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Fountain Hills council backs automatic aid application, asks staff to delay fire command promotions until January
Summary
After lengthy debate, the Town Council instructed staff to apply for automatic aid and to delay full implementation of a proposed two‑year promotion plan in the fire department for six months, citing budget timing and recruitment concerns.
Fountain Hills Town Council directed town staff to submit an application for automatic aid to regional life‑safety partners and signaled support for a revised fire command structure, but asked staff to postpone full promotions and the associated payroll impact until January.
The council discussion, initiated by the town manager and fire leadership, centered on a proposed two‑year reorganization that would create three battalion chiefs in year one, cascading promotions for captains and engineers, and additional safety officer roles in year two. Fire leadership said the change would not increase total headcount but would rearrange incumbents’ roles and pay bands.
“Battalion chief really kind of has the incident command responsibilities on any fire medical scene that is more than a one‑unit response,” Fire Chief Ott said, describing situations in which a dedicated battalion chief improves coordination and safety during large fires and multi‑unit incidents. Chief Ott and other department leaders cited a recent multi‑unit fire in town that drew 12 units as an example of why additional command positions matter.
Finance staff estimated the first‑year payroll cost of the initial promotions at about $222,000, with an additional approximately $110,000 in the following year to complete the plan. Paul (Finance Director) explained that backfilling promoted positions creates assignment pay and other costs that drive the total estimate.
Several council members said they supported the concept but worried about timing in a year of revenue volatility. Council members who supported the automatic aid application nonetheless favored a phased start. “A six‑month delay would be prudent,” Council member Skilikorn said; others recommended a January start so the full fiscal‑year impact could be managed.
Town Manager Rachel confirmed the council’s direction: staff will pursue automatic aid and include the promotion plan in the proposed budget but schedule implementation beginning in January unless council gives different direction when the tentative/final budget is adopted.
Council and staff emphasized the measures would remain contingent on budget availability; the application to regional partners is not instantaneous and could take months for Central Arizona life‑safety governance bodies to review.
The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or resolution during the work session. Staff will return with contract details, timing, and any revised cost estimates at a future council meeting before promotions are executed.
Ending: The council’s guidance lets staff pursue regional inclusion via an automatic aid application while postponing the full payroll impact to the following calendar year so the town can better assess revenues and contingency levels before enacting pay changes.
