LAWRENCE — Mayor Michael Sullivan said he was ready to issue a press release yesterday announcing that eight firefighters laid off 11 weeks ago "will return to work immediately."
That was the recommendation of City Hall administrators after a meeting with fire Chief Peter Takvorian, who then launched plans to reopen the Engine 6 firehouse on Prospect Hill as early as tomorrow, thanks to a federal grant.
But Sullivan said he changed course after he received a long overdue civil service hearing officer's report upholding his initial decision to lay the men off.
"My gut feeling tells me to continue the course I recommended 11 weeks ago," Sullivan said in an interview last night, explaining why he is willing to jeopardize $521,000 in federal stimulus money that would cover the costs of the firefighters' pay for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends July 30.
"How does it make sense for me to bring back these firefighters? I'm going forward until I get an explanation for the taxpayers of Lawrence why eight firefighters have been home collecting taxpayers dollars for 11 weeks because of the inability of a bureaucratic task," he said.
Sullivan was referring to circumstances under state civil service law which kept the firefighters on the payroll at the cost of $210,000 while waiting for the civil service report on whether the layoffs were justified.
Sullivan said he was suspicious that a report by hearing officer Mary McCabe arrived yesterday on the same day that city officials were meeting to discuss the economic feasibility and logistics of returning the firefighters to work.
"Until I see a valid reason on why the taxpayers had to wait 11 weeks to get a decision on layoffs because of budgetary shortfall, these layoffs are going into effect," Sullivan declared.
"This is the first time that I am personally going against the recommendation of the personnel office and the city attorneys. And if it means giving the AARA money back, I'm willing to do that," he said.
Earlier this month, Gov. Deval Patrick announced that Lawrence would be receiving $521,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act discretionary funds — part of $8.1 million in federal money he released to save 127 firefighter jobs lost by communities throughout the state.
"I'm shocked and don't know what to say," said Takvorian, who worries that the mayor's decision could jeopardize the federal money and also put the city at risk.
"My hope is that he will reconsider his decision. I will say it's up to the mayor. It's his call and he didn't share with me what his rationale would be for this decision," the chief said.
"I have a meeting scheduled next Friday with the grant people. I'm hoping we'll still be in a position to discuss that grant. Right now, everything is unsettled. Right now things are up in the air, and it seems like the return of the members of my department has been canceled," he said.
Takvorian was so encouraged after yesterday's meeting with key city staff that he initiated plans to reopen the Engine 6 firehouse and notified his staff to prepare for the return to work of the men over the weekend.
But while making those plans, he said he received a call from the mayor's chief of staff, Nora Carroll, that the mayor intended to go forward with the layoffs instead.
Takvorian said that announcement contradicted the consensus recommendation of Assistant City Attorney James Bowers, acting Personnel Director Anne Randazzo, Comptroller David Camasso and Budget and Finance Director Mark Andrews — who recommended returning the firefighters to work as the best option.
Sullivan noted "it's bizarre" that the same people who recommended the layoffs 11 weeks ago are now recommending to go against the hearing officer's report.
Andrews said the questions raised by the mayor are valid, but can be answered quickly, without jeopardizing the federal grant.
"The day is not lost since we don't physically get the funds till mid-November," Andrews said.
"Certainly over the next two weeks, the mayor could get his questions answered," he said.
Andrews also suggested that concessions by Lawrence Firefighters Local 146 might help, too. The group was the only city union that refused to make concessions, he said, prompting the need for layoffs to reduce a $680,000 budget deficit.
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