Boardman gets grant to recall laid-off firefighters

BOARDMAN — Township officials are cautious about accepting a federal grant to recall laid-off firefighters.

The $334,646 grant was provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The funds were awarded through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program.

The grant can be used for recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and hiring firefighters, and the funds provide for salaries, benefits, and general equipment needs, according to a news release today from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office.

Boardman Fire Chief James Dorman said the grant would be used to recall three firefighters, who were laid off, over a two-year period.

One of the grant’s requirement is that the fire department could not dip below current staffing levels for the next two years, Dorman said. The department has 34 firefighters and three fire inspectors.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com