Houston Lawmaker to Investigate Vote to Layoff 220 Firefighters

Councilman Dwight Boykins said Friday that the ethics committee he chairs will investigate this week’s vote to send 60-day layoff notices to 220 Houston firefighters, saying some council members who voted for the measure were not aware that it also allowed hundreds of firefighters to be demoted.

Council voted Wednesday to approve the layoffs to help finance raises mandated under Proposition B, the voter-approved city charter amendment that requires the city to pay firefighters the same as police officers of corresponding rank and experience.

Boykins called the potential demotions “heartbreaking to people who sacrifice years to get to their promotional status.”

His committee does not have the power to force testimony; it is merely an avenue for questioning public officials.

His announcement came days after a state judge ordered the city, the Houston Police Department and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association to enter mediation until they agree on a schedule for implementing Prop B or the mediator declares an impasse.

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The mayor estimates the raises would cost the city roughly $80 million a year and require hundreds of layoffs unless the union agrees to phase the measure in over five years.

The union has said it will allow members to vote on a three-and-a-half year phase-in, provided that the city promise that no firefighters would be terminated, which Turner says is impossible.

Turner on Friday accused Boykins — a one-time ally who is considering whether to challenge the mayor in November — of launching a “political stunt.” Boykins has said he would make a decision on whether to mount a mayoral challenge in June.

The mayor said Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña noted the possibility of demotions in a speech he gave to the city’s public safety committee last month in which the chief detailed shift changes and staff reductions HFD would need to pursue to cover its roughly $25 million share of Prop B’s annual cost.

“It’s been discussed,” Turner said.

Pena could not be reached for comment on Friday. He told the Chronicle earlier this month that some demotions would be necessary to avoid further reductions.

HPFFA President Marty Lancton dismissed claims that the union was made aware of the demotions, citing a statement released by Turner’s office earlier this week that said “neither Mayor Turner or (Peña) have presented information regarding demotions in the fire department.”

Asked about the discrepancy between that statement and the mayor’s comments Friday, Turner spokeswoman Mary Benton said she had misunderstood the question posed to her by Fox 26, which first reported the statement. In an email she sent to the station Friday morning, she said she was referring to “the discussion at city council on Wednesday.”

The council voted 10-6 in favor of issuing the layoff notices following a two-hour discussion on whether to hold off the vote while the mediation continues, with some of those favoring a delay said the vote could impede the ongoing negotiations. Turner and his supporters rejected the idea, saying the council is required to pass a balanced budget by the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, and already faces a $117 million deficit that does not include the firefighter raises. Council could vote to rescind those layoff notices should the city and fire union reach an agreement on the implementation of the Prop B.

The city already has issued layoff notices to 111 Houston Fire Department cadets and municipal workers.

Councilman Jack Christie said Friday that he was aware his vote in favor of the layoffs also approved some demotions, but that he did not know the number would be in the hundreds.

He said he voted for “a few demotions, but not hundreds. And it may not be (the city’s) intent, but the ability to have hundreds of demotions is not helping the firefighters.”

“It just shocked me because (the demotions) could be used to punish or leverage the firefighters,” he said before reiterating his desire for a deal to be struck in negotiation.

Christie said he cast his vote with the hope that Turner and the union would reach a deal before the July 1 deadline for the city to approve a balanced budget.

“We’ve got two good parties and none of them are budging,” he said. “… There’s no way they’re both going to be happy, but a compromise would be good for the city, good for the taxpayers and good for public safety.”

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