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Lawrence Mayor Blames Union For Mutual Aid Costs
JENNIFER MYERS
Lowell Sun
ANDOVER - Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua on Tuesday blamed the firefighter union for creating a public-safety crisis that has cost surrounding communities more than $24,000 in personnel costs for mutual aid calls since July 7.
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"It is an issue of money," Lantigua said. "The main reason why the Lawrence Fire Department has been hit so hard is that it is the one that makes the most money in the state of Massachusetts."
He added that if the firefighters gave up their 3.5 percent raise, he would be able to rehire four or five of the 23 firefighters who were laid off last month.
"Everyone needs to come to the table and not be so greedy," Lantigua said. "All we need is $1.8 million and we are not asking for the union to do it all. I have been trying from day one to accomplish no layoffs. The city has no money; it is in the hands of the unions."
Lawrence Firefighter Union President Pat Driscoll called Lantigua's statements "untrue and false," adding that the union took a vote in June to move forward with contract negotiations.
"We don't want to resolve our problems through the media," Driscoll said. "We wan to resolve them as professionals."
Area fire chiefs, including Lowell Chief Edward Pitta and Dracut Chief Leo Gaudette, as local and state elected officials and state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. attended Tuesday morning meeting, held by the Essex Country Fire Chiefs Association at the Andover Public Saf,ty building.
"Firefighters never turn their back on the need of a fire department or a community, but this cannot continue," said Coan.
Copyright 2010 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
August 17, 2010
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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Lawrence is not he highest paid FD in Massachusetts... in fact, they are far from it.
The firefighters did offer to forgo their raises. Since it wasn't the Mayor's idea.. he rejected it.
He wants Lawrence firefighter to take a substantial pay cut (up to 40%) with no guarantees of hiring back the laid off personnel
THe city has no money.. yet the Mayor created "new jobs" for his family members and cronies...
The city has no money.. yet he spent over $100K "redecorating" his office at City Hall...
He tried to keep his job as a state representative in addition to being Mayor.. he gave the the state rep seat only after a lot of public pressure.
He's a MUTT.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I would agree to that Ron. The guy seems shady all over and looks like he wants to place public blame to shift focus off of him.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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1.8 million in the red for a single town and this Mayor blames the union over a 3.5% COLA, (cost of living raise) on why they are abusing the mutual aid system. All the towns around the City of Lawrence should be sending a bill for each request for assistance when something is not on fire.
Rehire 4 or 5 of the 23 laid off, let's see the mayor thinks one man per shift is going to reduce the mutual aid abuse..... retard. Wanna blame somebody, the State of Massachusetts is in a shamble, the funding situation is a mess, and towns all over the state are laying off guys at an alarming rate.
I believe Massport is the highest paid.
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