FLINT, Mich. — Union members voted that they had “no confidence” in their fire chief Friday.
MLive.com reported that union members felt Fire Chief David Cox had put the safety of firefighters and residents in jeopardy.
“We recognize he has budget constraints he’s under … but the vote did carry,” Mark Kovach, president of Flint Firefighters Local 392, said.
Last month, Chief Cox told city council members that he could keep five fire stations open — despite the possible loss of 19 positions in the fiscal year that starts July 1, according to the report. His plan to reorganize included cutting top administrative positions and sending three firefighters per truck on fire runs instead of four, according to the report.
The firefighters’ vote comes after failing to land a new SAFER grant, frequent station brownouts, increasing response times and inaccurate arson reporting. The federal SAFER grants are used to pay firefighter salaries.