Beach fire chief agrees to pay cut
Citing budgetary reasons and a result of adverse financial impacts, the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Board of Commissioners unanimously renewed the upcoming contract of Chief Mike Becker at a reduction salary.
The board OK’s the new contract at its monthly meeting at Town Hall Tuesday evening and Becker said he signed that employee agreement Wednesday at noon.
Recently, Becker had voluntarily agreed to have his contract compensation reduced from roughly $146,000 to $136,000 after negotiations with Commissioner David Brower, the fire board’s secretary/treasurer.
As part of those talks, Brower was to negotiate a new employment contract with Becker before the April 1 deadline. The three-year contract period begins Nov. 17 and expires Nov. 17, 2014.
The new contract calls for a salary of $130,000 for the first year to be paid on a biweekly basis in equal amounts. After those 12 months, the chief’s salary will be further reduced to $125,000 — roughly a $21,000 cut in annual pay or more than $403 per week from his last contract.
“I have reduced my own wages two years in a row on my own merits,” said Becker, when reached by phone. “The obvious financial impacts are very clear since 2008. When I started negotiating with the district, I understood that I needed to reduce (my wages) even more.”
Becker was appointed as acting chief in 2005, and became the fire chief in 2006. This is the third contract he has signed.
“It is appropriate for the organization that I set the example,” he said. “I am very happy that I have that agreement. I think it will set the tone with union negotiations.”
Beach Fire officials (union and administration) are currently going through negotiations concerning its collective bargaining agreement.
Under additional terms of the new contract, Becker will have reduced hours of personal paid leave; his holiday schedule will be cut to the proposed district policy; and only three commissioners (instead of four commissioners in the past contract) can approve a right to terminate him by way of vote. However, an investigation process still will be needed to finalize a termination.
“Under this contract, the district is responsible to show what that ‘for cause’ reason is through an investigation process,” said FMB Fire Board Attorney Richard Pringle. “Essentially, it is not a matter where the board can come in at a board meeting and say that three (members) have determined that the chief’s job performance is unsatisfactory and therefore terminate him on a ‘for cause’ termination.”
Becker underwent two informal investigations within a 13-month span in the past two years.
“I’m comfortable with what I am doing despite the investigations,” said Becker. “I know what I am doing is right, and I am willing to stand up to it.”