Barberton may not save money by laying off firefighters and could end up paying more in firefighting costs because of overtime, the head of the city’s fire union says.
“I don’t understand how layoffs are going to help the city because to keep services, that’s going to require a large amount of overtime,” International Association of Fire Fighters Local 329 President Rick Schwenning said Wednesday.
Mayor Bill Judge issued layoff notices Tuesday to five full-time workers, including four firefighters, and 21 part-time and seasonal employees across city departments in an attempt to help close a nearly $4 million projected gap in the city’s budget this year. The other full-time position being cut is an administrative job in the police department. No full-time police officers are being let go, but reserve officers are being laid off, the mayor said.
Schwenning questioned the impact of the layoffs on the fire department. The fire union has 44 members, and the department just experienced three retirements. The layoffs are effective Feb. 12, meaning the department soon will be down seven firefighters, he said.