The Piedmont City Council on Monday will consider an agreement with Albany to share a fire chief to serve both cities.
The public portion of the Piedmont City Council is due to begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 120 Vista Ave., following a 7 p.m. closed session to discuss potential litigation.
Chief Ed Tubbs started with Piedmont last August. If Piedmont adds its signatures to an agreement already signed by Albany officials, Tubbs would begin Albany responsibilities April 11.
Tubbs told the Piedmont council last month that the arrangement would not affect the level of fire and ambulance service. Captains in both departments would continue to manage day-to-day emergency responses.
Piedmont estimates a net savings of $111,299.55 from the one-year trial. The chief would continue to be a Piedmont municipal employee and Albany would reimburse Piedmont for half his salary and benefits.
“As this is a pilot program, both cities will be required to provide a written review to their respective city councils at the end of the ninth month,” wrote City Administrator Geoff Grote in a report to the council, adding that the Piedmont council has asked Tubbs to report on initial progress after three months.
The agreement has a 60-day termination clause for either city.
Albany is to pay Piedmont one-half of the costs of the fire chief’s salary and benefit package. The compensation listed in Grote’s report shows $244,493.47 for salary and pension, plus an annual value of $22,257.96 in benefits.
The Albany City Council on March 21 approved the agreement, modeled on a similar pact between the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae in San Mateo County.
