LORAIN — Seven firefighters will probably be getting pink slips this week after City Council approved a $31.6 million 2010 budget that didn’t include enough money to save those jobs, officials said Monday night.

Council members Anne Molnar, D-at large, and Andy Drwal, D-2nd Ward, were the only dissenting votes.

Molnar’s attempt to transfer $100,000 of the Police Department’s overtime budget into the Fire Department’s budget failed, 4-6.

Fire Chief Tom Brown said the layoffs will reduce manpower to 70 firefighters and may result in days when only one fire station in the city is open.

“Any time is one time too many,” he said of closing stations because of staffing shortages.

Fire Union 267 President Jonathon George said the layoffs and station closings will create an unsafe environment for residents and fire fighters.

“Every single aspect of our fire fighting operations will be affected,” George said.

Bond issue passes

Council also unanimously passed legislation approving a 15-year, $5 million bond issue that will eliminate the city’s $2.7 million deficit, leaving $2.3 million to cover the hospitalization fund for the city for one year, freeing up money for various departments for other things during 2010.

“This will give us the opportunity to get our financial house in order,” said Mayor Tony Krasienko.

Council also unanimously voted to establish a General Reserve Balance Fund and amended the budget to allocate $25,000 for the fund, meant to be a “rainy day” or “emergency” fund, Council said.

Krasienko said beginning in 2011, Council plans to put $250,000 in the fund every year until the fund has
$1 million in it for emergencies and to deal with “fluctuations in the economy.”

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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