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Jul 18, 2008 8:08 pm US/Eastern
Proposal To Merge S. Fla. Fire Dept's Postponed
Departments: City of Miami, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Hialeah and Coral Gables
If Proposal Passes Commission In The Future, Issue Goes On Nov. Ballot
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami-Dade County Commissioners have postponed a decision concerning the future of hundreds of South Florida firefighters and paramedics.
Commissioners were planning to vote on a proposal that would allow voters to decide in November whether or not five South Florida fire departments should be merged with the Miami-Dade County Fire Department.
It was expected to be a fiery debate in commission chambers Friday morning but they decided to postpone their decision that could have put the issue on the November ballot.
Those fire departments that may be consolidated into the Miami-Dade Fire Department are: The City of Miami, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Hialeah and Coral Gables.
Miami-Dade Fire Union President Stan Hill supports the proposal because he believes if the county has one cohesive fire department, instead of six, response time will be greater for those who need a paramedic or firefighter in a hurry.
"If the house is burning here in Coral Gables, all their units, this one, this one, and this one have to go all the way through here. And our units are sitting here ready to respond," said Hill
Hill says not only will 911 calls go out faster; joining forces will save tax dollars.
"We could save tens of millions of dollars annually, without laying one firefighter off and improving service for everybody."
The unions of the five city fire departments on the chopping block disagree.
"There is very little, if any duplication," according to Adonis Garcia of the Miami Beach Firefighters' Union.
They say during this time of tight budgets, combining the departments will take way too much money upfront and they say their residents' response times will be worse.
"It's very simple sometimes to think bigger is always better and I would go back to federal government and sometimes bigger isn't better," said Garcia.
They also argue that they shouldn't have to join a fire department with a lower industry rating than their own.
"Our city loves their Fire Department. We are a Class-1 nationally accredited fire department," said Garcia.
It's a battle that is just beginning and the decision could affect you the next time you call 911.
The city fire departments say they just found out about this proposal last week and they're calling this a hostile takeover.
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