Local firefighters tell council of repeated payroll errors; union requests transfer of payroll to city administration

A representative for Local 4416 told the Westfield Common Council that firefighters and paramedics have experienced repeated payroll errors since January 2025 and asked that payroll for the fire department be transferred to city administration.

Ryan Heron told the council that union members have experienced multiple errors "including 457 plan contribution errors, health savings account contribution errors, dental and insurance premium errors, several instances where members did not receive their earned compensation via direct deposit and were later issued paper checks," and that the union had asked for a payroll audit. Heron said that after Baker Tilly returned payroll processes to the Clerk Treasurer’s Office on May 1, 2025, “31 official payroll discrepancies have been officially reported by affected employees, primarily police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.”

Heron said the union’s May recruit class experienced incorrect tax withholdings and retirement contributions and that new hires in June had similar issues. He asked the council to have the Clerk Treasurer transfer all fire-department payroll processes to city administration, saying the change would “better serve the employees who have encountered significant financial hardships.”

Heron also reported the results of a membership vote: "We had a total of 117 members of our union vote, which resulted in 112 votes of no confidence in the Clerk Treasurer's Office, 2 votes of confidence, and 3 people abstained." He said that lack of confidence underscores the urgency for a modified payroll approach.

Clerk Treasurer response at the end of the meeting: the Clerk Treasurer said payroll remains under her office by statute, acknowledged past errors, and described ongoing measures including improvements, a planned payroll audit and an upcoming audit meeting on Nov. 4. She noted the city is under multiple audits (including a 2024 ACFR and a federal single audit) and that she has worked with Forvis and counsel on a payroll audit; she offered to share proposals she has presented.

Why it matters: Payroll errors affect employees’ take-home pay, retirement contributions and tax withholdings and can create financial hardship for public safety personnel. The union asked for administrative control changes and a payroll audit; the Clerk Treasurer reported audits underway and an audit meeting scheduled.