By Bernard Harris
The Intelligencer Journal/New Era
LANCASTER, Pa. — Two Lancaster city firefighters slated to be laid off with the new year are working this week thanks to last-minute negotiations between the city administration and the union.
One of those junior firefighter positions was saved by the retirement of a senior firefighter. The second position was saved temporarily - at least until spring - when it will be re-evaluated, said Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray and firefighter Tim Erb, president of the Lancaster Professional Firefighters Association.
“I’m happy that the city and the union could sit down and come up with a solution,” Erb said.
The 2011 budget, which was passed by City Council members last month, eliminated two firefighter positions, both of them filled. A third Fire Bureau position, that of a fire marshal, also was eliminated, but that job had been vacant.
“The budget that passed didn’t require two layoffs. It said there should be two less positions. With this, we’re at budget,” Gray said.
The arrangement keeps the number of city firefighters at 74.
The elimination of the two positions was expected to save the city $115,920 in salary costs, the budget shows.
Gray said the senior firefighter’s retirement is scheduled for mid-January, but the city was unwilling to lay off a firefighter at the beginning of the year only to bring him back two weeks later.
Erb said the retirement was that of Capt. John Thomas, who also was a former local union president.
The second position was temporarily saved because a city firefighter is on unpaid military leave. That firefighter remains employed by the city, but he is not receiving a salary while on leave. His leave is expected to continue through mid-April, Erb said. A second firefighter also is expected to be away on military leave for two weeks.
Salary for those positions will cover the firefighter who was going to be laid off through April 30, Erb said.
“When we get closer to that point, we’ll just have to see,” Gray said about further funding of the position.
“We don’t want to lay anyone off, if possible. We would much rather reduce positions by attrition,” the mayor said. Several senior firefighters are eligible to retire, he said.
Erb said he was pleased to save the two positions, but still believes there should be more firefighters for adequate staffing.
“We’re not where I’d like to see the manpower be, but considering the circumstances and the financial situation of the city, it kind of is what it is,” he said.
The mayor and the union president both expressed hope the successful negotiations over the positions will bode well as the city and the union begin talks early this year on a new three-year contract.
Relations between the union and administration have been strained since the layoff of four firefighters a year ago.
Copyright 2011 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.