EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
Fire chief: Lawrence layoffs, firehouse closures 'terrible'
Published: June 29, 2009
LAWRENCE — Fire Chief Peter Takvorian is bracing for the layoff of 14 firefighters and the closure of two firehouses to plug a $1.6 million Fire Department budget shortfall in fiscal 2010, a situation he describes as "critical."
"We are in a terrible situation," Takvorian said. "I cannot provide an adequate level of public safety in the city. It is just not possible."
Layoffs and the closure of the firehouses on Tower and Prospect hills may be necessary as the city anticipates a $7 million to $10 million loss in state aid next year. The cuts could come as early as this week.
Tonight, a public hearing will be held on the city's $240 million budget, which includes the $80.1 million municipal plan. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Takvorian said the City Council and Mayor Michael Sullivan have long been supportive of public safety, but the loss of local aid appears to be insurmountable for the department. Federal stimulus money has been aimed at homeland security, industry bailouts and public schools, but nowhere near fire departments where it is desperately needed, he said.
"The citizens of this city deserve better than this," he said. "With these low levels, there will be negative consequences. It's not a matter of if it will happen. It's a matter of when."
Starting in the spring, the city's six firehouses were closed on a revolving basis, saving $15,000 per week, and 18 firefighters' jobs were left unfilled to help compensate for an unexpected $2.38 million drop in state aid in fiscal 2009.
City leaders had hoped to avoid layoffs and firehouse closures by negotiating and agreeing to concessions with the firefighters union. The cuts proposed included delaying $500,000 worth of scheduled raises and firefighters losing half of their longevity pay next year. The 18 open jobs would also remain vacant again next year.
But firefighters had hoped for a concession plan similar to police, who agreed to 12 furlough days and forgoing $1,200 uniform allowances in the coming fiscal year. The patrolmen and superior officers unions worked out a plan where they could be compensated in future years for their losses in 2010.
At present, there are 130 firefighters, a number so low the ranks cannot take furlough days because of federal minimum manning rules and scheduling, said Patrick Driscoll, president of the firefighters union.
Over the past five years, the city has lost 40 firefighting positions, he said.
The layoffs will affect the youngest firefighters with the department, many with four to five years experience and a good grasp of the city and its neighborhoods. Once they are pink-slipped, those firefighters go on a statewide reserve list and "will be the first to get picked up by other communities. We could never see them again," Driscoll said.
Budget and Finance Director Mark Andrews said he remains optimistic that some kind of agreement can be reached with firefighters to avoid the layoffs.
Meanwhile, Takvorian has written letters to state and federal leaders in an effort to get attention for his department and others in Massachusetts.
"Someone needs to bring this back to their attention," he said. "So they cannot say they weren't aware of the problem.
"The days of doing more with less are over. Now, we are doing less with less. And we should not have to offer less to the citizens of Lawrence," Takvorian said.
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