A.G. Gancarski
The latest iteration of Jacksonville’s starstruck Police and Fire Pension deal got through two committees Wednesday. Ordinance 2015-54 was passed by Finance by a 5-2 margin, and the Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee passed it 5-1.
The bill was slated to go to the Rules Committee Friday morning, which would have put it on track to be considered Tuesday night, but as of Thursday afternoon that was in doubt after the Rules Committee meeting was cancelled.
Rules Committee Chairman Bill Gulliford sent a notice Thursday morning to announce the meeting’s postponement. Committeeman Matt Schellenberg’s father passed away Wednesday so he’ll be out of the office the rest of this week.
That creates a dilemma for Mayor Alvin Brown‘s team, which has made getting the pension deal passed a first-term priority. Chris Hand, Mayor Brown’s chief of staff, is attempting to keep the process on track to still be considered at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
For that to happen, the Rules Committee meeting must be rescheduled.
In an email to Gulliford, Hand outlines the administration position on the rescheduling …
… could you let me know when the Special Committee meeting will be rescheduled for either that day or on Tuesday, February 24 prior to the regular Council meeting? Since two City Council committees have acted on 2015-54, and those committee meetings have included 5 of the 7 members of the Rules Committee, I would not think that a rescheduled Rules Committee meeting would run long.
Additionally, we had made arrangements for actuary Robert Dezube of Miliman and one of our pension attorneys from Lewis, Longman & Walker to be present at Friday’s Special Meeting. Since they had made travel plans, I will need to give them some guidance for when to be here on Monday or Tuesday.
Jacksonville’s Police and Fire Pension Fund arrangement is a matter of much consternation and campaign discourse. Assuming that the Rules Committee convenes early next week and the bill passes, the stage is set for an epic showdown at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.
