WOODSTOCK – The Northeast Champaign County Fire District (NECCFD) Board agreed to the qualifications and compensation for its newly created permanent part-time paramedic position and agreed to various pay raises during a special meeting held on April 13 at the Woodstock Municipal Building.
After a lengthy discussion on qualifications that should be required for the job, which will pay $13 per hour, the board agreed candidates must have a valid paramedic card for Ohio and, at minimum, his or her 36-hour firefighter card (level 1 firefighter certification) must be obtained within 12 months of being hired.
To begin with, three individuals will be hired to fill the position, and to reach a larger pool of potential candidates, the board passed a motion allowing Interim Operations Manager Sarah Page to advertise the position in area newspapers stretching from Springfield to Columbus.
“I think we need to go on a big promotion to get help,” Board member Max Perry (Wayne Township) said.
Page said in addition to advertising in area newspapers, she will post the position on bulletin boards at fire departments within a 30-mile radius of the NECCFD.
Also during the meeting, council passed a resolution setting the pay rates for all nonsalaried personnel.
Under the salary adjustment, which will go into effect May 1, all part-time EMTs and paramedics will be paid a starting wage of $10 per hour, while full-time paramedics will be compensated at a rate of $16 per hour.
Board member Andy Yoder (North Lewisburg) said the resolution results in a $1 per hour increase for full-time employees and roughly a 50 cent per hour increase for all other nonsalaried positions.
The resolution also calls for all nonsalaried personnel to receive 50 cent pay raises in each of the next three years.
Board members also passed a motion increasing Fiscal Officer Jennifer Jenkins’ yearly salary from $14,000 to $16,000. Jenkins was hired by the board in February 2015.
“She’s done a great job for us since she’s come on,” Board member Bradley Herron (Woodstock) said.
