COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 6, 2010 10:25 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO BILLS 100115, 100116, 100117, 100118, 100131 and RESOLUTION 100141 - - - 2
Good morning. This is the continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. The first department to testify this morning? MR. McPHERSON: Is the Fire Department.
Commissioner Ayers. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning. Welcome. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Thank you and good morning, Council President Verna and members of City Council. For the record, I am Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. With me is Dave Beatrice, Deputy Commissioner for Administrative Services, and members of my executive team and staff. It is our pleasure to testify before this Committee. 3 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. 1 million annually. Even with these reductions, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been able to continue its goal and mission of making Philadelphia the safest city in the country. In 2009, the Philadelphia Fire Department achieved its goal in reducing the number of fire incidents, reducing Fire Department accidents and injuries, maintaining fire prevention education programming for our communities and continuing to provide emergency medical services to an ever-growing demand for service. I am also proud and pleased to report today to City Council that in Calendar Year 2009, the Philadelphia Fire Department had the lowest number of fire fatalities in the Department's recorded history. We were able to achieve this reduction in fire fatalities by focusing 4 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. on the following: Through our Freedom from Fire program, the Department used a three-pronged approach to prevent fire incidents and fire fatalities, including smoke alarms, home fire safety checklists, and home escape plans and drills. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Department was also able to initiate several innovative projects, including reduction in paperwork through the use of electronic documents. Approximately 90 percent of the Department's personnel is submitting electronic documents, and the remaining ten percent should be in compliance by the end of the fiscal year. During the fall of 2009, Northrop Grumman installed the hardware needed for the new computer-aided dispatch, or CAD. Successful migration to the new CAD hardware occurred in January of 2010. Phase of the new CAD project, when fully implemented, will deploy 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. technologies such as GPS, or global positioning services, and AVL, which is automatic vehicle location, recommendations and mapping wireless 9-1-1 cell telephone calls. Mobile data terminals were installed in all chief officers' and specialty vehicles, which brings technology decision-making tools to the emergency scenes. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Fire Department unveiled its new HAZMAT training room located at Engine 60's location. This is a new state-of-the-art training room which will significantly increase the training capabilities for the Department's HAZMAT technicians. The Philadelphia Fire Department's total Operating Budget request for Fiscal Year 2011 is $196,484,383. This budget breaks down as follows: $188,762,383 from the General Fund, $1,519,293 from the Grants Fund, $6,203,000 from the Aviation Fund. 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Philadelphia Fire Department salaries and fixed costs make up 96 percent of this overall budget request with the below allocations: $175,682,934 in Class 100 funds, $6,642,983 in Class 200 funds, $7,609,883 in Class 300/400 funds, and $6,548,583 in Class 800 funding. This Fiscal Year '11 request shows a net decrease of $1,772,301 from the Fiscal Year 2010 estimated total obligation of $198,256,684. That is less than one -- a total of one percent reduction. Our proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011 provides for a staffing level of 2,289 uniform and 114 civilian positions. The Philadelphia Fire Department's budgetary decrease is in part due to the consolidation of the Division of Technology. The Philadelphia Fire Department will absorb additional reductions through deployment strategies and also by seeking out additional grant 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. opportunities.
Throughout the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010, the Philadelphia Fire Department will be finalizing its strategic plan and identifying the mission and future goals of the Department. If further budget reductions were made, the effects of the levels of service that the Fire Department currently provides would be significant. 5 percent, would necessitate the deactivations or brownouts of the equivalent of four engine companies, two ladder companies and five medic units. That would eliminate 144 uniform field positions. The below table -- see the below table regarding those reduction scenarios. The Fire Department is committed to supporting the Administration's goal of percent 25 minority, woman and disabled-owned 8 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. business participation in City contracting. The overall Fire Department's Fiscal Year 2011 participation goal is percent, as set 6 by the Office of Economic Opportunity. 7 The below table indicates the information 8 regarding professional services 9 contracts. 10 Thanks to City Council's bill 11 that required all single and two-family 12 residential properties and assisted-care 13 facilities to have carbon monoxide 14 alarms, we have also made great strides 15 in reducing the number of carbon monoxide poisonings. Because more people are now aware of the carbon monoxide leaks, we have seen a threefold increase in emergency calls, 406 incidents reported in Calendar Year 2009 versus 130 incidents in 2008. However, because problems can be identified earlier, there was only a slight increase in the number of people transported to the hospital, 72 versus 69, and one less fatality. 9 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. For your information, we have attached the following table and maps: Station location table, engine location with Council districts, ladder locations with Council districts, medic unit locations with Council districts, fire fatality locations with Council districts, emergency medical services incident density with Councilmanic districts, structure fire density with Council districts, and fire service representative locations with Council districts. This concludes my testimony, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank this Council for its continued support of the members of the Philadelphia Fire Department. I speak not only for myself but for all the members of the Philadelphia Fire Department in saying that your support is, has been and will be much appreciated. I thank you, and now I will be glad to answer any questions. 10 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Thank you, Commissioner, and we members of City Council are also very grateful for the wonderful work that you and your department do. At this time, I have a few questions I would like to ask. Commissioner, on of your detail, you show a reduction of $1 million for implementation of FY09 staffing reductions. Can you explain these reductions and their service impact? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. That was a reduction of 31 positions. Yes.
