Judge Authorizes Cost-Saving CCFD Severance Agreement

During Tuesday morning's hearing at Providence County Superior Court, Judge Brian P. Stern approved a motion submitted on behalf of the Central Coventry firefighters requesting authorization to enforce a severance agreement between the CCFD, the firefighters' Union (Local 3372), and Scott J. Murray that will save the district a minimum of $90,000 annually going forward.

The severance agreement emerged after CCFD Special Master Richard Land indicated to Union President David Gorman in February that additional concessions needed to be made by the Union to provide greater cost-savings for the foundering fire district. Land suggested merging the positions, duties and responsibilities of the Training Division Chief with the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Chief in order to reduce operating expenses. In order to merge the positions, one of the district's Battalion Chiefs would have needed to retire or resign.

In March, Training Division Chief Scott Murray, along with the Union and fire district, agreed that he would resign effective March 24, 2013. In consideration for his resignation, the District promised to provide Murray with 10 years of medical and dental coverage as provided to the active full time employees - an agreement later amended when Land proposed that, after seven years, Murray would be expected to pay one half of the employee co-share for a family coverage plan. On March 24, Murray resigned and began exhausting his sick, personal and vacation days as part of the agreement. However, due to the timing and relative uncertainty regarding the fire district's future, Land took the position that he would only sign the severance agreement if Central Coventry voters passed the proposed budget presented to them at the March 26 Special Meeting - which they did not.

Despite the agreement being finalized and signed by both Murray and Gorman, Land declined to sign and execute it as his condition regarding the budget vote had not been met. This decision led to the Union filing a Motion to Enforce Severance Agreement with the court, which was addressed at Tuesday's hearing.

Land explained that he fully supported the agreement, but was simply abiding by the conditions that he had set forth for it.

"I feel that this severance agreement is a good change for the district as it eliminates one of its most costly positions," he said. "I believe that it will provide a significant benefit to the district and will not have an adverse affect in any manner."

While addressing Judge Stern, Marc Gursky, legal counsel for the Central Coventry Professional Firefighters union, expressed his optimism regarding the agreement.

"Chief Murray has worked with the special master and Chief (Andy) Baynes to achieve a very significant six-digit savings on an annual basis," said Gursky. "Good for him for making a significant sacrifice by accepting this agreement. This is an example of all parties working together to find savings."

"The court is viewing this as a recommendation by the special master who is exercising his business judgement, and based on today's discussions, the court will authorize him to enter into an appropriate agreement which will put this in force retroactive from March 24," said Judge Stern during his ruling. "The court believes this is in the best interest of the Central Coventry Fire District, its special mastership, and its estate."

"I'm really relieved to get a final decision on this," said Murray after the hearing. "It's been mixed feelings, not knowing if I'm going back to work or not, but now we can move forward."