” she said.
Commissioner Hunt Brand, who stated at a previous commission meeting he wants the Bluffs station to remain indefinitely, did not comment on the subject.
Former Commissioner David Shimkus said the city should pursue grants and build a new station on its own. That way, he said, “we can make sure it stays within the city limits.”
Largo turns down fire pension merger
Largo also rebuffed a recommendation made by the Bluffs fire pension board that the cities’ firefighter pension plans be merged. Chief Wallace had already expressed skepticism that the idea would be accepted by Largo officials, saying in August that he “doubted the political will of the city to take over the costs of added employees.”
However, Arbutine later agreed to meet with Largo Finance Director Kimball Adams on the subject after the pension board’s actuary concluded a merger would offer better benefits to the Bluffs firefighters and would be “a net gain for Largo.”
A letter from Adams to Arbutine dated Oct. 8 turned down the merger.
“They are not interested in doing this,” Arbutine told the commission.
Adams gave several reasons for the decision. He pointed out that by allowing senior members to buy into the Largo plan, the city would be paying out benefits and lifetime pensions for little or no service to Largo.
Barkley was unhappy Largo chose not to do their own actuarial study of the pension plan merger.
Arbutine acknowledged the Largo decision would cost Belleair Bluffs several hundred thousand dollars, but he said the city has plenty of money in reserves. He said the pension board needs to get creative and come up with other options for the firefighters.
On a positive note, Sofer said the Bluffs firefighters appeared to be pleased with their new assignments and looking forward to serving with the Largo department.
“They are new Largo employees and real happy,” she said, adding that the firefighters had “just undergone two weeks of stringent physical activity and were enjoying every minute of it.”
Board alternate members needed
Two alternate members are needed to serve on the Board of Adjustments. Interested residents should apply to Belleair Bluffs City Hall.
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Article published on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
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