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Mayor stands firm on firefighter layoffs
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Source: eagletribune.com
November 03, 2009
LAWRENCE — Mayor Michael Sullivan said he was ready to issue a press release yesterday announcing that eight firefighters laid off 11 weeks ago "will return to work immediately." That was the recommendation of City Hall administrators after a meeting with fire Chief Peter Takvorian, who then launched plans to reopen the Engine 6 firehouse on Prospect Hill as early as tomorrow, thanks to a federal grant. But Sullivan said he changed course after he received a long overdue civil service hearing officer's report upholding his initial decision to lay the men off. "My gut feeling tells me to continue the course I recommended 11 weeks ago," Sullivan said in an interview last night, explaining why he is willing to jeopardize $521,000 in federal stimulus money that would cover the costs of the firefighters' pay for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends July 30.
