By Liz Zemba
The Tribune-Review
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A dozen pickets staged a daylong demonstration outside Uniontown City Hall in Fayette County on Monday to protest the proposed layoffs of seven paid firefighters and other city workers.
The men and women, including members of the Uniontown Volunteer Fire Department’s Booster Club and its Ladies Auxiliary, carried signs reading, “Safety First in the City” and “Higher Taxes, Less Services.”
They said they fear for the safety of residents and firefighters if layoffs occur.
“What if there is a child or elderly stuck in a high-rise in a fire?” said Georgia Mansberry, a picket who is a member of the volunteer fire department’s ladies auxiliary. “What if they can’t get there in time?”
The city is considering laying off about 25 employees, including seven of its 13 full-time firefighters. Mayor Ed Fike said the layoffs likely will be discussed at the Nov. 10 council meeting.
Alvin Sapp, a volunteer firefighter who is president of the Booster Club, said the layoffs will result in just two paid firefighters responding to calls. On average, two or three volunteers turn out to assist on calls, Sapp said, but their response time is longer than that of the paid firefighters and they aren’t trained to man all of the equipment.
In addition, firefighters have said they must have at least four firefighters on scene before they can safely enter a burning structure.
This is the second time firefighters have faced layoffs. Three were laid off in October 2008, followed by four more in February, but all were reinstated after the union filed a grievance.
The union alleged the city did not give firefighters 30 days’ notice of the first round of layoffs so that alternatives could be discussed. All seven were reinstated after an arbitration hearing in March, but they were advised that three were guaranteed employment only through September and the other four through December.
All seven remain on duty. Firefighters and city officials met in mid-October to discuss possible alternatives to the layoffs.
One alternative, fire Chief Chuck Coldren said, is to try to secure a federal grant through SAFER, or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. Coldren said the program offers funding to retain, or recall, up to five firefighters.
Grant applications cannot be submitted until Nov. 16, Coldren said.
Fike yesterday denied contentions his goal is to shutter the paid fire department. He said the proposed layoffs are tied to lack of funds.
“It’s about dollars and common sense,” Fike said. “If I could wave a magic wand, I’d have 25 paid firefighters.”
Copyright 2009 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved