Westmoreland council approves budget first reading; public urges full‑time fire coverage, pay scales deferred to work study

The Westmoreland City Council approved the first reading of the 2025–26 budget ordinance after a 2–2 split that the mayor broke with a yes vote, but the council did not approve any immediate hiring or across‑the‑board raises tied to that budget.

The matter matters because the city’s volunteer fire department and residents pressed the council for more reliable weekday coverage as call volume rises, while councilmembers said budget adoption alone does not guarantee new hires or automatic pay increases.

Curtis Singh, a Westmoreland resident, told the council during public comments that the city’s growth and rising call volume mean “it’s vital at this point” to move toward full‑time fire coverage. Singh said neighboring departments provide career staffing and argued Westmoreland should consider at least a weekday, full‑time presence to shorten response times, improve equipment maintenance and potentially lower insurance costs by improving the city’s ISO rating.

Council discussion on the budget focused on what the ordinance does and does not authorize. The mayor said approving the budget does not automatically include hiring or filling positions or granting pay raises, and recommended more detailed discussion at a work study meeting before any personnel decisions are finalized. Finance staff confirmed pay‑raise line items in the draft budget represent available funding but do not create an entitlement to pay increases without evaluation.

Vice Mayor Jones made the motion to approve the 2025–26 budget ordinance; Councilman Staples seconded. The roll call produced a tie; the mayor cast the deciding yes vote and the motion carried. Council then considered separate paperwork that would adopt formal pay scales for police, public works and city hall staff; Councilmember Jones moved to defer adoption of the pay scales to the June work study meeting and Councilman Brown seconded. That motion passed unanimously.

Councilmembers and staff repeatedly emphasized that adding money to a budget line is not equivalent to authorizing hires or raises without further formal action, performance reviews or separate personnel votes. The council did not take a vote to create full‑time firefighter positions or to convert existing volunteer roles to paid staff during the meeting.

The council directed staff to place the proposed pay scales and related personnel discussions on the June work study agenda so members can review the numbers and implementation steps in a less formal setting before a final vote. The council also signaled it wants more information — including staffing models, cost estimates and expected impacts on response times and insurance ratings — before committing to new hires.

No specific timetable or funding commitment for hiring full‑time firefighters was set at the meeting; the topic will return to the council’s work study for further review.