City Council members agreed to apply for a federal grant that could lead to the city hiring four more firefighters, despite strong opposition from Mayor Joseph M. Butler Jr.
By a 3-1 vote, council members gave Fire Chief Dale C. Herman permission to apply for the funding to hire four firefighters through the Staffing for an Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant. Councilman Mark C. Walczyk remains away on military service and was absent from the meeting.
The grant would pay 75 percent of the salaries and benefits for the additional four firefighters for the first two years of the three-year grant and 35 percent during the third year. The application is due April 27.
In lobbying for the grant, the fire chief said the city would save about $939,315 in overtime costs. During the current fiscal year, overtime expenses reached about $549,000 for the 68-member department.