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Greater Naples Chief will get OT pay for fires

Posted at 10:48 PM, Jun 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-14 06:51:04-04

After a lengthy and tense debate, the Greater Naples Fire Commission agreed to pay Chief Kingman Schuldt overtime for hours worked during recent wildfires.

The move came over the objections of Commissioner Kevin Gerrity, who says any changes to the Chief's contract must be approved by the board as a whole.  

"The chairman has no authority to approve an expenditure," said Gerrity.

Schuldt's contract bars him from being paid overtime, but the board decided he could be paid for extra hours worked during the fires since it was a federal disaster.

The chief even volunteered to work for free.

"It came back that I should include myself per policy, I said no a few times, but obviously agreed to follow my directions," said Schuldt.

Commission Chair Jeff Page said the department can be reimbursed by the federal government for overtime hours paid to firefighters and command staff during the wildfires.