Firefighters: More layoffs coming
By DARCIE LORENO Tribune ChronicleWARREN - Another 17 city firefighters will receive layoff notices next week, according to firefighter union officials who say they got word from city administrators at a meeting Friday.
Firefighter union officials said they were told the layoffs would take effect June 12.
But city Safety-Service Director William '' Doug'' Franklin denied that statement, and said the meeting was held to discuss ways to save jobs, and as a precursor to another meeting next week. Franklin said it was meant to be part of ongoing discussions on ways to scale back the city's $1.5 million deficit.
''We just wanted to share information and give thoughts as to where we were," Franklin said. "We're pulling out everything we can to make this work. We don't want to lay off anyone. Employees around the city, including managers ... we are all going to be taking some (concessions).''
The Fire Department laid off 11 firefighters due to financial issues in January and was told last month that unless it cuts $430,000 more, 15 additional firefighters would be laid off. Last week, the city sent the Civil Service Commission a letter saying it would lay off more workers June 1. Franklin said the letter was a fiduciary and legal responsibility given the deficit.
Firefighter Union President Marc Titus said Friday that during a meeting with city officials last week, both sides had agreed to postpone any firefighter layoffs until they got word on the availability of funding through a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant. The grant previously covered only retaining firefighters or recruiting new firefighters. The House has approved legislation that would allow the funds to cover bringing back laid-off workers, and now it's awaiting Senate approval, expected by Memorial Day, Titus said.
But Titus said that Friday the administration told the union it would go ahead with the layoffs.
"We had an agreement on the table, and they reneged on it," Titus said.
Franklin disagreed, saying the city did not renege on any agreement.
"We did not renege," he said. "Unless they want to not continue ... we'll have to deal with it in another way. That was absolutely not how we left the meeting."
Franklin said another meeting is set for Thursday, and he hopes union negotiators show up.
"In order to keep safety forces ... we have to discuss the issues at the table in good faith," Franklin said. "Our plans are to go ahead. We're going to be talking with everybody."
Neither side would further discuss details of possible concessions that had been on the floor.
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hibernian
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05-17-09 8:48 PM
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I URGE EVERYONE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THESE SO CALLED LOCAL POLITICIANS. DO NOT FEAR RETRIBUTION FROM THE FEEBLE MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DESTROYING THIS CITY
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hibernian
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05-17-09 8:45 PM
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MESSAGE TO FRANKLIN, OBRIEN, CICERO....THE PICKET GOT UNDER YOUR SKIN, THE PRESS HAS GOTTEN UNDER YOUR SKIN, TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY, YOU KNOW THE SAYING ABOUT IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT DON'T YA? YOU RODE THE SAFETY FORCES BACKS WHEN YOU WANTED TO PASS THE LEVY, AND THEN MAKE IT PERMANENT. AS HARD AS WE WORKED TO GET THAT LEVY PASSED, AS MANY HOMES WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR TALKING TO RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW WE NEEDED THIS IN OUR CITY, I GUARANTEE YOU I WILL WORK 5 TIMES AS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND NEVER HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN THIS CITY OR COUNTY EVER AGAIN. AND THAT'S A PROMISE. THE ONLY PUBLIC SERVING YOU WILL BE DOING IS TAKING MY ORDER AT A LOCAL RESTARAUNT.
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mother68
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05-17-09 12:12 AM
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Mayor O'Brien when was the last time you showed your face at a commitee meeting or bargaining meeting or better yet..AT THE FIRE DEPT. You are a COWARD,your Father ( a firefighter )must be turning in his grave, Frank was a very good and kind man,to bad you do not take after Him. You and the city council are turning this family friendly city into A GRAVE YARD. Where is all this layoff money you will be saving going to? I figure some where in the neighborhood of $1,500,000.00. Paying the city bills on the backs of ONE DEPT. THE FIREFIGHTERS. I hope you are sooo proud of yourself. Going?
