After weeks of accusing the City Manager & Fire Chief Stephen Jellie of not working in good faith, placing firefighters and the community at risk and not caring for the dedicated firefighters and their families well being, it is now clear what is most important to President Jason Bouchard and Secretary Ronald Bouchard – the very lucrative benefits and perks contained in their contract negotiated in haste immediately following the 2019 election of the new city council, and not the personnel that are being laid off effective 1 January 2021. The current contract with IAFF Local 1799 guarantees raises of 2.5% – 3.5% each year for 6 years, provides bonus payments for not using sick leave, provides a stipend for maintaining EMT certification, offers the payment of vacation leave in lieu of use, demands hazard pay for staffing below 6 per shift and will cost the city on average of $131,000 to maintain each position in 2021; the residents of the city cannot afford these costs exorbitant costs one day longer.
