Published: December 21, 2018

THE FAYETTEVILLE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN MEET IN REGULAR SESSION ON TUESDAY AND AMONG THE ITEMS DISCUSSED WAS THE OVERTIME PAY FOR THE CITY'S FIREFIGHTERS.  ACCORDING TO MEDIA SOURCES, THE BOARD APPROVED A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ALLOW AN EXTENSIVE STUDY TO BE DONE ON CITY FIREFIGHTERS’ OVERTIME PAY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEN HAVE IT SUBMITTED TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR REVIEW.  IF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION AGREES WITH THE FINDINGS, 23 FIREFIGHTERS, INCLUDING TWO NOW RETIRED, WILL RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BACK PAY FOR OVERTIME WORKED DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS. IF THE DIVISION DISAGREES, THE CITY COULD FIND THEMSELVES GOING BACK THREE YEARS TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FIREMEN. THE DIFFERENCE WILL HINGE ON WHETHER THE STATE BELIEVES THE ERROR IN COMPENSATION WAS ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE.  THE ISSUE OF HOW OVERTIME HAD BEEN CALCULATED AND FIGURED WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION IN AUGUST AT WHICH TIME OFFICIALS AMENDED POLICIES TO INCLUDE THE PROPER RATE OF OVERTIME PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND INCORPORATING A KELLY DAY, A SCHEDULED DAY OFF DURING EACH FIREMAN’S 28-DAY WORK CYCLE, TO HELP CONTROL OVERTIME PAY GOING FORWARD. THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS RETROACTIVE TO THE FIRST OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.