Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hanover supervisors approve public-safety pay, staffing and ARPA transfer to add firefighter medics
Summary
The Board approved a package of pay and staffing changes for Hanover public-safety agencies, including a $775,000 ARPA transfer to temporarily fund new firefighter‑medic positions, a one-time PTO buydown and a change to pay holidays in cash for 56‑hour fire/EMS personnel. The measures passed by voice vote.
Hanover County supervisors voted to approve a multi-part public‑safety package that the county says is designed to reduce mandatory overtime, expand training opportunities and improve retention among fire, EMS and sheriff's personnel.
Finance director Amanda Sicks told the board the county would use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to temporarily fund additional firefighter‑medic positions at Station 11 while the positions move into the locally funded five‑year plan. "What we are asking for you today is to make a motion to approve an additional 9 firefighter medic FTE's to be temporarily federally funded to be able to uncross staff station 11," Sicks said. The board moved and approved a $775,000 transfer of ARPA funds to support that action.
The broader package approved later in the meeting included approval of additional firefighter‑medic FTEs in FY25 and a one‑time PTO buydown for certain uniformed personnel below specified ranks, measures intended to allow more staff to take leave without creating operational gaps. Supervisors also authorized staff to modify human‑resource policies so that 56‑hour fire and EMS personnel may receive cash compensation for county holidays rather than accrual of those hours into a PTO bucket.
County leaders framed the actions as a multi‑year effort. County administration and public‑safety leadership described pay‑plan changes already implemented (a new starting salary and an added career ladder step), expanded lateral credit for experience in other Virginia localities, and additions to staffing that they say will increase operational resilience.
Chief Anderson and Sheriff Hines joined staff at the dais during the presentation. Chief Anderson said the package was intended to reduce mandatory overtime and increase training opportunities, while Sheriff Hines and union representatives acknowledged working with county staff on the proposals. The county described the measures as vetted by the Finance and Safety & Security committees and supported in committee votes.
All motions were approved by voice vote and recorded as "motion carries"; the board did not record roll‑call tallies for these items.
