News

April 1, 2009

Doherty’s letter: No fire company cuts

But union official skeptical, claims letter a political move seven weeks from primary.

RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent

SCRANTON – A letter received Tuesday from Mayor Chris Doherty addressed to City Council brought praise and skepticism at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

The letter, according to firefighters union officials and council members, essentially assured them the mayor has no intentions of cutting firefighter staff or closing firehouses or engine companies.

As a measure to hold the mayor to his words, Councilwoman Janet Evans made a motion to have a letter sent to the mayor to pin him down on the issue. The council voted 3-2 to send it. Council members Judy Gatelli and Bill Courtright joined the vote in approval.

Evans said the council’s letter specifically requests Doherty to resend his letter to the firefighters union as a “memo of understanding” so it can be added to the current contract. The council’s request does not impinge on the current negotiations between the administration and the firefighters union, Evans said, but formally requests the mayor to put his words into more concrete contract language.

Council President Robert McGoff voted against the motion, saying it was a “spur-of-the-moment vote” and should be subject to more discussion. Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci added concerns about interfering with ongoing contact talks.

Firefighter union Vice President Dave Gervasi told council that if the mayor means what he said, the entire contract picture changes and the majority of their impasses could be rectified.

However, Gervasi did say he doesn’t believe the mayor, and claimed the letter a political move seven weeks from a primary election. Gervasi said the mayor and the city’s director of public safety, Raymond Hayes, and Business Administrator Stuart Renda are all on the record saying engine companies 4 and 9 were on the chopping block.

He did say though he hopes the mayor approaches the union with the recommended memo.

Courtright reiterated his request from a previous council meeting that the city administration produce an actual plan for the fire department for public scrutiny. He referred to a large envelope reputed to be in City Hall that contains several “scenarios” for the department.

Firefighter John Judge approached the council offering an educational discussion to explain exactly how the fire department works, what firehouses and engine companies do at a fire event, what areas they cover and how the manpower is utilized.

He said that educating the council and the public will help everyone, including the mayor, work together to do what is best for the city.

In other business, Maria Costanzo, an employee from the city’s single tax office, placed the blame for the accounting malaise found there recently directly on its director, Ken McDowell. Recently, the STO underwent an audit in which up to $2 million was determined to be unaccounted for and more than $12 million was found sitting idle in several bank accounts for almost 10 years.

Costanzo said she wanted to defend the staff at the STO, which was frequently the target of McDowell’s blame for the maelstrom of mishaps, lost money and potential ethics violations.

She said it was McDowell’s lack of leadership and proper management that caused the issues.

Councilman Evans agreed saying she believes McDowell will essentially be left untouched by the whole mishap.

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