The village eliminated its eight paid firefighters and will go forward with an all-volunteer fire service, a move officials say will save $800,000 in the next year.
The village board of trustees voted Monday night to cut the positions as part of a budget-balancing measure, but an attorney for the axed workers said the timing implied there was more going on. The professional firefighters have been without a new contract since 2011, and a labor complaint by the union president in March accused volunteers of mishandling a fire on Cottage Street.
“It seems to be retaliatory on a number of fronts," Richard Corenthal, attorney for the career firefighters, said. The eight firefighters have been placed on paid administrative leave through the end of this month.
"The village is gambling with residents’ lives because there is no longer 24/7 fire protection," Corenthal said. "The residents and the businesses are now at risk."
Mayor Dennis Pilla said he was unaware of the March labor complaint, and Fire Chief Edward Quinn would not comment on it.