Commission Sets Rules for City-Union HearingBy Leo CoughlinLARGO - The hearing that will be held August 31 by the City Commission that is designed to resolve the impasse in the fire fighters contract with the city will be fraught with politics, though that element will not be openly part of the agenda. At its meeting Tuesday night, the commission reviewed and approved for the most part the procedures for the hearing recommended by Alan Zimmet, the city's legal officer. The commission agreed with Zimmet's idea that each side be given 20 minutes to present its case and also agreed that each side will have five minutes for rebuttal. There will be a total of one hour allowed for public comment for those persons not members of the city administration and not represented by the union. Each person will have three minutes and there will be no lengthened time for an individual representing others. The parties will have until August 26 to submit proposed contract language, written motions or any other written material. These submissions will be given to Zimmet who will distribute them to commission members. There are two issues creating the impasse and the commission in resolving the impasse will be limited solely to ruling on those issues. They involve the continuation of the step pay plan, which has become expensive to the city because that plan can often result in accelerated pay increases, and the amount of vacation fire fighters will receive. With the procedure now established, Zimmet will communicate this to the city (for which he works) and the IAFF union. The contract ran out last September 30 and the parties have been in prolonged and exhaustive negotiations for months. Whatever ruling the City Commission makes will only be effective until the end of next month. The political implications are as heavy, many think, as what is at stake for the city and the union. The commission is cast in the role of impartial arbiter and by state law must adhere to all the rules of fairness and neutrality. Because the union plays a role - inappropriate, many think - in elections with its endorsements of candidates the upcoming election, and possibly future elections, will be the silent elephant in the room. Endorsing political candidates appears to be the only power the union has. Because the members are public employees they cannot strike - the power ordinary unions have. For years, Largo politicians have sought and relied on endorsement from the IAFF. Last November, Curtis Holmes proved this was a shibboleth because he won election emphatically although the fire fighters had endorsed and helped fund his opponent. Harriet Crozier, seeking yet another term on the commission after perching there for 17 undistinguished years, has always relied strongly on fire union support vocally and financially and has been a friend to the union. Now she is faced with the dilemma of severe economic straits in the city along with a dictum from the city manager, Norton Craig, that there can be no raises in the city and placating her friends in the union. Woody Brown is also up for election and undoubtedly wants union endorsement (he has received union financial backing in the past). But for Crozier the situation is particularly ticklish. She is between a rock and a hard place - if she votes to favor the union, she will be hammered by opponents who want her seat; if she doesn't support the union she probably won't get its endorsement. The union is expected to contrast the huge compensation packages paid to Largo staff officials (as well as trumpeting, no doubt, the fact of Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert's very large compensation and his wife's large pay check from the city; Schubert has represented the city in the negotiations). The City Commission will continue with money matters when it meets tonight at 6 p.m. to continue discussion of the 2011 budget.
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