What was the impact, if any? COMMISSIONER AYERS: The effect? We did not reduce those numbers, those 31 positions. Those positions are still in place. DEPUTY
If I may, Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety. Good morning, Council.
Good 11 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. morning. DEPUTY
Councilwoman, those were the proposed reductions that we decided to put in place in order to save money during the crisis. After we ended up doing an analysis right after the Commissioner came to me and detailed what would happen ultimately if we put those in, it was a decision not to do that, and this Council actually -- I know that we came to Council with a transfer ordinance, and you basically ended up providing the money so that we would be able to go forward. So we did not actually take that $1 million in reduction.
So, in essence, there was no reduction of a million dollars? DEPUTY
Thank you. Commissioner, what is your 12 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. current employee turnover rate for Fiscal 2010 and your projected rate for Fiscal 2011? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Dave will talk about the attrition rate.
Thank you. Good morning. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Good morning. Dave Beatrice, Deputy Commissioner, Administrative Services. We usually lose between 80 to 100 personnel a year. That's broken down approximately 11 or 12 paramedics, 60 other uniform -- 60 to 70 firefighters and officers and maybe five or six civilians.
Can you tell us how many vacancies do you currently have for paramedics? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: There are 63 paramedic vacancies, 47 firefighter vacancies.
I'm 13 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. sorry. I didn't hear you. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Forty-seven firefighter vacancies and 63 paramedic vacancies.
Do you have a current Civil Service list for paramedics and, if so, how many are on that list? COMMISSIONER AYERS: We do have a current Civil Service list for paramedics. We have processed preliminarily about positions. 14
So 15 you have 63 vacancies -- 16 COMMISSIONER AYERS: Correct. 17
-- 18 for paramedics and you have only 19 processed 25 -- 20 COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. 21 That's what's currently -- 22
-- 23 for the current Civil Service list? 24 How many do you have on the 25 Civil Service list? 14 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Approximately 25. DEPUTY
That's the whole list. COMMISSIONER AYERS: That's the whole list.
That's it? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. And that list is currently a continuous application process which we have from Personnel. Currently, they have not been hired off of the list because of a unit clarification issue with the fire service paramedics.
On average, how long does it take to fill a vacant paramedic position? COMMISSIONER AYERS: It varies with the list, but we are sometimes able to process within 60 days and get a class started within 60 days.
Do you presently have a class for the 25 -- 15 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: No, we do not.
-- that are presently available? When do you anticipate doing that? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Currently, there is some litigation. DEPUTY
We're hoping to have a class at the conclusion of trying to get the litigation resolved. I'm sure the Council is aware that there was litigation last year that has been -- that was finished, and as soon as that process is over, we look forward to getting that class in as soon as possible. Obviously we need the work, we need them.
How many advanced support units do we currently operate and where are they 16 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. located? COMMISSIONER AYERS: We currently operate 36 advanced life support units. They are located throughout the City. We do --
What are their hours of operation? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Twenty four of those units operate for hours 11 and -- 24 of those units are operating at 12 a 24-hour period, 24/7, and we have an 13 additional 12 units that operate on a 14 12-hour system or system status. They 15 operate for 12 hours during our peak 16 demand hours. 17
Can 18 you tell us how many basic life support 19 units do you currently operate and where 20 are they located? 21 COMMISSIONER AYERS: We have 22 currently 14 basic life support units 23 that we operate in the City of 24 Philadelphia. We have nine that operate on a 24/7 basis and we have five others 17 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. that operate on a system status basis as well, and they are located throughout the City as well, and we have locations of those in the maps.
It's very difficult to -- your map looks beautiful, but the maps that we got, if you could understand it, I'll give you -- DEPUTY
Council President, I will make sure that each of you get the maps. We actually made sure that they were color coded in order to give you the distinction between them, as well as color coding the Council districts so it would be very easy to see. So I did not know -- we will be able to provide that to you as soon as this is over. COMMISSIONER AYERS: There is a table that lists all of the locations that we supplied to you as well.
