WINTER SPRINGS -- The Winter Springs' Fire Department appears to be headed toward a merger that would consolidate local fire efforts with Seminole County.
At a workshop Monday, city manager Ronald McLemore told city commissioners the move would allow residents to avoid fire assessment fees, while also making the fire department more efficient.
"What will happen is, employees win, the taxpayers win and services remain as good as it was before," McLemore said.
However, Jeff McCall, union president for the Winter Springs Fire Department, told News 13 many members still have pension issues that needed to be worked out.
"Going forward, I feel like consolidation with the county is going to be a positive, but I can't have my members go in at substandard levels and not have their pensions handled appropriately," McCall said.
Negotiations relating to those pensions were expected to continue.
Winter Springs city commissioners are expected to vote on the consolidation plan Monday, June 23. It would then be voted on the following day by the Board of County Commission.
They hope to have the new agreement take effect Oct. 2.
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