TORONTO — On Monday, Toronto Council approved a three-year contract for the city’s paid firefighters and discussed efforts to clear city streets from the massive snowfall on Jan. 25.

Council had authorized Mayor John Parker to negotiate with leaders of International Association of Firefighters Local 2229 for the contract, which includes a $1.25 per hour raise for each firefighter in each of its three years.

Aside from Toronto’s paid fire chief, the city employs five paid full-time members, with the remainder of the department comprised of volunteers.

During the meeting, Councilman Ron Holmes applauded efforts to clear city streets of snow, noting they included members of the city’s cemetery staff and volunteers as well as the street department.

Following the meeting, Parker said through the involvement of volunteer firefighters and city staff who volunteered their time, the city’s usual street crew of five was nearly tripled.

He said as temperatures remained or dipped below 0 through much of the days that followed, salt was less effective in dissolving snow.

Parker said priority was given to main roads, routes used by school buses and steep ones that were more hazardous. He said an effort was made to assist emergency first responders in getting out of their homes to work and elderly residents with medical issues.

“Each day we spread out farther and farther,” he said, noting plow trucks also made their ways down snow-filled alleys where residents normally place their garbage for pickups.

The mayor said the city’s salt supply has diminished from about 600 tons available at the start of winter to 45 to 50 tons at this time.

Parker said it’s a problem faced by many communities, and he has placed an order for 180 additional tons from the city’s salt supplier, Morton Salt, in the Lake Erie area.

But he noted such shipments also have been delayed because a buildup of ice chunks on the Ohio River have made it difficult for barges to travel.

In other business:

• Council referred a request for funds from the Toronto Sunrise Seniors group to council’s finance committee.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey, who chairs the committee, said such requests won’t be addressed until April, after the the group has determined its budget for the upcoming year.

He said the committee will convene again at 5 p.m. Wednesday for what will probably be its last meeting to plan the budget for council’s approval.

Burkey said while a third meeting, to finalize budgetary matters, was announced, it probably won’t be necessary.

He said the first, held last week, was very productive, with discussion with many city officials and department heads.

Burkey said one issue that was discussed was the city’s future implementation of a new financial tracking system that will involve staff entering purchase orders electronically. He said the system will be adopted early next year if not sooner.

• Burkey also announced the committee has met with Kim Kelley, the new manager of the city’s swimming pool, who is exploring with city officials the possibility of extending the pool’s hours when it reopens for the summer.

Parker said Kelley has served as a clerk for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and has served as an emergency medical technician, bringing to the position knowledge and experience in financial recordkeeping and first aid.

Third Ward Councilman Troy Stewart said Kelley is slated to introduce herself at the next meeting of the park and recreation board, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Karaffa Recreation Center.

Council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the City Building.