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mother68
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05-16-09 11:47 PM
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The people of Warren think the Mayor has given his raise back.. Noooo! He said "I will pay by check" not one dime has been returned. You ask why by check? because when he retires he will get paid for his last three highest years of employment in Warren, so the raise will remain on the books,while he says he will return the money, his retirement will include the raise! People of Warren put that in your Pipe and smoke it. Mayor O'Brien you should hang your head in shame, you know what I say is TRUE.
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paulydel
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05-16-09 7:36 PM
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Is Warren becoming a larger version of Mayberry RFD or what?
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Reedsmit
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05-16-09 7:20 PM
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TBTBTB we both know that people will find something to complain about. I am 58, and I recognize that I can not do the things I did 5 years ago. The issue today is not age, not retirement, it is not physical ability, and I apologize for bringing it up. It is about the City of Warren being in serious trouble. State help? Federal help? The citizens need to scream loud and hard to get national attention, and get the financial aid to keep your Safety Officers.
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FireFightingDrone
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05-16-09 6:42 PM
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lol (-:
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mother68
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05-16-09 6:00 PM
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I do not consider this a layoff, I consider this to be an old fashion lynching. Why are only the firefighters getting laid off and why 17 men, thats alot more than $430,000.00. Mayor O'Brien remember where you came from.
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gistol
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05-16-09 5:51 PM
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poptart & joecool- It's long overdue for you to come clean and admit who you are. It is evident by your support of laying off Safety Forces that you are part of the problem, i.e. one of those issuing the layoffs. If not, than it's pitiful for someone to be so ignorant, inconsiderate and uneducated to believe that Police & Fire are not needed. How dare you disrespect such brave souls that choose a profession that is willing to put their life on the line for someone as unappreciative as you?! CVENGROS - glad to see you stepping up and trying to do something! Warren is in a critical state right now and I surely hope ALL residents see how if the Safety Forces continue to be let go, there is NO FUTURE for Warren. Less residents = more blight - that is the future at this pace. As bad as the city's financial affairs are now, they WILL get worse unless someone with a clue starts running the city.
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LaidOffDrone
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05-16-09 3:58 PM
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On the main Trib Dot Com page, there's an ad for a street department worker in Chester, WV. It's right across the river from East Liverpool. Even though it's just a small town, I'm sure it's just like anywhere else; the job will be given to someones friend or relative or whatever. But you never know, so everyone make a mad dash for the border, lol. (-:
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phbluk
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05-16-09 3:33 PM
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Once a department is decimated to the point of ineffectiveness and most incidents are total losses of life and property it is doubtful that that department will ever be revived again to any appreciable degree. The Fd will be a 4 person a day operation forevermore.
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FORLORN
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05-16-09 3:25 PM
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Why is the City giving the Packard Museum free water and other services and couldn't theses services easily be cut to help pay for our safety forces. The Museum only gets about 4 visitors a week anyway and their car shows are nothing but a disappointment
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NotImpressed
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05-16-09 2:57 PM
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I totally agree with XANADU440 Trim the fat first. And Thinkfirst is right on the money about our street department. My question is with money is tight as it appears to be in services being cut all the time. Why is the city is the personal lawn mowing service and snow removing service for the Packard Museum and Museum leases the land from the city that was not part of the lease. Just a question. And one that should be answered it is our tax money! And every little bit, they waste hurts all of us. NotImpressed
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XANADU440
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05-16-09 2:34 PM
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thinkfirst: WELL PUT.....THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS FOR DOING THIS..trim the fat first !!!! lotta cars behind behind the water department on Laird ...DOING WHAT!!!!! I WANT ALL SAFETY FORCES BACK ,FACE IT .....WE NEED THEM NOW!!!
