Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Firefighters May PushConsolidation With County

12/24/03

Airport Firefighters May Push Consolidation With County
Venice Gondolier, FL

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport firefighters' safety concerns may 
persuade airport authority officials to resurrect negotiations with Sarasota 
County about a dormant consolidation proposal when administrators meet late 
this month.

Airport CEO Fred Piccolo told the Pelican Press, "I am certainly open to 
discussions with the county about a takeover, but I take umbrage with union 
representatives who started the public relations campaign that indicates the 
airport is a bad guy."

There is no fire chief at the airport. The department consists of 12 
firefighters plus three captains who alternately assume the role of chief when 
their shift is on duty. It operates seven days a week. Records show that annual 
salaries and benefits total about $1 million.

On Oct. 17, fire union officials complained to Gov. Jeb Bush when the decision 
was made not to replace Interim Fire Chief Jud Conley, but instead increase the 
company from 12 to 15 and promote three lieutenants to captain.

"The lieutenants have not asked for these promotions," Lt. John Swilling wrote 
in an Oct. 17 letter to Bush, "but have been told that if we turn them down we 
will be demoted to firefighter and someone else will be promoted to take our 
place."


Bush rebuff

In the letter, Zwilling stated that while Piccolo told the three lieutenants 
they were "unqualified for the chief's position," their new job descriptions 
include "more responsibility than the former fire chief." He asked Bush to 
order the appointment of a qualified chief.

On Oct. 31, a supporting letter was sent to the governor by Florida 
Professional Firefighters President Bob Carver that warned of "an unsafe and 
abnormal management decision" by Piccolo to promote the three lieutenants and 
not hire a full-time fire chief.

On Nov. 13, Bush responded with a letter to Zwilling that stated the union's 
concerns had been communicated to Sarasota County officials and advised, "You 
would do well to work with your locally elected officials to resolve this 
problem."


'Boots on the ground'

Sarasota County Fire Chief Brian Gorski has kept abreast of the airport fire 
department situation. In 1993, 1994 and 1996 there were substantive 
negotiations between airport and county officials about a merger, but they 
broke down over annual costs.

"We wanted about $100,000 more than they were willing to pay," he said. "Now 
that they have no fire chief, maybe we can see if there is a way to work this 
out. County Administrator Jim Ley has been asked (by the county commission) to 
meet with Mr. Piccolo."

Piccolo said the decision not to hire a fire chief allowed three additional 
firefighters to be hired.

"We preferred to put more boots on the ground," he said, "and cut the amount of 
overtime hours we were paying. Their mission is related to the aircraft."

There is already a county fire department connection at the airport. While the 
airport firefighters are trained as emergency medical technicians and respond 
to 911 calls for terminal emergencies, Sarasota County paramedics take over 
when they arrive at the scene.

"This [fire chief] issue is our issue, and not the county's issue," Piccolo 
said, "but we are open to consolidation discussions if the airport can break 
even. The county will have to decide whether there is value to our fire hall 
and equipment. We've been through this before."

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