Belmont to Begin Hiring Firefighters

As Vice Mayor Dave Warden put it, “Start hiring.”

Warden made the quip just after the Belmont City Council voted 5-0 in favor of a salary and benefits plan for the Belmont Fire Department on Tuesday night.

Gary Jacobs, union official with the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department, called the plan a "great package" at Tuesday's meeting.

"I'd like to thank the council members and staff for everything and they way you’ve treated us," Jacobs said. "You treat us with respect. We feel this is a great package, [and] we’re more than happy to work with you guys on it."

He continued, "This is obviously a very difficult time for the employees. We don’t know where we’re going to work or what it’s going to look like."

But Tuesday night's approval of the salary and benefits plan could ease some worry for the firefighters. The plan is believed to be competitive, and open recruitment for firefighters with the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department who want to work for Belmont will begin in July.

Potential firefighters for the Belmont Fire Department will be evaluated next month, and staff hopes to have its workforce signed up by the end of July or early August.

The Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department is set to dissolve in October.

Click on the attached PDF to view the plan approved by the city council.