What are the hours of operation for the basic life support unit? 18 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Basic life support units operate on ten-hour and 14-hour shifts.
On of your detail, you are requesting $129,000 for Emergency Medical Command. Can you tell us the services you receive from this contract? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. That is Dr. Meacham's contract. He is the Emergency Medical Services Advisor for the City of Philadelphia. He works for the University of Pennsylvania, and he has oversight of all of the paramedics and emergency medical technicians that deliver services to the citizens. So he actually has oversight over all of them.
Commissioner, you are requesting almost $5 million for EMS billing services. How did you arrive at that amount? COMMISSIONER AYERS: It is the estimate that is based on the potential collections that we will collect for 19 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. doing service in the City for EMS and advanced life support medic units. So that is the fee that is collected for those services.
Well, I'd like to know how much has been collected in the past year or two and how -- I just think that's a lot of money. Would you explain, please. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Last year and this year the fee collection is percent of collections, 14 but as we noted, the contract expires June 30th. We're in the process of sending out requests for proposals, so next year we can only estimate what the fee will be. But this year it's 14 percent of all revenue collected, is the fee, and we're in the $35 million gross collection range.
Is this a service that the Department of Technology could perform at a cheaper cost? 20 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: We don't think so. There's a lot more components involved than just billing, sending out a bill. You have to be HIPAA compliant. You have to know all the ins and outs of Medicare, Medicaid. It's a very complicated process and that's why we go out and do it this way.
Well, apparently we're not doing too well at it if we're only collecting percent. 13 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: 14 No. 15
But even that is a very low amount, 14 percent. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: We're trying to get that lower. The lower it is, the less it costs the City. DEPUTY
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, Commissioner. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Good morning.
Just a couple questions about your Class 200 request. I notice you have two professional service contracts for Fiscal Year '10, this year, and for Fiscal Year '11 totalling the same amount of money. So I'm assuming they're the same contracts. Could you tell me what those contracts are? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. The one contract is with ACS Services, who collect for our medical billing. The other contract is the contract for the University of Pennsylvania, which is our medical advisory oversight.
And there is an increase in terms of DBE participation 22 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. from Fiscal Year '10, this year, going to next year from 14.6 percent to 24.4 percent. How will that be achieved? COMMISSIONER AYERS: As was stated, we have a request for service, an RFP that is out. One of the components of that is that we wanted to increase the participation from percent to that 10 percent, and we wrote that into the RFP 11 so that we would have compliance. 12
Are there 13 other contracts that the Department lets? 14 COMMISSIONER AYERS: Everything 15 else is through Procurement. 16
In your 17 written testimony, you say that the 18 Office of Economic Opportunity set the 19 goal at 15 percent. 20 COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. 21
If I 24 may, Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor for 25 Public Safety. 23 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. That was a -- after looking at what the ranges would be under the entire Department and for the City, that would be our slice that the Office of Economic Opportunity said that we could do. I also asked them to take a look at the number and the ability to get additional people in the pipeline to actually participate, and when we had these two and we knew we were writing a contract that would actually be let to increase, they came back and said that this would be the appropriate one that would fit into the overall City strategy of getting it up to percent as we go forward. 17
So the 18 Department goal is 15 percent or 25 19 percent? 20 DEPUTY
Well, 21 we're trying to get up to 25 percent, but 22 the goal that was set for the particular 23 Department was 15 percent. 24
I guess my 25 question is, what was OEO basing that 24 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. goal upon? DEPUTY
The ability of getting the work to firms that are both known that are able to do it and also to be able to put additional people in the pipeline.
I guess my final question is, if you believe you can achieve the 24.4 percent -- and this is a question for, I guess, every department -- when and why is it more appropriate for OEO to set the goal rather than the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety or the Fire Commissioner or someone else within the Fire Department that knows the types of goods and services they want to procure? Why wouldn't it make more sense for the people with the professional track record that know what they want to procure to set the goal? DEPUTY
It's a collaborative process, Councilman. Bottom line from where I sit, we're 25 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. trying by going into the subcontractors and to see what's available. We're actually pushing it down, and we're working with OEO in order to make sure that they understand what we're doing and we're trying to reflect it in what they would ask us to do.
