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Firefighters call for acknowledgment and step-pay plan during public comment
Summary
A Clarksville Fire Rescue supporter asked the council to open "ongoing conversations" to address firefighters' pay and a structured step-pay plan after a difficult budget season, saying members seek a "living wage comparable to neighboring departments."
During public comment on June 26, Chelsea Carlisle addressed the council on behalf of Clarksville Fire Rescue personnel and supporters, urging dialogue and acknowledgement about firefighter pay and a step-pay plan.
"Our firefighters are not asking for some extravagant demand," Carlisle said. "The requests are measured. The reasonable. And they're rooted in fairness. They're asking to be acknowledged. To be heard. To earn a living wage that's comparable to neighboring departments, to have a structured step pay plan that creates transparency, equity, and sustainability so they can support their families while continuing to serve Clarksville with pride."
Carlisle said the timing of the budget season had been demanding and that silence from the council had been disheartening. She asked the mayor and council to use the adopted budget as a foundation for ongoing talks over the next year to develop a sustainable approach to firefighter compensation. "Let it be a legacy of action, respect, and collaboration," she said, closing her remarks by thanking the council for its time.
No formal council response to her remarks is recorded in the public-comment block beyond the standard invitation to speak; the mayor acknowledged the speaker and moved to the next public comment opportunities.
