The eight career firefighters who lost their jobs when the village shifted to an all-volunteer fire department handed the village clerk an inches-thick petition to force a referendum on the abolishment of the paid fire department.
Vinny Lyons, president of Port Chester's firefighters union, said the 485-page petition submitted to the village Wednesday morning contains 4,354 signatures, nearly double the amount required by New York State village law.
"It shows we have support from the citizens of Port Chester," Lyons said. "Now we'll wait and see what happens." The village board eliminated the paid firefighter department on May 2 in a cost-cutting move that village officials say will save an estimated $800,000. The department has 150 interior-trained volunteers, and 150 exterior-trained volunteers, according to village officials.
Village officials have said the board's decision is not subject to a referendum because the paid firefighters are supplemental and not considered to be the fire department in the village code. The official village fire department according to the village charter, Mayor Dennis Pilla said, is the combined seven volunteer companies.