But had the Administration not set a percent goal, 11 there would not have been a change in 12 that subcontract? 13 DEPUTY
No. 14 I've been looking at that now for a year 15 to two years, and, no, we were going to 16 go after and write this into our 17 contracting. You'll see that across the 18 board, I know in Public Safety and other 19 Deputy Mayors are doing the same thing. 20 We are really trying to drill it down 21 from the top of the general -- basically 22 as you would -- you have an awareness, 23 take it from the general contract and 24 move it down to the sub, because there's 25 still availability of participation at 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. that sub level, and let's see if we can build participation in. And since this contract was up as of June 30th, this was the goal that we both worked together, both OEO, myself, the Commissioner, we all sat down and said this is something we're going to strive for.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)
First I had a question, Commissioner, on the issue of providing smoke detectors and various other fire safety, and that sounds like it's a program that certainly has worked well. I know it's helped a lot of people. Is that still in effect? 27 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Are you still out there doing that? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes, it is. It is an integral part of our Freedom from Fire program where we constantly look for opportunities, grants, et cetera, to go out, supply those who do not need -- do not have the opportunity to get smoke detectors that need smoke detectors, get them in their homes, make sure that they're safe.
Is there any rough idea or maybe more specific idea about how many properties still are lacking in smoke detectors? COMMISSIONER AYERS: As far as an exact count, we don't have it, but when we stop and we look at the rates that we find with fire deaths and most fires, it's about 70 percent of the fire deaths that we find people don't have them, and we think that that translates into approximately about another 90 percent of folks that do have them, just based on the program, based on the laws. 28 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. But we still have a long way to go, because that ten percent is what's actually hurting the City as far as injuries, deaths, et cetera.
I understand. And do you think unfortunately it's for bad reasons, because people are either injured or killed, but the publicity that you have out of those programs, do you have any feeling that's generating people to get -- some people to get the smoke detectors on their own? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Absolutely. We've partnered with -- excuse me. I apologize. I was out late last night, and as you may have heard, we had a fire death last evening, unfortunately. We did not find smoke alarms, working smoke alarms, in that home. We found one smoke alarm in the basement that had been there for a long period of time. When Deputy Commissioner Devlin looked up and pulled the alarm 29 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. down or off of the shelf, we turned it over, it had a battery. We tested it. We looked, the battery was in backwards. So it's that education that people need. There were no other smoke alarms, first floor, second floor, and we believe that this gentleman could have had an opportunity to escape with an early warning. So the pattern repeats itself, but impromptu surveys that we have done actually show that people are putting smoke alarms in their homes.
Well, that's good. That's very good. And you talk about the injuries and whatever. Do you have numbers that you can provide us -- I know you said about the fire deaths, and that's a great thing that they're down -- on how many the accidents and injuries have gone down, too? Do you have figures that you can give us? If not now, provide it to the Council President. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes, we 30 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. do. We can provide that to you.
That's great. Thank you. I'm not going to get into the pros and cons of the whole fire company closing. I know that got controversial with a lot of people, but I know there is a Supreme Court -- or there was an appeal that's now at the Supreme Court; am I right? COMMISSIONER AYERS: I believe there is an appeal.
Given that a case went that far, are there any either concerns or, more specifically, contingency plans if that suit is successful? Because I know not all cases go to Supreme Court, so there must be something that has possibilities there, if you will. DEPUTY
Number 31 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. one, just remember that even though we ended up closing those companies, we didn't lay off anybody.
And, therefore, we would actually plan for and have a strategy for if that were to happen. I do not anticipate that happening. But we didn't lose anyone. We still have the equipment. We still have --
So you can still spread them back over if you had to? DEPUTY
Right. It would not be in the best interest, we believe, of the City. However, if that should happen, we would be able to handle that.
I 32 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. understand. Thank you. On the EMS issue, Mr. Beatrice, that the Council President asked about, just so I'm clear, you're saying that 6 percent of the revenue of the Fire 7 Department comes in through that? Is 8 that what you said? I wasn't real clear. 9 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: 10 Revenue is in the -- it's up to, I 11 believe, $35 million a year we're 12 projecting now. The vendor that collects 13 it under the current contract, we pay him 14 14 percent of that amount.
And do you know how much of that money percent-wise is collected, like how many people respond to those? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: It's various collection rates. We would have to provide that, because you have a certain rate for Medicare, certain rate for Medicaid, private pay. It varies. There's no one collection rate.
Okay. If 33 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. you could provide that in writing, some figures, I'd appreciate it. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Right.
Lastly, I know you talked about the unfilled firefighters and paramedics. That's 63 firefighters, 47 paramedics. Is that unfilled positions? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: I believe that was reversed.
I'm sorry. And how many total in the Fire Department positions are unfilled at this point? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: That's the bulk of them under the tent.
Thank you, Madam President. 34 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. As you know, recently myself, along with a number of other colleagues, introduced legislation dealing with paramedics and their representation, and we're going to have a hearing on that, so I don't necessarily want to get into the legality of the bills or illegality of the bills, the position of the Administration versus members of Council and the union. But since they've been represented by Local since 1980, could 13 you give me just a general rationale on 14 why we're even going down this road? 15 DEPUTY
I'll be 16 glad to, Council. First, I want to make 17 sure that we understand that there was a 18 decision made by at least persons that 19 were in the union to pursue litigation in 20 order to get clarification of roles and 21 for money purposes. Basically it was an 22 overtime issue and a salary issue.
