Clifton may get firehouse back

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Last updated: Wednesday April 22, 2009, 10:05 AM

BY JAMES YOO

CLIFTON – The City Council is expected to vote tonight on a contract that would reopen a shuttered firehouse and bring back 12 laid-off firefighters by mid-May.

The deal was ratified by the firefighter's union Monday night and would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and guarantee no layoffs for a year.

"It's a complete victory for not only the firefighters but the residents, the businesses and the community itself," Robert De Luca, the president of the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association, Local 21, said on Tuesday.

If the governing body approves the contract, it would end months of public rancor about the layoffs.

The next immediate step would be for the council to introduce a table of organization that restores the ranks of the Fire Department from 128 to 140. The ordinance would require a second reading and the changes could go into effect by May 14, the city manager, Al Greco, said Tuesday.

Late last year, the city had asked unions for municipal workers to accept a salary freeze for the 2009 year at 2008 levels. The unions did not accede and, except for the firefighters, remain in talks with the city.

After negotiations failed to forestall layoffs, Clifton laid off 41 municipal employees, including the dozen firefighters, and eliminated other positions in March to ease an $8 million deficit.

Rising insurance costs, major medical coverage, pension payments and contractual salary increases drove the deficit, officials said.

The layoff list was initially larger. But the city saved some jobs by cobbling funding from federal monies, sponsorships and seasonal budgets. Retirements also saved the positions of five employees, including four firefighters.

If the council approves the contract, the city would save about $600,000, including salary savings accrued from the layoff of the 12 firemen, said Greco, the city manager. In May and October, 42 hours of pre-tax pay would be deducted from a biweekly check for each firefighter, Greco said.

Firefighters also would receive a promise of no layoffs for a year in return, Greco said.

De Luca, the union head, said a "clear majority" of the union's membership ratified the proposed deal, which had changes mutually agreed upon by negotiators for both sides.

Councilman Frank Fusco said Tuesday that the proposed deal gives the city "exactly what we need" and provides firefighters the their protection

"It serves everybody's interests," he said. "We just need to approve it tomorrow."

E-mail: yoo@northjersey.com