Council defers vote after heated exchange over EMS training officer classification and union objections

Council debated a resolution to add an EMS training officer and reclassify several EMS lead medic positions before voting to defer the item to the Jan. 26 council meeting.

Fire Chief Ryan Collins described two staffing options. Option 1 would create an EMS training officer (paramedic classification) with an estimated additional cost of about $33,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year and then be added to the FY27 budget; an alternative would reclassify the post to a lieutenant paramedic at higher pay, increasing costs to roughly $52,000 annually (about $18,000 more than option 1) but with potential overtime offsets in the $7,500–$10,000 range for certain training events.

Todd Copley, president of AFSCME Council 61, objected and said moving the job out of AFSCME’s representation could violate Iowa collective‑bargaining law and AFL‑CIO rules. "It's illegal what's going," Copley said on the council floor. John Paulson, president of Local 7, said the firefighters supported the alternative and estimated up to $27,000 in savings under the proposed lieutenant paramedic model. The legal and labor dispute led Councilmember Raiford to move deferral; the motion passed on roll call with 3 ayes and 2 noes (Raiford, Shaner, Bernstein voted aye; Scott and Bertrand voted no). Council asked staff to consult with labor counsel and return with legal analysis before the next meeting.

No hiring or reclassification occurred; staff said the position has not been posted pending council action and civil‑service processes would still apply.