Six or seven out of the 240 roughly sued in Federal Court. The City, let's be clear, fought that decision and the City lost. As a result of that, there has now been what I call the blow-back. What happens when people win, it changes the relationship, and that's now a federal law. We have to figure out what does that mean, and as a result, that now requires us to say, Well, if they're not firefighters and we can't pay them as firefighters, we have to pay them as a separate paramedic, then the reason why they're in the firefighters union is because we felt they were firefighters. 36 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. So now we have the converse. We seek basically instruction from the Labor Relations Board how do we treat them, what are they, and as a result of that, that's where we are today.
If the overtime issue and the pay issue had been resolved, as it is I understand today, what is the benefit to the City or to the taxpayer having them segregated or removed from the union that's represented them for 30 years? DEPUTY
Well, unit clarification is actually a result of trying to figure out how you end up dealing with them in labor matters. If we cannot classify them as firefighters, they have to be classified as something and they have to belong somewhere. That's all the unit clarification issue is.
And the end result of that with the positive decision the Administration has received from the 37 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. PLRB could eventually take them out of Act 111? DEPUTY
I don't want to get beyond -- I mean, it could. I don't know. It could, yes.
And that could also result potentially, theoretically they would have to the ability to strike? DEPUTY
Well, I wouldn't go that far. I think that there's probably things that could happen that would maybe take them out of the issue of that particular union, but they would still be able to be unionized and Act 111 still might apply. Those are questions that we're still trying to find answers to.
There's a difference between firefighter paramedics and general paramedics, correct? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes.
There's two different clarifications. These are 38 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. folks who went through the Academy as a firefighter and chose to be a paramedic? COMMISSIONER AYERS: That is correct.
How many of those are there? COMMISSIONER AYERS: We have approximately to left in the City. 10
If this 11 proceeds on and the City is successful in 12 their efforts, those folks have the right 13 then to return to the firefighting rank, 14 correct? 15 DEPUTY
I'm sure that I'll get an opinion from the City Solicitor to tell me what that would be, but, yes.
If they have that ability, then they potentially, because they want to remain represented by the union, would move back in the firefighting rank, so now the paramedic rank potentially, which would give us a 12- to 15-person shortage, and we're 39 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. pretty short now, correct? DEPUTY
All right. While I recognize the seven who took the federal lawsuit are annoying or have been annoying, I would wonder what the other bulk of the 243 others, or whatever that number is, what they feel they are. And if you're a first responder and you are on the fire ground and you are doing what firefighters have done and you wear basically the same uniform, obviously, since I introduced the bill, it's my opinion they're firefighters. I mean, obviously the legal proceedings will take on as they are. DEPUTY
But I really would like you to reconsider this. I don't think it's, in the long term, a good strategy for the City for public safety, and I would hate to be in a 40 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. situation where 230, 240 of our public safety employees have the right to walk a picket line. I think it would be a disaster. DEPUTY
If I may, one other issue. Has the City considered -- and it occurred to me during the course of the discussion on the legislation -- that the City partner with the School District in some way to create a paramedic academy or academies in three or four comprehensive high schools that would provide the training and curriculum necessary for these young folks, who are our citizens -- we're not recruiting from other states and other municipalities -- our kids who are in need of opportunities to have a job, a very good job, that's helping people and able to sustain yourself and raise a family, to be able to hook the School District up with the Fire Department to 41 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. create these academies so we have a feeder of schools that could send folks to our Academy and put them in fire service? DEPUTY
Councilman, I smiled because I will take that, and also I can tell you that there has been some very preliminary discussions about a public safety academy where not only we would use it for firefighting, but we'd also have it for police and also corrections officers.
I've drafted a letter to Arlene Ackerman, Dr. Ackerman, to try to discuss that issue, but I do think that that is a great use of our own resources to employ our own kids in a public service role that I think is very fulfilling for them. DEPUTY
I would love to join with you and I'll be glad to talk with you about that. I will talk to the Chairman of the SRC about that as well. 42 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Councilman Kenney, I think that's an excellent idea.
There's a saying that a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.
Commissioner, I think we all know what the advanced life support is and the basic life support, but for the record, can you explain the difference between the two? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. Advanced life support -- in our medic units we will have an advanced life support unit. We have one or two 43 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. paramedics that actually deliver services from that unit throughout the City. They are able to do a lot more than what an EMT would be able to do, some interventions, starting of IV fluids, drugs, the reading of the different tapes that will come from electrocardiograms, things like that, a lot more advanced as far as medical services, emergency medical services.
