Mount Vernon council approves ordinance adding 10 firefighter positions

Mount Vernon City Council on Aug. 25 approved an ordinance to add 10 firefighter positions to the 2025 city budget and authorized transferring funds from the contingency fund to the fire department salary line. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting in favor.

The ordinance was read into the record during a special council meeting called to consider creation of 10 firefighter positions. Councilman Derek Thompson read the ordinance and moved approval; another council member seconded. Corporation Counsel John asked whether the action required two separate ordinances; no change to the motion was recorded and the council proceeded to vote.

A roll call recorded affirmative votes from Councilman Box Hill, Councilwoman Gleason, Councilman Bodzin, Councilman Thompson and Council President Brown. The motion passed and the item was closed. The transcript does not specify an effective date for the new positions or provide a detailed salary-dollar amount; it only states the transfer will come from the contingency fund to the fire department salary line in the 2025 budget.

No substantive debate about operational impacts, hiring timeline, or training for the new positions is recorded in the transcript. The meeting then moved to other business and was adjourned.

The item was listed on the special meeting notice as the creation of 10 firefighter positions and related budget action.