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Reaction to Firefighter Layoffs in Williamsport

Reaction to Firefighter Layoffs in Williamsport - Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 5:15PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010 @ 05:15pm EST
Williamsport, Lycoming County-

New details emerge just one day after Williamsport Mayor Gabe Campana's announcement that two city firefighters and a police clerk will be laid off in two weeks. Some believe the decision will end up costing the city more money in the end.

Williamsport firefighters are livid at the thought of losing two more of their own in the name of budget cuts. It would put the department staffing level at 31 firefighters, a drop-off of 20 employees in the past 15 years.

Former fire chief Butch Anthony said, "They're so undermanned it's ridiculous. I mean it's almost impossible to fight a fire with the amount of people they have and fight it the right way."

Keith Lucas, vice-president of the firefighters union, noted, "We're well below the safety standards and somebody's going to get hurt or killed. And the administration, they don't care."

Campana says that's not the case, but adds the city must be run like a business. He explained, "As mayor of this city, I'm responsible for the fiscal health of this city. And these changes had to be made."

Some believe the layoffs are in retaliation for the union not accepting a contribution to their health care costs. Again Campana disagrees, but offered this summary.

He said, "The days are over that government has to supply all the benefits for the employees. We can't afford it."

Campana says cutting the three positions would save the city about $100,000 per year. But others argue the additional unemployment benefits the city would have to pay would basically eliminate those savings.

Both sides, in different ways, say safety needs to be the top priority.

Campana noted, "I feel very confident with the relationship that we have with Old Lycoming, and the other volunteer fire departments, that we will provide quality service for the citizens."

Lucas added, "We've got to draw a line in the sand somewhere and we're drawing a line. We're not going to take it anymore."

Lucas tells Eyewitness News an unfair labor practice suit is being filed. Both sides say they're confident their arguments will hold up in court.
 


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