Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson was his usual self at Thursday afternoon’s meeting to discuss the firefighter schedule.

“This is not the first time this has been discussed,” the fire chief said. “We had this same discussion 10 years ago, when we made the switch.”

Wilson blamed the media for creating a “public perception” that not having firefighters at the Austin Fire Station overnight creates a safety concern for the city.

He also said, “I am surprised we are even having this meeting.”

A committee of three Austin City Council members spent two hours Thursday listening to both sides of the argument over firefighter scheduling.

Jeff Austin, 1st Ward, chaired the emotionally charged meeting. Council Members Dick Pacholl and Steve King, both 2nd Ward, were also appointed by Mayor Tom Stiehm to serve on the committee.

The Mayor attended along with city administrator Jim Hurm, director of fiancee and operations Tom Dankert and human resources director Trish Wiechmann.

At times, the meeting resembled a negotiations session: The city and its firefighters have been unable to negotiate a new contract for more than a year.

Austin firefighters were there. Their union president, Troy Tigner, argued the case for them.

In the audience were other active and retired firefighters, plus citizens. In addition, International Association of Fire Fighters union representatives from other meetings attended.

It was a complicated discussion.

The city attempted to change a 24/7 schedule in January without advising the Austin firefighters.

The firefighters balked. When a similar change was attempted a year ago, public outcry — fueled by concerns the public’s safety would be breached if there weren’t firefighters on duty overnight at the fire station — caused the Austin City Council to reinstate 24/7 coverage.

The schedule instituted amounted to a series of 10-hour and 14-hour shifts.

That was the first talking point for 2nd Ward Council Member King, who was elected in November 2008 and took office in January.

“I’m concerned about our employees, because of the changing shifts at the fire station,” King said.

Wilson said there was no “structured activity” taking place overnight to occupy any firefighter’s time at the fire station … unless an emergency arose.

King said the firefighters deserved “balance” in their lives between work and off-duty time. Working the current shift schedule and then being on-call for several days at a time did not allow that, according to King.

Committee chair wrestled Austin to control the meeting, when tempers flared and barbs — targeting the fire chief and the city — flew from audience members.

After two-hours of back-and-forth debate, 2nd Ward Council Member Pacholl was able to reach a compromise of sorts from the protagonists.

The Austin firefighters will submit their recommendations to the committee about how the city can achieve its avowed 24/7 coverage. The committee members will review the recommendations and respond with their own.

Meanwhile, the city does have 24/7 fire safety coverage, and the current schedule will be maintained.

Also, negotiations between the city and firefighters union will return to behind closed doors.