3-month pact averts layoffs of Niles safety forces
NILES — A three-month agreement hammered out between Mayor Ralph Infante and safety forces bargaining representatives has averted layoffs of firefighters and police that could have occurred as early as next month.
The treasurer’s office had warned that funds for paying firefighters would run out this month.
“I believe this agreement will save the city around $200,000,” said Infante whose financially starved city has been under state-declared fiscal emergency since October 2014.
In the memorandum of understanding, the 27 firefighters and 31 police officers will not be paid for working overtime or on holidays for the balance of the year. Instead, they will take compensatory time.
The memorandum, however, does not change the status of contract negotiations, which continue.
“Without these guys doing it, we’d be in a whole world of hurt,” fire Chief David Danielson said tonight.
“Hurt” aptly describes the state of the city’s finances, in particular the general fund, which has declined by $14 million in a nine-year period, said Tim Lintner, the city’s financial supervisor.
For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com