Press reactions (Citizens Voice)

Firefighters, Leighton reignite dispute over downsized on-duty staffing
By Matthew Harris (Staff Writer)
Published: March 26, 2010
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WILKES-BARRE - Dan Emplit stared at Mayor Tom Leighton after resting his case Thursday that city hall turned back on its word to firefighters and residents by lowering minimum on-duty staffing.

Once again, the firefighter played the role of prosecutor. Over six minutes, Emplit read past statements by Leighton lauding firefighters' bravery, expressing his unwavering support and touting their performance.

With each quote, Emplit offered his own rebuttal amounting to a would-be indictment. For all the mayor's warm words, Emplit said Leighton and the city's actions showed an administration asking a department to do more with less by closing two firehouses, failing to replace 19 members who retired and taking three engines out of service.

"Police, fire and EMS are residents' insurance policy," Emplit said. "Would you cancel your insurance policy if personal finances were tight? No, you'd look for other ways to save money."

His argument finished, Emplit closed a folder, crossed his hands and waited for Leighton's reply.

For the second city council meeting this month, firefighters and the mayor revived their dispute over a decision this month to lower minimum staffing to 12 firefighters from 14 for each shift. Two weeks may have passed, but the basic outline of the disagreement remain.

As before, Leighton said the city could not afford to pay overtime costs on pace to reach $800,000 this year, almost double the amount of 2009. Along the back wall of the room, roughly 40 firefighters clad in yellow shirts hectored the mayor. Sitting before council, Emplit said hiring men as they left would have prevented the problem and residents are at risk when the engine at South Station goes out of service during minimum staffing.

Leighton stood, his own brown leather folder in hand, and repeated the city's expenditures were below the $40.9 million budgeted in 2009, but not enough revenue was coming through the door to cover spiraling overtime costs or hire more men.

"We were running out of money in December," Leighton said, throwing his hands in the air. "We had no money in the bank. How was I gonna pay you guys. We were very close to a payless payday."

Before the meeting, union President Thomas Makar handed out a copy of a city budget from 1996, when Tom McGroarty sat in the mayor's office, he said showed the city has consistently budgeted less than needed to pay for overtime. At the time, the city employed 87 firefighters, budgeted $60,000 for overtime and spent $204,614 over nine months.

"This gets me discouraged when people who are doing the budget every year make it say what they want it to say," Makar said. "If the number should be higher, put that in there and budget for it.

Behind Makar, firefighters continued their 16-day-old protest of the cuts outside with a picket around the City Hall building before the meeting, their ranks bolstered by members of departments from Scranton, Kingston, Nanticoke and four other departments.

The political theater and flaring tempers come during early negotiations between the city and the union for a contract to replace the pact set to expire next year. The sides have met twice and are set to sit down next week when Christine Jensen, the city's human resources director, returns from vacation.

"We've just discussed each other's proposals," Makar said. "That's probably the best thing to say about that."

Those efforts to reach an agreement are tinged with their own frustration, though.

In late December, the city approached the union's board with a deal, reaching what it considered a hand-shake agreement that staved off cuts to minimum on-duty staffing. Yet Makar turned down the plan, claiming it was inadequate, and returned with a plan the city considered extravagant.

Last night, those lingering frustrations also found their way into the chamber when Leighton told upset firefighters responsibility for the cuts laid at the feet of the union board.

"Is Tom Makar here?" Leighton asked, craning his neck to look around the room.

"No," several firefighters yelled.

"Tom should be," Leighton said. "Talk to your leadership and them to (let you) look at the proposal that was on the table."

"It's unethical," Emplit shot back.

"Know what? Get permission for me to share it," Leighton said. "Let me show it to you."

Standing next to his green Dodge Caravan, Makar said his presence would cause more harm than good.

"Me being there would be like throwing gasoline on a fire," he said.

mharris@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110