FIREFIGHTERS ?COMPLAIN? OVER NO PROMOTIONS

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 12:30 AM CDT

Members of the Pine Bluff Civil Service Commission got an earful Monday night when several members of the Fire and Emergency Services Department complained that although promotion lists have been established, and the department has vacancies, there have been no promotions.

“This is not only not right, this is a safety issue,” said Capt. Eddie Parsley, one of four firefighters who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting.

“There are people who are acting engineers, and some stations don’t even have a station captain some times,” Parsley said. “In the past, when there were lists posted, and opening available, people were promoted the same day.”

Parsley and the others noted that former Chief Don Horton, who left the department last month, and Interim Chief Skipper Hipp, who resigned from the department last Friday, did not elevate eligible candidates to the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant.

“We understand the mayor told him not to promote anybody,” Parsley said.

Firefighter Mozell Gipson told the commission that four trucks and 14 firefighters responded to a blaze last Friday, “and there were no officers there. If somebody had gotten hurt, that would have been grounds for litigation.”

Lt. Mike Davis, who has served as acting captain at Station One for more than a year, said part of the problem and shortages resulted from Horton taking personnel “off the line” to fill staff positions, positions which Capt. Bryan McPherson said were “not funded.

“People are acting supervisors, but they’re not getting paid for being a supervisor,” McPherson said. “The staff positions were authorized, but they were not funded in the budget.”

Compounding the problem is that the eligibility list for captain expires May 12, while the list for lieutenant expires May 22.

“You’ve gone through all the procedures and done everything you’re supposed to do,” Parsley told the commission. “Just because one person doesn’t like the way things are done, there’s got to be a way to follow the process.”

The shortage of supervisors and personnel have also resulted in the shut down of some fire apparatus, Parsley said, including the two new EMS vehicles.

“They’ve been shut down more days than not since we’ve had them,” he said.

In response, Wanda Neal, who stepped down as chairman of the commission Monday said “all we can do is listen.”

“We’ve done everything we can do once we certify the eligibility list and pass it to the chief,” Neal said. “My heart goes out to you.”

Commissioner Archie Sanders suggested that new chairman Richard Borgman and Neal contact the mayor And talk with him about the firefighters’ concerns, and Borgman agreed to try and set up a meeting as soon as possible.

Commission attorney Zack Taylor said he has researched the issue, and based on what he’s found in state law, “it’s mandatory for the commission to make eligibility lists and mandatory for the agency to promote.

“There is no discretion involved unless a good cause not to promote can be shown,” Taylor said, adding that he intended to talk to the Bluff city attorney about his findings.

INTERIM CHIEF SKIPP HIPP RESIGNS

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 12:30 AM CDT

After more than 33 years at the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department, Interim Chief Howard “Skipper” Hipp retired Friday.

Hipp said he stayed on till Monday in order for Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., to appoint one of two battalion chiefs to the interim chief position.

Hipp retired the week after being appointed to the position of interim chief, replacing former Chief Don Horton who moved from Pine Bluff to take a position as fire chief in Richmond, Va.

“I just recently had surgery,” he said. “That’s the reason I’m leaving — health issues.”

Hipp said his wife pushed for him to retire immediately instead of putting in a notice.