Rossford firefighters push for full-time department; council holds second reading of ordinance

Rossford City Council on Sept. 22 heard firefighters describe staffing shortfalls and their plan to form a collective bargaining unit with the International Association of Firefighters, while the council held a second reading of an ordinance to establish a full-time fire department and set a special meeting for final action.

At the meeting, an unnamed firefighter representative told council, "we're unionizing with the International Association of Firefighters," saying the department has concluded that the current part-time model is not reliably providing daily coverage. The representative said data from July and August showed many part-time shifts went unfilled and that full-time staffing is needed to ensure consistent emergency response and training.

The council read Ordinance 2025-66 by title during the meeting; council members identified it as an ordinance "repealing section 139.02 of the Rossford Municipal Code and enacting a new Rossford Municipal Code, section 139.02, full time fire department established" (second reading). Council members discussed timing and quorum constraints for final adoption and scheduled a special meeting for Sept. 29 at 6:00 p.m. so a final reading and vote may occur before certain time-sensitive items on the agenda. A motion to set the special meeting passed with councilmembers present voting "aye." The council noted it could not suspend rules to complete a third reading at the Sept. 22 meeting because fewer than the full membership was present.

Fire department leaders and council members described several policy details discussed at the meeting: the chief and firefighter speakers said the city has been operating with six full-time staff on the day shift and four on nights previously, and that the department tested reducing night staffing to four and maintaining six for day coverage. The firefighter representative said that change did not improve part-time coverage, and that the department needs additional full-time hires to reduce reliance on part-time personnel who frequently miss shifts. The representative said the department has identified four candidates in a hiring pipeline and expressed concern the candidates could be lost if a final decision is delayed.

Council members pressed for standards and enforcement for part-time staff participation while the transition is negotiated. One council member asked that expectations and a discipline standard be set and written into the contracts; the chief said those details would be addressed in the labor contract negotiations and in the transition from any part-time arrangements.

Council and staff also said they have consulted with neighboring departments to examine models for a mix of full- and part-time staffing, and that any final plan will be subject to contract negotiations and additional council action. No final ordinance adoption occurred at the Sept. 22 meeting; the ordinance remains at second reading pending the special meeting vote.

Councilmembers and attendees urged timely action because the chief reported several shifts had not been filled recently and because the department has candidates ready for hire. Several councilmembers voiced support for preserving some part-time staffing while moving toward greater full-time coverage to ensure day-to-day training and continuity.