I don't know about anybody else, but I find it very disturbing that we would have 63 vacancies for the paramedics. It's a public safety issue, A. B, tell me, what is the response time? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Well, A, we would see that as a public safety issue as well. Those 63 vacancies are filled in overtime. So it's not a time where those 63 vacancies are not covered. So I understand what you're saying. We want to make sure that we hire those people so that we can have -- 44 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
With paramedics. COMMISSIONER AYERS: It's projected at $4.8 million for next year.
Well, since there are on the Civil Service 12 list, when do you anticipate that you 13 would take them on? 14 DEPUTY
No. I 19 would hope that it would be done 20 tomorrow, but I think that it is more 21 realistic that all the legalisms will be 22 concluded hopefully by the end of June so 23 that we can do something in the first 24 part of the fiscal year, but that's just 25 a guess on my part. 45 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
So actually, Commissioner, you're covering the shifts, the vacant shifts, with overtime? COMMISSIONER AYERS: That is correct.
Can you tell me how we're recruiting for paramedics? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. On the response times -- and then I'll answer that question -- we are achieving about 75 percent of the national guidelines.
Seventy-five percent? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Seventy-five percent, the nine-minute response time. And right now currently the 90 percentile is at 12 minutes and 20 seconds. Now, as far as recruiting, we have an officer, we have one of our chief officers, paramedic officers, that 46 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. constantly monitors opportunities to recruit within the State of Pennsylvania. We monitor the schools that do paramedic training. We let them know about the opportunity to come into the Philadelphia Fire Department. We also have from Personnel continuous applications. So when a person graduates or if someone just comes into the City of Philadelphia, they can apply at Personnel and get on the paramedic list right away. We also do advertising in magazines as well, emergency medical services magazines.
Do we have many applicants from outside the City that are applying? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Now we do. Since last year we had talked about it, and one of the persons that Councilman Rizzo had encountered in the shore actually came and joined the Philadelphia Fire Department. But we are starting to see more paramedic applicants from outside of the City as well. 47 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
I don't know. If you're putting in that much overtime, I ask myself how much are you aware of what it is that you're supposed to be doing. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Well, one of the things that remain is a national shortage of paramedics. Philadelphia is not the only city that has to endure this.
Commissioner, I'm concerned about the citizens of Philadelphia. COMMISSIONER AYERS: As well as I am.
That's what we should be concerned about, not what's happening throughout the nation. You know, year after year we go through this at budget time about the lack of the paramedics. I think it's something that has to be corrected once and for all. I think, Councilwoman 48 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Krajewski, wasn't it last year that we had gone down to see the Mayor about this very issue?
I think this is a very serious problem. It really is. And I would love to know how many people wait minutes for a 11 response call, because I know that one of 12 the employees in my office last summer, I think that her mother took ill and I think they waited something like 40 minutes. Fortunately, her heart attack was not that severe. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. Just a similar question along the lines of the EMS. Is the difficulty in recruiting EMS workers, or what? I did read somewhere in your testimony that you've had some classes and you plan to 49 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. have another class. Is it hard for you to find people for this EMS training? DEPUTY
What is the problem? COMMISSIONER AYERS: It's very difficult. As stated, the universe for paramedics is very small, period, in Pennsylvania. Also, some of the paramedics within the State just don't choose to come into the City of Philadelphia in this environment and do that service. We are actively recruiting, letting people know how it's a great opportunity. Many folks look at the opportunity to come and train here. We currently train the Air Force Academy paramedics here in the City of Philadelphia. They come from Mexico to train with us because of the level of training and because of our 50 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. professionalism. As far as people coming in to work, some folks actually choose to work in a less stressful environment. They would rather collect those dollars in the other counties. And we recruit. We constantly recruit them. We've waived the residency so that they can come in, and I have a high confidence in our chief that goes out there and does that recruiting on a regular basis.
Well, maybe you should get us some basic information. Not just information. I know you're probably listed on the Civil Service employment opportunity -- COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes.
-- through Human Resources, but maybe we can also help with that, and I thought maybe it would be good to, if we could -- if City Council could also help with the -- I can't remember the exact name, but the fire prevention efforts -- 51 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Freedom from Fire.
-- in terms of educating people. What are the most common causes of house fires? COMMISSIONER AYERS: The common causes are smoking, electrical and cooking.
Smoking in bed or just smoking in general? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Smoking in bed, smoking in general, couch fires, soft chair fires, recliners and beds.