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Reedsmit
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05-16-09 2:11 PM
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How about mandatory retirements, if you are elegable to retire, time to step aside. Sounds mean, what about having a Fire Dept. of people over the age of 55. What about passing a p.t. test every year. If you can't pass a p.t. test like the Military Reserves require, can you really evacuate a victim from a fire?
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Reedsmit
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05-16-09 2:07 PM
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What about City Council, there are alot of empty houses in Warren, which mean less people to represent. So... can't Warren do with less Council members.
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thinkfirst
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05-16-09 1:46 PM
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The laying off Safety Personal is obscene. Let us evaluate. Do we really need a Safety Director? A human resource director? Inspectors? To inspect what exactly? Do we really need secretaries for each office? Can’t the Mayor learn to answer his phone and file? Can’t there be a Secretary Pool like in olden days? Don’t get me started on the Street Department. Has anyone seen any of them work? It takes two or more trucks and over 6 men to fill a pothole. 3 stand around holding cups of coffee leaning on shovels instructing the 2 men filling the hole. One guy to point to the hole and the other one to fill it with goop. The rest are in “little Mac’s” getting coffee and when you ask them why aren’t they working they tell you to “mind your own business.” Wouldn't it be better hiring a private contractor on ‘as needed’ bases to tend to our streets? Give me a detailed, line for line budget report. I will show you where to cut expenses. It won’t be in the Police-Fire Dept
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FireFightingDrone
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05-16-09 1:06 PM
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*chants* "Hear our Voices...Keep our Forces!" "Hear our Voices...Keep our Forces!" (-:
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Firefighting5500
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05-16-09 12:52 PM
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god forbid that the city safety service director takes a small pay cut to help save a job. all these emergency responders are getting laid off and taking pay cuts but yet these greedy govt. officials always want more $$$$$
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poptart
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05-16-09 12:35 PM
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Petition writer - like this city needs more folks like you. The level of hate and anger displayed on this site is disturbing.
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FireFightingDrone
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05-16-09 11:22 AM
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lol (-:
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NASCAR123
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05-16-09 9:29 AM
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WELL THERE WILL BE 2 OPENINGS IN THE SHERIFFS DEPT. THAT THOSE FIREFIGHTERS CAN HAVE SINCE TO DEPUTIES WILL BE GOING TO JAIL.
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Reedsmit
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05-16-09 9:03 AM
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Unfortunately this is not about pay raises. The Fire Fighters have already given up pay raises, uninform allowances etc. This is about SAFETY, both of the citizens in Warren and the Firefighters. Longer response times, mean a more involved fire. Anyone trapped in that fire will have less of a chance of survival. That also equates to a more dangerous situation for the Firefighter. The fewer Firefighters on duty, means fewer trucks to respond, if it is a large fire or if there is more than one incident. If the trucks and crews are already committed to a vehicle accident, and a Fire breaks out, will they leave the scene or will they let the fire burn. This is not about money. My son is a Warren Firefighter, I can not be any prouder of him and his commitment and bravery, but I am freightened for him, his brothers in the Dept. and their families.
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Maggott
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05-16-09 8:48 AM
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Any firefighter, whether in Warren or anywhere on this planet, would NEVER walk off the job to get more pay. That's why they become firefighters, to serve the public without fear, without compensation (volunteers),and with honor. The public respects firefighters for their bravery and expertise and they will always be there to serve. I believe that the city officials know that and are using their dedication against the citizens of Warren. In other words, OB is going to run a major risk of failing to provide adequate fire protection based on probability charts of when and if a major fire would occur and what the fire/life loss would be. He is throwing dice with Warren's safety.
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Reedsmit
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05-16-09 8:24 AM
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You are absolutely right, this needs National Attention, but unfortunately I am sure that the contract the Firefighters Union has with the City prevents any type of strike, walk out, failure to report to duty etc. Someone outside the department will have to bring national attention to the situation. Call the media, call your Congressman, call your Senators, take the time. Your Fire Dept. needs the support of the citizens of Warren, as much as you need them.
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