Trustees authorize firefighter pay increase in an attempt to boost employee retention

by Melissa Martin

Nov. 15 township trustees meeting

The Hinckley Board of Trustees voted unanimously to increase the hourly rate of pay for township firefighters following an executive session Nov. 15.

The move comes in response to criticism in recent months from fire department administrators who say the department continues to lose firefighters to surrounding communities that offer higher pay rates.

As the township also invests money to train and outfit its firefighter/medics, fire chiefs, both current and former, say the loss of staffing isn’t the only issue. The department also suffers a monetary loss every time a firefighter leaves, as those expenses are unable to be recouped once firefighters leave to pursue higher-paying jobs.

As part of the new pay scale, Trustee Monique Ascherl said part-time firefighters-EMTs will be paid $18.50 an hour, while firefighter-medics will receive $22.50 an hour. Lieutenant-firefighter/medics will now receive $24.50 an hour, while assistant chiefs-firefighter/medics will receive $28.50 an hour.

Additionally, the officer in charge will receive an additional 50 cents per hour. That rate will not apply to lieutenants or the township’s full-time firefighters, Ascherl said.

Fire Chief Matt Payne said the pay increases will put the township in line with other departments in surrounding communities and make it easier to retain fire staff.

Trustees also approved an increased rate of pay for its full-time firefighter/medics to $55,000 to be compatible with the department’s new part-time wage scale. In exchange for the raise in pay, those individuals will not receive a cost-of-living increase for 2025, Ascherl said.

“This is to bump up our full-time firefighters so they are not making less than our part-time [staff],” Ascherl said.

Trustee Jack Swedyk said the salary changes, which were expected to take effect Nov. 11, are in line with the township’s current budgetary resources.

In other news, trustees are looking for a new home for a boulder carved in honor of Buzzard Day that was crafted by a township Eagle Scout several years back. The boulder, which had been located outside of Town Hall, had to be moved to make way for a new electronic messaging sign the township plans to install in the weeks ahead.

While Ascherl suggested the boulder be relocated to Veterans Memorial Park in the heart of downtown Hinckley, the other two trustees said they believe the park should be reserved for honoring local veterans.

Instead, Trustees Swedyk and Cyntia Engleman suggested the boulder may be better suited outside the Hinckley Historical Society, especially since the stone was carved in honor of the two park rangers, Charlie Willard and Walter Nowalnek, who are credited with following and recording the habits of the buzzards beginning in the 1950s.

“It may be something historical to the township, so maybe put it over by the historical building,” Swedyk suggested.

Ascherl said the township hopes to find a new home for the commemorative rock sometime next spring.

For the second year in a row, Hinckley will sponsor a contest searching for the township’s best holiday lighting display. Residents are encouraged to send in their nominations and the students of Hinckley Elementary School will vote to determine the winning house. Trustees will reveal the winner at the Dec. 10 trustees meeting, which will take place at the Hinckley Elementary School.

Trustees also approved:

• The purchase of rifle ammunition for the township’s police department at a cost of $20,418. The purchase is expected to sustain the department for the next five years.
• The purchase of a new laptop computer, monitor and docking station for the fire chief at a cost of $2,223. ∞