And Councilman Greenlee did ask a question about the number of injuries have gone up. Is that a fact, that you have increased injuries now? COMMISSIONER AYERS: There was a slight increase in injuries, along with the decrease in 2007, along with the decrease in fire deaths, the steady decrease in fire deaths. We see now that 52 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the injuries are trending level. With the further reduction of fires, we expect that those injuries will go down. But one of the things that we see -- we don't want to see any of our citizens injured or killed, but we're happy to see that most folks are escaping those homes. The majority of people who have fires in the City of Philadelphia, they have an early warning and they get out of their houses. Sometimes there are injuries. Most of the injuries are thermal burns, smoke inhalation. Sometimes we'll get a fracture from someone unfortunately having to leap from a second floor or something like that, but for the most part, folks are now getting out of their house, thus the lower death rate.
Now, if there was an increase in people contacting you through education programs, whatever, through outreach, do you have enough smoke detectors to 53 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. accommodate how many? You said you give those away. I'm just wondering how many can you really give away. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Well, we're going to continue to solicit the corporations, the philanthropists to give. We just got a grant, a State grant, for, gosh, I think it was close to 500,000, I think it was, that we got for smoke alarms, and we had Ed Mann, the State Director, present us with those. We just got another $2,000 for smoke alarms. So it's an ongoing process. We have our Citizens for Fire Prevention Committee, who actually -- they're a 501(c)(3), and they actually go out and they solicit as well. But that number, it's an unknown number, but we're going to continue through our Freedom from Fire program where we go block by block, we enlist the fire safety representatives to actually engage each of their neighbors so that we know who has smoke alarms, who 54 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. does not. When we discover that, we task the local fire safety and education district company or that engine company for that local. They come out, they put the smoke alarms up, they give out the home fire safety checklist and they give out the information for having a home escape plan and a drill.
When I was reading your testimony -- thank you. When I was reading your testimony and you said you were going to eliminate the Chief Battalion Aide or Battalion Chief Aides. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Battalion Chief Aides.
What exactly is that position and what do they do? COMMISSIONER AYERS: That's a very integral part of the Philadelphia system or actually the Incident Command System. They do various duties, including communications, and one of the 55 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. things that we looked at in going over their duties, we looked at that and we found that we did not want to eliminate that position on second consideration. Council did ask for that consideration last year when we talked about it. We did take a look at it and we made a decision -- I apologize that we didn't come directly back to you and let you know that we were not going to eliminate those positions. But, again, thank you for that transfer so that we could keep those positions this past fiscal year. Very integral part of the Incident Command System.
Great. Last year you also said if there's additional funding, those fire stations that were closed could potentially reopen. Do you see that happening over the next Five Year Plan? DEPUTY
No. 24 Good morning, Councilwoman. Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor. 56 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. We are more likely to look at our deployment. I think given the level of fires and the level of responses, we'll be looking once we get up to speed with our technology and everything else, I wouldn't state that we'd be looking to reopen those particular companies at this time. The answer would be no. 10
In a city our size in terms of population, geographic, what is the optimal number of firefighter facilities? DEPUTY
That's the million-dollar question. Every city because of its geography, because of its topography, because of the density and everything else, that's a term of art more than anything else. What we are trying to do is to make sure that we have sufficient data to make that call as we go forward. That's part of our strategic plan, and that's what the Commissioner has been working on, along with other members of his executive team, along with 57 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the entire Department. We're working on a strategic plan that will answer that. The best way we'll be able to get to that answer is to make the investment in technology, which is what we have set out to do. Last year, as the Commissioner stated in his testimony, we began that by the upgrade of the CAD system, the computer-assisted dispatch system. We are looking forward to the investment in our call prioritization where we'll be able to then not send people out for non-emergencies. All of that will have to be looked at before we can really answer the larger question that you've just asked, what would be the optimal number.
Okay. I think in your testimony you stated you raised about or you project to collect $5 million a year for EMS transportation? COMMISSIONER AYERS: That's correct.
How much 58 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. did you actually raise last year? COMMISSIONER AYERS: We stand at the last half of the Fiscal Year '09, I think it was, $2.9 million, and we expect that we will reach our goal for Fiscal Year '10.
And is that payments through insurance companies or direct payments from individuals? COMMISSIONER AYERS: It's a combination, insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and private individuals.
So people are actually paying for those EMS services? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Some people are actually paying, yes.
You can come back again. Councilman Jones. 59 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm Katia Rembert and I was sworn in with PAL Day at City Hall. So my first question is, what reason is there to place paramedics in their own unit? DEPUTY
Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, and good morning. Welcome. Serving as the temporary 4th Councilmanic District representative, I will say thank you, since you are my representative. The question that you asked about what's the reason, basically that's a labor issue. It is as a result of a lawsuit that was filed many years ago that was decided in December, and this is just the clarification that is coming forward, and that basically will be decided by the lawyers involved and the judges and the arbitrators, and then we will basically make our decision from there. Thank you. 60 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: I would also like to welcome you and thank you for your question as well.
