City unable to make up grant shortfall
FirefighterNation Staff
CAMDEN, New Jersey — Camden firefighters are to receive layoff notices this weekend as city officials have tried to make up for a shortfall from a SAFER grant, according to Courier Post on Tuesday.
Last month, Camden Mayor Frank Moran sent a letter to Deirdre Webster Cobb, chair and CEO of the Civil Service Commission, outlining a plan to make up for the shortfall and not layoff firefighters.
The plan called for reducing overtime; leaving six open positions vacant; and reduce the number of battalion chiefs, captains, other officers and administrative personnel.
City administrators met with officials with the firefighters’ union and the officers’ union earlier in the year to determine ways to make up for the shortfall.
FirefighterNation: Camden Firefighters’ Union Meet Over Possible Layoffs
City spokesman Vince Basara said the layoff notices are a state-mandated step that “is simply part of a process” that’s still in play, according to the Courier.
Any layoffs that did take place within the 190-member department would not occur until June 30.
