City of Mentor, Firefighters Union Closer to a Final Contract

One down, one to go.

The International Association of Firefighters 1845, Mentor Fire Department's local union, voted in favor of a new contract with the city of Mentor Wednesday morning.

Thirty-nine members attended the vote, Union President David Zalba said. Thirty-seven voted for the new contract; the remaining two abstained.

Now City Council will be able to vote on the new contract at .

Zalba said the proposed contract was hammered out during a meeting between he, Union Vice President Bill Maloverh, City Manager Kenneth Filipiak and Assistant City Manager Tony Zampedro last week.

"We listened to each other's needs and came up with an agreement that everybody was happy with when they left the room," Zalba said.

Zalba declined to discuss specifics of the contract until after City Council voted.

He added that, while Council , the report helped both sides make compromises.

"Nobody wanted to go to arbitration," he said.