In the Press...
Trenton Times news article:Trenton Fire Department gets $14M to avoid layoffsBy Trenton Times Staff Writer Cristina Rojas - Recent layoff notices issued to 59 Trenton firefighters will now be rescinded thanks to a new $14 million federal grant awarded to the fire department, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) announced Friday.The department will get an estimated $13.2 million to retain 59 active firefighters and another $872,900 to hire five entry-level firefighters to make up for expected retirements. The money, which comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, will fund the jobs for the next two years. RELATED: Trenton issuing layoff notices to 64 city firefighters "This grant is first and foremost about public safety and about firefighters whose life-saving jobs are slated for elimination," said Smith, who helped secure the funding. Smith and U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.), who was also involved in the effort, both said the grant is a boon to the city and affected families. "The city's residents and businesses can rest easy knowing that a full and dedicated firefighting force is ready to act — and the families of these public servants can take comfort in the knowledge that their livelihoods are safe as well," Watson Coleman said. The layoffs, which would have become effective next month, would have had a devastating impact on the department, Smith said. Four companies would have had to close, the city's rescue and hazardous materials team would have had to be phased out, two battalion chiefs would have been demoted to captains, 18 captains demoted to privates and 59 privates laid off. Smith has helped the department get the SAFER grant twice before: in 2010 to save 61 jobs and in 2012 to save 55 jobs. The congressman credited retired Battalion Chief John Gribbin, volunteer grant writer Lisa Willever and department CFO Mark Robotin with working on the application. "I have worked with this trio for six years to prevent these layoffs," he said. "They are tireless and this day would not have come without them." The article was printed on page 1of the Aug. 22 edition of the Times of Trenton and can be found here: |