Lehigh firefighter Mike Gonzales is given a traditional retirement gift, a fireman's pick axe, by Fire Chief Don Adams, right, during a meeting of the fire board last week. Photo by Mel Toadvine

After 35 minutes of going back and forth, listening to a cell phone conversation held up to a microphone from the Lehigh Acres Fire Department’s labor attorney, fire board commissioners decided to listen to grievances two unions have lodged because the costs of their uniforms have been added to their W-2 forms.

Uniforms in the past have been regarded as a fringe benefit, but Fire Chief Don Adams said the IRS was cracking down and in a letter informed them that the value of the uniforms had to be reported as income to the employees.

Because of this employees have objected through their union leaders because they belive they should not have to pay federal taxes on what they call a

fringe benefit.

According to John Hammond, the department’s labor attorney who spoke to the group via cell phone, the board had a few options as how to handle the controversy that has caused two unions, one representing the firefighters and the other representing administration, objecting to the cost of uniforms being added as income to their tax forms.

Retiring firefighter Mike Gonzales is congratulated by board memberes after a brief ceremony marking his leaving the department. Shown are board members David Aams, left, and Jeff Berndt. Photo by Mel Toadvine

The costs of uniforms range generally from $62 to $130 or more and this is the first year that the value of the uniforms has been added to each employee’s total income.

Chief Don Adams told the board at the monthly meeting on Feb. 19 that the IRS had sent a letter to the department saying the cost of the uniforms must be handled as income for all the department’s employees, including the chief himself.

Board Attorney Richard Pringle, who was at the meeting, clarified the options to members of the board. He said they could make a decision to hear the grievances or let it go to arbitration or to ask the chief to address the situation.

He reminded them that one of the unions was going into negotiations next month and the other union could open up the discussion, too.

Pringle said since the union for District 6 was soon entering negotiations, it was “perfect timing” to address the subject then.

At one point during the prolonged discussion, Chairman Jeff Berndt said, “Can I make a statement?”

“My opinion is to address it with District 6 (union) by getting the chief to work with them and District 19 (union). It’s not worth going to arbitration. It’s a waste of money.”

But in the end, Commissioner Joel Guzman made a motion for the board to hear the grievance and Commissioner Ralph Hemingway seconded it and it carried unanimously.

Pringle said he would schedule a special meeting for the grievance hearing. A budget workshop is scheduled for Feb. 25 with Union District 19.

Meanwhile, Bo Turbeville, who chairs the Weed and Seen program in Lehigh, gave a brief overview of the organization that is working to get a U.S. Justice Dept. grant to improve conditions in Lehigh through efforts by volunteers and the Sheriff’s Office. The board asked the chief to write a letter to Weed and Seed officials saying the board supported their efforts.

Lehigh Acres firefighter Mike Gonzales was presented a traditional golden-colored fire axe pick marking his retirement after 28 years with the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. Chief Don Adams made the presentation. Gonzales said he thought it was time to resign and “let the younger guys” take his place. He is retiring after a 30-year career in firefighting.

“This was probably the hardest decision I ever made. Fire service has been how I have spent most of my life,” Gonzales said.

Also at the meeting was Ernie Hartman, chairman of the upcoming Lehigh Spring Festival which takes place from March 20 – 28. He asked the fire board to

waive the $375 inspection fees this year because of the ailing economy.

“We put this festival on with the contributions from the business community. Times are hard right now and I am here to ask if you would help by waiving

your inspection fees,” Hartman said. He also announced that because of the economy, there would be no fireworks at this year’s Festival.

Fire Marshal Ken Bennett said the inspections are of the electrical equipment hookups and equipment at the festival. Commissioner Hemingway said he

wondered that if by waiving the fee, would it have any effect on any accidents on the rides in the midway of the festival.

Hartman said the rides were owned by a separate company and noted that the state’s Department of Agriculture was responsible for inspecting all the

rides.

“The company that owns the rides is completely responsible for that,” Hartman said. Fire Marshal Bennett added that the Department of Agriculture’s

consumers services department inspects the rides before they be used by the public.

Hartman thanked the fire department for putting up banners in Lehigh in the past promoting the Festival and he he was sorry “one individual in this community” complained and that the fire department made a decision not to put them up again.

“We spent $25,000 for those banners and they sit in a warehouse because one person complained about firefighters putting them on the light poles in town,”

he said.

In other communities, fire departments often donate their time and use ladder trucks to put up banners as a service to the community. Neither the chief nor

the board responded about the person who complained about their helping to put up banners in past years.

The Feb. 25 workshop is open to the public and takes place at 4 p.m. and will be held in the meeting room at the Veterans Park Community Center.