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Marietta Fire Department proposes 13/23 schedule; city code to change FLSA pay cycle to 28 days
Summary
The Marietta Fire Department asked council to change city pay-cycle language and approve a new firefighter schedule, proposing a 13/23 rotation to improve rest and recovery for suppression crews.
Assistant Chief Bridal Rutledge told the personnel committee the fire department wants to replace the current 24-on/48-off (often described as 24/48) schedule with a 13/23 rotation that provides an additional day off in each cycle. Under the proposed 13/23 schedule, crews would work a pattern that includes 24-hour shifts followed by 72 hours off for recovery, and a 28-day pay cycle would replace the current 21-day cycle for overtime calculation.
Rutledge said the department surveyed its personnel, received 100% participation and a 90% favorable response for the new schedule, and noted benefits including improved rest and recovery, enhanced work-life balance and a retention and recruitment advantage with no net annual increase in hours (staff said the change is cost-neutral on an annual-hours basis). The department described the change as aligning with existing models used by comparable departments and emphasized it would preserve service levels while reducing fatigue-related risks.
A code amendment is required because Marietta's current municipal compensation language defines overtime under a 21-day/159-hour cycle; staff proposed replacing that threshold with a 28-day/212-hour cycle to align with the FLSA framework for extended work cycles. City attorney review has been completed and staff said finance worked through payroll timing and calculations in advance of the change.
Council direction and next steps
The personnel committee voted to forward the code amendment as a first reading to council (placed on consent as a first reading); staff said it would present the ordinance on the council agenda and target Jan. 4 for implementation, subject to final payroll coordination and any council edits. Staff also said they would provide additional scheduling materials and operational details as part of the ordinance packet.
What the committee recorded
- Proposal: adopt a 13/23 shift rotation (24 hours on / 72 hours off / 48 hours on / 72 hours off cycle). - Code change requested: amend city compensation code to adopt a 28-day work/pay cycle and change the overtime threshold from 159 hours/21 days to 212 hours/28 days. - Implementation target: Jan. 4, 2026 (staff noted a backup date if logistics require adjustment).
No formal objections were recorded in committee; the item will appear on the council agenda as a code amendment (first reading).
