The fire pension board, having cancelled a special meeting to discuss the reforms last Friday, didn't do a whole lot to clear up their timeline at a Tuesday meeting. The board did, however (with city appointee Arif Rasheed opposed) approve the following motion:
"The fund's objectives are (A) to give appropriate support to measures to accomplish reasonable benefit reductions and member contribution increases that can lessen the fractional part of total firefighter benefits costs contributed by the city consistent with providing secure benefits, and (B) to continue to discuss with the city the possibility of reaching agreed terms and legislative language that would legally and constitutionally accomplish the objectives stated in Part A of this motion."
That's a mouthful, but it seems the most relevant six of those 73 words are "continue to discuss with the city."
Fire pension board chairman David Keller said there are significant issues that need to be resolved between the two sides before it can be said a final deal has been reached, but he stressed that his board has continued to negotiate in good faith.
"There was this big expectation that there was some nefarious thing going on," Keller said. "We'll continue to discuss it with them as long as they're willing to discuss it with us."
There were no negotiating sessions scheduled with city officials as of Tuesday morning, however, Keller said. He also said, "We don't feel the same time constraints that they do."
Just as fire pension leaders have felt stymied by the city in negotiations ("They're not being as cooperative on the language as we'd expect them to be," fire board vice chairman Stephen Whitehead said), city officials have thought fire pension leaders have moved sluggishly.
It's not clear exactly how long the mayor is willing to continue talks before deciding whatever language is in progress must be turned into legislation, but he did express a sense of urgency after last week's council meeting on the topic.
"Let me be very clear: We are moving forward. There's no veto here at all," Turner said last Wednesday. "We all recognize in every legislation there are adjustments you make along the way. But we are moving forward."
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