Magistrate makes contract ruling

A special magistrate on Nov. 17 issued his rulings on stalled contract negotiations between the firefighters and the town of Longboat Key.

Much of the rulings suggested by Labor Arbitrator Special Magistrate Robert McHenry, according to Brandon Desch, Longboat Key District Vice President for the Longboat Key District of International Association of Firefighters, are favorable to the firefighters.

McHenry recommends no changes be made to the total payout a firefighter gets upon retirement. The town proposed excluding sick and leave time from the final pension payout to save money.

McHenry also  recommends denial of proposals by the town that would give town officials the right to reopen the pension on Sept. 31 and allow the town to reopen all aspects of the contract pending dire financial circumstances arise.

For more information, pick up a copy of the Nov. 25 edition of The Longboat Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].