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Garner Council approves transfer of Garner Fire Rescue to town government, effective July 1
Summary
The Town of Garner unanimously approved a resolution to transfer Garner Fire Rescue Department’s assets and employees to the town, creating a municipal fire department effective July 1. The agreement moves 86 employees to town payroll, preserves hire dates and provides transitional pay and staffing adjustments tied to the FY26 budget.
Town Manager Jody Miller presented a final Fire Services and Transfer of Assets Agreement and the Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt it, authorizing the town manager and town attorney to negotiate and execute closing documents. "Tonight I'm going to provide you some information overview of the fire services and transfer of assets agreement," Miller said during her presentation.
The agreement will make Garner Fire Rescue a department of the Town of Garner effective July 1. Miller told council the agreement transfers department assets (except those owned by Wake County), the training facility plans tied to Station 6, the department benevolent fund and 86 full-time equivalent employees to town employment. Miller said the 86 FTEs represent roughly a 35% increase in the town workforce in a single day and that transferred employees’ original hire dates would be honored for benefits eligibility.
The resolution adopted by council—moved by Councilmember Phil Matthews and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Elmo Vance—authorizes execution of the agreement. "I move that we adopt resolution 20252633 approving the fire services and transfer of assets agreement as presented and authorizing the town manager, the town attorney to negotiate and execute all necessary closing documents," Matthews said when making the motion. Mayor Gupton declared the vote passed unanimously.
Miller summarized the multi-year process leading to the agreement: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committee formed in 2017, hiring North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting in 2021 for a phased evaluation, benefits and financial reviews in 2022–2024, and a joint resolution in spring 2024 directing staff to draft the agreement. She told council the merger aims to improve strategic resource and operational planning to meet increased service demand from town growth, realize administrative efficiencies (HR, finance, IT, fleet and maintenance), and provide greater financial and benefits stability.
Key agreement highlights discussed by Miller and staff include transfer of approximately 86 employees to town payroll; honoring original hire dates; a proposed 1% additional base pay for employees who would otherwise be ineligible for certain town longevity provisions; recommendation of three additional firefighter positions in the FY26 budget; and adding nine support FTEs across HR, IT, budgeting, building maintenance and fleet to support the enlarged department. Miller also said the town supports ongoing department rebranding efforts.
Council and staff publicly recognized the Garner Fire Rescue Board and many fire personnel for their work on the transition. Miller credited Chief Greg Grayson, retired Chief Matt Poole, Interim Chief Barrett Penny and assistant chiefs Jason Deitch and Jason Hathcock for assisting the process. The MOU committee and town staff were listed as participants in the twice-monthly working group that completed the agreement details.
The council did not alter the agreement on the floor; it approved the resolution to finalize the transfer and directed staff to execute closing documents. The agreement will be implemented beginning July 1, 2025, per the timeline presented to council.
