Independence council rejects fact-finding in firefighters’ dispute, moves to arbitration

The Independence City Council voted on Nov. 11, 2025, to reject a fact‑finding report and recommendations in an ongoing labor dispute with the firefighters’ union and directed that the city proceed to arbitration.

A councilmember moved to “reject the fact‑finding report, and recommendations dated the 11/11/2025,” a motion that was seconded and carried on a roll‑call vote. The clerk recorded the following votes: Narduzzi — Yes; Tagliati — No; Trakis — Aye; Laverca — Yes; Walchanowicz — Yes; Dey — No; DeGeronimo — Yes. After the vote the mayor said the city will forward its position to Columbus for arbitration.

City staff and the finance director warned the council the move will incur outside legal costs. The finance director said the city has not yet received an October (and possibly September) invoice from KWW estimated at about $30,000 and that estimated arbitration counsel costs are about $16,000; staff said the draft legislation rounds the expected total to $50,000 to cover outstanding and near‑term legal fees.

The vote terminates the fact‑finding phase and sends the matter to a formal arbitration process established under applicable labor statutes and procedures; councilmembers did not adopt a settlement tonight.

The council adopted related consent agenda items later in the meeting, but the labor matter will continue outside the public meeting in arbitration. The record does not show further details of the union’s claims or the fact‑finding report’s contents; the council’s action was limited to rejecting that report and directing arbitration as the next procedural step.