Raises, bonuses, fire department cuts on Youngstown council's agenda Wednesday

YOUNGSTOWN

Council is expected to sign a contract today with the city’s wastewater union, consider a series of proposals to raise the salaries of nonunion employees and increase various bonuses, and have members of the firefighters union, concerned with plans to reduce its ranks, attend its meeting.

Members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 312 along with area local firefighters and those from the state association will meet at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Fire Station 1. They then will walk to the council meeting at city hall. It starts at 5:30 p.m. after a 4:45 p.m. finance-committee meeting.

“We are there to express our concerns and dissatisfaction with the administration’s decision ‘to risk the safety of the citizens and firefighters of this community,’” a statement from Local 312 said.

Firefighters have objected before to Mayor John A. McNally’s plan to take a firetruck off the road and eliminate eight positions through retirements by the end of this year. It plays a major role in saving the city about $1 million annually, the mayor said.

“We’ll be out to show our displeasure with the closure of a firetruck,” said Dave Cook, the fire union’s president. “People want fire and police services, and closing a truck is dangerous.”

“This is the best plan with the least amount of impact,” McNally said of the $1 million savings from the fire department.

Read more about the upcoming issues in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.