Council backs merit‑rule change to allow one‑year temporary fire‑department promotions

The council's regulations committee approved G260504, an amendment to the City of Fort Wayne merit rules intended to let the Merit Commission enact temporary, one‑year rule changes when both the administration and the union agree.

Eric Glaheen (presenting for the administration) and Todd Kabish (Local 124) described the change as a narrow, time‑limited mechanism to address staffing shortages — for example, by adjusting years‑of‑service or certification timing so more firefighters become eligible for promotion in a given cycle. Under the proposed amendment, temporary Merit Commission rule changes would last up to one year; the city would then either bring permanent ordinance language back to council or revert to prior rules.

Council members asked for guardrails to prevent high‑impact policy changes being implemented without council oversight. Presenters said three conditions apply: (1) both sides must agree to the change, (2) the Merit Commission must approve it before implementation, and (3) the change automatically expires after one year unless council acts. The committee approved the measure by a 9–0 vote.

Next steps: G260504 will proceed to the full council for final passage; the amendment is intended to be used sparingly and to be followed by a legislative review if enacted temporarily by the Merit Commission.