Increased calls for service becoming a problem for Richfield Fire
by Sue Serdinak
Dec. 3 village council meeting
The number of emergency calls to the Richfield Village Fire Department continues to drain the department’s budget, while the ability to respond to the calls becomes more difficult.
Chief George Seifert said the department frequently gets two calls for service almost simultaneously. He said that a four-person crew is unable to handle bunched calls, and part-time help or mutual aid from surrounding departments becomes the answer.
Just prior to the meeting the department received two calls and requested support from Bath, but all of Bath’s units were on runs.
Mayor Michael Wheeler explained that in addition to the increase in accidents because of construction on I-77, Richfield has an aging population and the nursing home facilities are close to capacity, creating more demands for medical transports.
“Part timers are harder to get right now and mutual aid is not guaranteed,” he added.
Council approved staffing the department with five instead of four fire/medics at all times, with the hope that overtime will decrease. Each person added to the payroll as a full-time fire medic costs the village about $148,000 annually.
Finance Director Sandy Turk has reported at the past few meetings that the department’s 2024 overtime pay is over budget. For the first 11 months of 2024, $283,000 was paid in overtime.
The chief announced that one fire medic, Daisy Stiegelmeyer, recently resigned to take a job in Columbus and the department’s inspector, Lt. Jason Purkey, retired earlier this year. He asked council’s approval to hire three people to create five-person teams on each shift.
Council approved hiring full-time fire medics Daniel Eifel, Matthew Fleshman and Brian McClellan.
Eifel is a member of the National Disaster Medical System OH-5 strike team. He was employed by Sandusky and Cleveland.
Fleshman worked full-time with Garfield Heights Fire and part-time with Broadview Heights and Valley View.
McClellan was employed with the Coventry Fire Department. He holds certification in swift water rescue.
Seifert said he has been handling inspections for the department and has delayed hiring someone for that position.
Councilperson Rick Hudak said having someone on call for business inspections has worked well.
Councilperson Sue Ann Philippbar said she appreciated that Seifert is trying to reduce overtime pay but added, “We need to watch it every month. If it doesn’t work, we will need to readjust.”
During the public comment period, former Councilperson Barbara Lanford asked if Richfield Township has been included in discussions about increased fire service costs. Richfield Township contracts with the village for fire and police protection.
Personnel
Police Chief Michael Swanson reported the resignation of officer Cynthia Kilgore, who is moving out of state due to her husband’s job transfer. Swanson has started interviewing to fill the vacancy.
He said all Richfield officers completed 24 hours of continued training, which included responding to mental health issues, crisis mitigation/de-escalation, Marcy’s Law/victim rights and the ballistic information national network.
Legislation
• Council agreed to give a 3.5% pay increase to all village employees who are not part of a union. The increase does not include the elected positions of mayor and council.
Council also approved a clothing allowance for non-bargaining members of the police, fire, zoning and custodial departments. The police and fire chiefs and assistant chiefs would receive an allowance of up to $1,500 annually. The service department director would receive up to $500, and department members would receive $800. The planning and zoning director and assistant director would receive up to $500 and the full-time custodian $450.
• Council adopted the comprehensive land use plan, which can be read at richfieldvillageohio.org/600/2023-Comprehensive-Land-Use-Plan-Update.
• Council had first readings on two pay ordinances. Councilperson Bobbie Beshara proposed to annually pay any non-union employee additional money if they have a post-secondary degree. The payment would range from $175 for an associate degree, $250 for a bachelor’s degree and $400 for a master’s degree.
Beshara also proposed an ordinance to pay anyone currently or in the past who served in the U.S. military an annual sum of $300.
Council did not act on the legislation, and it was not revealed what these payments would cost the village.
• Council also read an ordinance to waive all construction and occupancy fees for a home that Petros Homes would build at 4243 Brecksville Rd. The home would be raffled off as a charitable prize of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland. The amount of the fees would be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Planning and Zoning Director Brian Frantz estimated the fees and permits usually are about $10,000.
Council did not act on the legislation.
• Council voted to approve selling additional cemetery plots in West Richfield Cemetery.
’25 appointments
Wheeler received council’s approval for his appointments to village boards:
Terri Moran – planning and zoning commission. She replaces Bart Sauer, whose term expired.
Jason Kepler – parks and recreation board. He replaces Moran, who is resigning to serve on the planning and zoning commission.
Diane Nagy – parks and recreation board. She will fill the unexpired term of Carolyn Sullivan, who is resigning.
Tracy Schwotzer – reappointed to the board of zoning appeals.
Harold Scobie – reappointed to the cemetery board.
Pat Buckner – reappointed to the cemetery board.
Paul Swan – reappointed to the human services commission.
Lighting
The mayor and council praised the service department for the lights on the Green and the Richfield Civic Organization for sponsoring the tree-lighting ceremony. Paul Backo and his family donated the lighted tree placed near the new pavilion.
Construction update
Wheeler announced that the ramp from Brecksville Road to I-77 south will be closed for about six months.
Construction on I-77 will continue between Everett Road and the Ohio Turnpike. Construction on I-77 will not be completed until 2026.
Internet security
Informational Technology Director Tim Baker reported that a new firewall has been installed in the village internet system to provide a higher level of security.
Band concert
Parks and Recreation Director John Piepsny said he is seeking a sponsor for the summer concerts; he also is looking for instructors for 2025 recreation programs. Councilperson Sue Ann Philippbar asked the director if he could find local bands to perform at the concerts.
Parking
The village will soon know if there is enough parking for the Richfield Brewing Company, which was expected to open in a few days. The parking lot near the library is for municipal parking generally, not for the library exclusively. Public parking is also available near Masonic Hall and Fellowship Hall, but often events are held in those buildings. The parking lot at Fellowship Hall will be repaved next year.
Frantz said currently there is parking for 170 cars, and there are options to add parking around the vacant village-owned home on Grant Street.
Senior Center
Councilperson Marty Kruszynski said trips offered by the Senior Center fill up quickly and at times Richfield residents are left out. He questioned if village residents should be given priority in making reservations.
Linda Corsi, trip coordinator for the center, said when a trip is popular it is offered a second time. She does not favor offering village residents preferential reservations.
Wheeler and council members agreed that all paid members of the center should be allowed to reserve seats for outings at the same time.
Resident concern
Resident Penny Rzonca said many people do not want the former Constantine property rezoned to R-4, which allows multi-family buildings up to 35 feet high. Rzonca said her main concern is traffic and a transient population.
She said she does not oppose the single-story buildings proposed by Petros Homes on 8.2 acres. That plan shows 44 single-story, ranch style, attached units with no basements and wider doorways designed for people 55 and older.
Second meeting canceledCouncil canceled the Dec. 17 meeting. The next meeting will be Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.