October 11, 2010
10/12/10 Monday night the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety took official action on a firefighter/paramedic that is incapable of fulfilling her required job duties.
City Attorney Nelson Chipman and Fire Chief Andy Metsker appeared before the board and presented the findings of facst in the recommendation to terminate Crystal Garza from the department.
The Chief explained that Ms. Garza was hired on full time on September 1, 2001and injured on the job on August 3, 2009. Since her injury she has been off the job, has had two surgeries and has a stringent lifting restriction imposed of twenty pounds. Her doctor has also said she is not to do any overhead lifting.
During the meeting the fire chief testified that an essential job function for a firefighter/paramedic includes the ability to lift substantially more pounds than Garza’s limitations. He said the job description requires a fireman/paramedic to be able to drag 150 pounds 50 feet.
Ms. Garza was notified of the meeting and decided not to proceed with a hearing.
The Board of Public Works and Safety adopted the Findings of Fact.
Chief Metsker said that his staff understands that they may suffer a career ending injury whenever they respond to a call