Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

ANSWERS: CLARK COUNTY:

Firefighters may feel their pedestal getting a bit shaky

Tom Collins

Tom Collins

Susan Brager

Susan Brager

For years, firefighters have had their way with local and state lawmakers, gaining approval for almost every benefit or request. Two years ago, for example, when Clark County’s financial problems started to erupt, firefighters fought for a bill that would force the county to expand the types of cancers for which firefighters must be tested. The new cancers to test for were melanoma, prostate, testicular and thyroid.

The county estimated the testing would cost $1 million over two years with additional cost for treatment if cancer were detected.

County lobbyists argued against the bill, saying at least one analysis of 13 years of data showed firefighters suffer no higher risk of cancer than the general population.

So how did the vote go?

With some lawmakers practically chuckling about how little the cost for testing would be, they approved it. In the Assembly, the only “no” votes came from Republicans. No one voted against it in the state Senate.

It’s done. Why bring it up now?

Because this legislative session is shaping up to be quite different. If that turns out to be the case — if state lawmakers have more doubts about bills supported by firefighters — it will be partly because of Clark County and how it has exposed what it believes is evidence of firefighters gaming the sick-leave system to earn more overtime and pension contributions.

Is there evidence that lawmakers, who have only met now for two weeks, are thinking that way?

There is. During a joint transportation hearing on Monday, Assemblyman Mark Sherwood, R-Henderson, asked if Randall Walker, director of Clark County’s Aviation Department, would ask firefighters stationed at the airport to reimburse the county if they are found abusing sick leave.

The Sun first examined sick-leave abuse almost a year ago, prompting Commissioner Steve Sisolak to declare that firefighters were “gaming the system.” Then in January, an independent arbitrator raised questions after reviewing data and e-mail provided by county contract negotiators.

Sherwood was responding to Walker stating that in 2010, McCarran’s expenses totaled about $109 million. That figure would be lower if not for firefighter salaries, which the airport pays, Walker said.

Sherwood asked about potential reimbursement if an investigation found airport firefighters were gaming the system.

Walker said he would not pursue reimbursement, though the responsibility for making that call would lie largely with the County Commission.

Sen. Elizabeth Halseth, R-Las Vegas, posted the exchange between Sherwood and Walker on her blog, adding that she supported Sisolak’s request for an investigation and that “taxpayers are tired of being used and abused.”

•••

Expect a test of wills and maybe tempers in coming months among members of the Clark County Commission.

Why do you say that?

Read what Commissioner Tom Collins said after Tuesday’s meeting. He chastised Susan Brager, the commission’s new chairwoman, for comments she made during discussion of what to do about firefighters who abuse sick leave.

“It is embarrassing to hear the chairman talk about professional firefighters as if they were children,” Collins told the Sun.

Why would there be animosity between Collins and Brager over this issue?

Though Collins has publicly criticized Ryan Beaman, president of the firefighters union, he is still considered one of the union’s strongest supporters on the commission.

And some say Collins hoped to be elected commission chairman, and Brager won the post.

What does Brager say about Collins’ criticism?

She said she wasn’t comparing firefighters to schoolchildren. As a 12-year member of the Clark County School Board, she said she was noting that when children are absent from school, a system exists — usually a simple phone call to parents — to verify illness. “And maybe we can have something like that (in the Fire Department),” she said.

Was she angry about Collins’ comment?

She sounded more surprised than angry.

Did other commissioners weigh in on the exchange?

Sisolak, the most outspoken critic of firefighters on the commission, said he didn’t hear Brager compare firefighters to children. But it might be appropriate, he said: “I think some of them are acting like spoiled brats.”

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