Weirton Council, during its meeting Monday, voted down a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a 2019 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, with the goal of hiring five new firefighters. Council voted 2-5 on the resolution, which would have authorized the city, through Sustainable Strategies D.C., to submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the SAFER grant. Sustainable Strategies is a lobbying organization under contract with the city to seek grants and other funding programs. Councilmembers Tim Connell and Mike Adams voted in favor of authorizing the application for the grant, with Councilmembers George Ash, Terry Weigel, Enzo Fracasso and Doug Jackson voting against it. While no members of council commented on the issue during the meeting, some firefighters in attendance called it a blow to the department.