Thank you. What would be the dangers of allowing paramedics the right to strike? DEPUTY
That would be speculative at this point, and I don't believe that we'll actually ever get to that point, so I don't think that there would be a need to even answer.
Have we improved response times for paramedics compared to the national averages? DEPUTY
The answer is yes. I think that we're working towards using technology in order to make sure that we'll be able to do that in order to get the correct deployment, and the Commissioner, working with his command staff and the strategic plan, that's part of what are going to be what our goals are. So, yes, we can.
Lastly, what were 61 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the costs of paramedic overtime in the last fiscal year? DEPUTY
I believe we said it was -- DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Was the question what caused it or what was the cost? I didn't hear the question.
Both. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: The cause is the national shortage. The various reasons why we haven't been able to put in the last class, because our manpower or womanpower, staffing issues. But the cost for the whole EMS system in overtime last year we're projecting for Fiscal '11 is 4.8 million.
Thank you. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: You're welcome. DEPUTY
The Chair recognizes Councilman Green. 62 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, everybody. (Good morning.)
You may have heard me do this with every department. I'm asking them to go through vacant positions or newly created positions for FY11, how long the position has been vacant, the specific job duties of the position and how those duties have been handled while the position has been vacant. The Fire Department has numerous vacant positions, which add up to significant amounts of salary, and so I'd just like to start with the Firefighting Division, Section 45, 10. There were five unfilled Fire Battalion Chief positions. How long have they been vacant? COMMISSIONER AYERS: They've been vacant for various period of time. The list expired and there was a test for 63 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. BCDC and they won't be vacant long.
Well, what's the salary for each of those positions? COMMISSIONER AYERS: One moment.
While you're waiting for that answer, who has been performing these duties while these positions have been vacant? COMMISSIONER AYERS: They've been performed by acting-out-of-class officers, Captains for the Battalion Chiefs and Battalion Chiefs for the Division Chiefs.
So why would we not continue to do that while we're in this budget crisis? COMMISSIONER AYERS: We wouldn't continue to do that because of the fact that we need those positions, those trained positions, based on the National Incident Management System as well as the Incident Command System. You have to have that structure. 64 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
What negative consequences have resulted from leaving these positions unfilled as long as we have? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Being not in compliance with NIMS and the Incident Command System structure. But it's temporary.
Well, I'm perhaps suggesting it should be permanent through the next fiscal year. How much are the salaries of these five people? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: A Deputy Chief on average is 93,000 a year.
Plus fringe? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Plus fringes. Battalion Chief is in the $82,000 range, plus fringes.
Okay. So is there any legal requirement to fill these positions? 65 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes. There's a labor requirement to fill those positions.
Where? COMMISSIONER AYERS: In arbitration, from contracts, union contracts.
You're saying that our union contract requires that we have five positions. Please provide to the Chair the language from our union contract. I seriously doubt that.
Councilman, one moment, please. Mr. Gillison, did you want to respond? DEPUTY
If I could, Councilman, can I just have a second, please? We will provide that. Thank you.
Of the eight Fire Boat Engineer positions, one was 66 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. unfilled in November. Has it been filled? COMMISSIONER AYERS: It has.
Of the eight Fireboat Pile positions, two are unfilled. Have they been filled? COMMISSIONER AYERS: They have.
Of the 29 Fire Captain positions, five are unfilled. Have they been filled? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Yes, they have been filled.
All five? COMMISSIONER AYERS: They were filled. Since that time there has become another vacancy. DEPUTY
So what's the salary of that one position? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: A Captain is at 71,500.
Who has been performing these duties while it's 67 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. vacant? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Those duties were performed by either a Captain on overtime or a Lieutenant acting out of rank.
And where is this position? COMMISSIONER AYERS: The positions are all over the City.
Well, there's one vacancy. Where is that? COMMISSIONER AYERS: I'd have to -- DEPUTY
We have to get that to you, Councilman. We'll provide that to you.
Thank you. And the job duties of that position also. DEPUTY
Of the 267 Fire Lieutenant positions, four were unfilled. Have they been filled? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Not at 68 4/6/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. this time.
So who is performing these duties today? COMMISSIONER AYERS: They're performed by either a Lieutenant acting on overtime or a firefighter acting out of rank.
And what's the salary of these positions? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BEATRICE: Lieutenant is 62,000.
Of the 1,338 firefighter positions, were unfilled. 15 Have they been filled? COMMISSIONER AYERS: Those positions are filled on overtime.
They're filled on overtime? COMMISSIONER AYERS: That's correct.