Palatka commission declines immediate ratification of firefighter longevity settlement, directs further talks

Palatka—The Palatka City Commission on May 14 declined to ratify an agreement the former city manager accepted to resolve a grievance from the firefighters union over how longevity pay should be calculated.

The dispute centers on whether longevity was to be paid as a separate percentage on top of base pay or included in base pay when the city and union negotiated a contract last year. Rob Larkin, the citylabor attorney, told the commission that Florida law (chapter 447) gives the legislative body sole authority to appropriate funds for collective bargaining and that any settlement exceeding the managers budget authority must be ratified by the commission.

Union representatives, including Local 2992 President Marcus Wilson and counsel Jim Brantley (participating by Zoom), said some long-serving firefighters have not received longevity at the levels they previously expected and that the city accepted a check or had informal offers to resolve back pay. City finance staff and HR said the calculation produced differing estimates of fiscal impact; staffpresentations put a preliminary figure for the remainder of this fiscal year at roughly $30,000, while other high-level estimates discussed at the dais ranged higher when extrapolated over multiple years.

Commissioners debated the tradeoffs. Some members said the city should ratify the settlement to promptly compensate the firefighters and avoid protracted and costly arbitration. Others said the former managers acceptance of the union proposal departed from positions discussed with city counsel, and that the commission should not retroactively approve an agreement that increases budgeted appropriations without full review.

After extended discussion and public comment from firefighters and union leaders, the commission voted in favor of a motion to defer immediate ratification and directed staff and the citys counsel to pursue either renewed informal settlement talks with union counsel or arbitration if the parties cannot reach agreement. Commissioners asked for a clearer, itemized estimate of the multiyear budgetary impact and an attorneys legal analysis of options to return to the table or proceed to arbitration.

What happens next

The union may agree to return to negotiations in the next two weeks, as requested by commissioners; if not, arbitration remains an available but more expensive option. The commissions action preserves the citys discretion to reject the settlement while keeping negotiation and arbitration on the table.

Speakers quoted (selected)

"A city manager through grievance resolution cannot exceed the delegated budgetary authority granted by the legislative body," Labor Attorney Rob Larkin said, reading a legal summary of Florida statutes governing appropriations.

"Longevity has been paid all the way up until October 1st; as of October 1st, the city decided not to pay the six individuals their old longevity," Local 2992 President Marcus Wilson said during public comment.

Next steps

Commissioners instructed the city attorney and staff to seek a timely informal settlement meeting with union counsel and provide a detailed multiyear fiscal analysis; if the parties cannot agree, arbitration remains the next procedural option.