Man wants police, firefighters back

The Warren resident’s petition also calls for the resignation of the mayor.

BY JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

WARREN—Robert Cvengros sat in his motorized scooter next to the city’s historic Log Cabin on Courthouse Square waving at motorists and trying to get signers for his petitions.

Cvengros, 57, of Woodland Avenue Northeast, hopes that public pressure in the form of his petitions will force Mayor Michael O’Brien and his administration to recall laid-off police and firefighters.

“We don’t have enough [firefighters] to cover the city now, and they’re talking more layoffs in the fire department,” Cvengros said. “We need another fire station opened right now, and that should be obvious.” Cvengros was referring to a recent house fire on Bonnie Brae that left four people, including a Warren police officer, seriously injured.

The city laid off 11 firefighters and 20 police officers earlier this year.

The petitions also call for the resignations of O’Brien and his staff if the city either continues or adds to the firefighter layoffs.

Last week, the city notified the Civil Service Commission of possible additional layoffs by June 1 because of its $1.6 million deficit, a notice that is required by law, according to Safety Service Director Doug Franklin. The city met with the firefighters union last week and plans another meeting Thursday.

Franklin declined to discuss either the concessions the city is seeking from the union or claims that the city may furlough an additional 17 firefighters if the union rejects concessions.

“We’ve submitted a plan that retains the current fire department levels and avoids further cuts,” Franklin said. He said the city’s plan is dependent upon receipt of a federal grant and the outcome of talks with the union.

Attempts to reach Marc Titus, president of the firefighters local, were unsuccessful.

Cvengros said that the city’s latest threat is what finally drove him to launch his one-man petition drive. He said there are no politics behind his demands, despite the call for resignations on the petitions.

“I’m not trying to throw anybody out of office,” the retired letter carrier said. “I just think we should have a say on who is getting laid off.”

Cvengros, who said he was disabled in a 2001 traffic accident, plans to return this afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. by the log cabin, where he hopes to garner further support. That’s the only place the petition can be signed.

“I’ll turn these petitions in regardless of how many signatures I get,” he said, “but I’m hoping for a better turnout tomorrow.”