The Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) voted 3-2 Tuesday morning, Aug. 19 to hire YourSource Management Group, a human resources firm located in Auburn Hills, provided the money can be found in the budget to pay them.
CAFA has committed to hiring YourSource for one year.
Rod Anderson and Kurt Kosek voted no. Anderson said he did not want to fire Seventh Rule Accounting as payroll administrator for CAFA. Kosek expressed concern about doing anything while union negotiations are still ongoing.
YourSource will conduct an audit of CAFA operations, and take over many HR duties beginning after union negotiations are concluded.
Kim Payeur, administrative assistant, said that “We need this solution now,” adding that her job has become increasingly difficult, as labor laws are changing constantly.
CAFA board member Craig Maier stated that the Lima Township fire substation is temporarily on hold, because no lease has been signed, and the landlord of the property has not yet begun renovations on the building. CAFA must wait until this construction is completed to put in the necessary upgrades. Maier said that he expected to have the lease in hand over a week ago.
On Chief Jim Payeur’s recommendation, the board approved the hiring of two new on-call fire fighters — James Gaken and Nicholas Saarinen. Anderson voted no requesting that Payeur supply the board with resumes of candidates in the future.
Board member Kurt Kosek reported that an agreement with the union is “at least a month away,” but that negotiations are going well.
