Deerfield Twp. gives raises to EMS personnel, firefighters
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Deerfield Twp. trustees were fired up about giving part-time firefighters raises.
The trustees enthusiastically approved pay increases for part-time firefighters during their meeting Tuesday, May 6. Salaries for firefighter/emergency medical technician went from $9 to $13.50 an hour and firefighter/paramedics received a bump from $11 to $16 per hour.
Extras
"This is just one portion of an overall plan to improve fire and emergency services to the entire township," Trustee Board Vice President Chris Romano said.
Acting Fire Chief Chris Eisele said the move has several benefits.
"We feel if this pay increase goes into effect, we would not only retain but we would attract a better pool of part-time employees, so we can keep them and be able to progress them into full-time down the road," said acting Fire Chief Chris Eisele. "It also gives our part-time employees the incentive to come to work, so our full-time employees are having to cover for them at the overtime rate."
Sign policies
upset residents
Some residents fired at trustees over notices that went out from the township threatening legal action and fines if the residents don't remove signs in their yards.
Residents Jeff Stauffer, Mike Rakes and Wallace Huff all complained to the trustees that they received notices they are violating the law by having signs in their yards. Each own larger parcels of land and said they felt they ought to be allowed to post the signs.
"It's a sign for Yorkshire terrier puppies," Rakes said. "How is that hurting anybody?"
Stauffer said he can understand the sign prohibition in subdivisions, but on large tracts it's different. He also surmised that the township hadn't told his commercial neighbors — Natorp Landscape and Evan's Landscaping — to take down their signs. Township Administrator Dan Evers said he didn't know if they had or not.
He asked the trustees to change the zoning laws to allow signs on larger lots. The trustees agreed to look into a zoning change and whether it's legal. But for now, the residents were told they need to take their signs down to be in compliance with the law. Evers said he doesn't know how many other residents have received notices, but allowing the signs to remain in the interim would be foolhardy.
"Our Community Development people have been enforcing in other areas of the township as well and have secured compliance," Evers said. "What if they see your signs? Then they'll come in and say, 'Well, I guess I can put mine back up', then they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends..."
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
