The evening started with last ditch comments from the public, hoping for a miracle. Then the special Bay City Commission meeting Monday night considered eleventh hour measures to save as many as two of the six firefighter jobs on the line, with an amendment sponsored by Sixth Ward Commissioner John Davidson. That amendment failed.
Following a heated exchange between Commissioners Kellie Snyder and Marie Kurzer over which fire stations should face periodic closures, the $23,134,034 budget for 2009/2010 was passed. The vote was six to three in favor. The commission faced a legal deadline, requiring the city to pass a balanced budget before the upcoming fiscal year.
Bay City firefighter’s union president Kurt Wagner said there will be consequences of not having enough staff.
“Things happen when they are not supposed to happen,” Wagner said, immediately following the meeting. “This coming weekend is the 4th (of July). How many people are going to be in this town?” he said, referencing the city’s multiple-night fireworks show that draws thousands from around Mid-Michigan to both sides of the Saginaw River.
The six firefighter layoffs take effect July 13, yet Wagner and others looked ahead to future public events that may require a fire department response.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Kellie Snyder has a fire station in the Ninth Ward that will face periodic closures due to the layoffs. She said at least some of her constituents understand.
“They’d rather see temporary closures than a permanent closure,” Snyder said. “I did the best I could with what we had to work with,” she added.
Commissioner Kevin Novellino of the Second Ward said the cuts were tough, but needed to be proactive.
“It just seems we chase this budget year after year. Why not make these steps to get ahead of the game?,” he said.
Wagner said while six firefighters will be laid off, another six are scheduled to retire. At that point, he said a laid off firefighter could take a vacant place but no additional fire staffing will be added.
