Meet & Confer is a permissive process allowed and prescribed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 142. The process provides an opportunity to supersede, modify, and improve upon the statutory requirements of Civil Service law.
The City entered into Meet & Confer agreements with Georgetown Professional Association of Fire Fighters (Association) in 2016 and again in 2019. That agreement is set to expire on September 30, 2022. Discussions regarding a new agreement began in February and concluded in July. The new agreement includes the following provisions that are beneficial to all parties:
- Compensation & Recruitment:
- Creates new pay plan based on department tenure, including more aggressive starting pay and progression of pay through early years of employment that should be helpful in recruitment and retention. This is set to be implemented in January of 2023.
- Creates path for reappointment for Firefighters who leave the department and wish to return.
- Updates and increased ambulance assignment pay
- Increases paramedic credential pay
- Funding for all pay items were included in the FY23 budget
- Organizational Structure & Promotions:
- Creates entry rank of Paramedic
- Updates entry probationary periods to a consistent 12 months
- Creates path to phase-out Lieutenant rank, resulting in a consistent company officer rank of Captain
- Creates an additional Assistant Chief position which was previously a Division Chief
- Clarifies educational requirements in future for promoted ranks
- Updates promotional processes and expectations
- Contractual detail:
- Updated contractual language clarifying the definition of “good standing”, updating contract dispute language, and clarifying the City’s ability to change pay cycles in the future as we look at changing from 24/48 shifts to 48/96 shifts.
- Increased agreement term to 4 years, prior two agreements were 3 years.
The term of the agreement is 4 years and is set to begin on October 1, 2022. Per Chapter 142, this agreement is enforceable once the Association conducts a ratification election of the Firefighters and the City Council ratifies the agreement by majority vote. Per President Colby Lyons, the Association completed their ratification election on September 3rd and a majority of the votes cast at the election favored ratification. Council ratification is the final step to the approval process.