Pa. Fire Chief's Position Eliminated to Pay Debt

Nov. 11, 2010
CLAIRTON, Pa. -- On Tuesday night, Clairton City Council voted to eliminate the position of fire chief. After 22 years as chief, John Lattanzi no longer has a job. Council said his $40,000 salary is needed to pay of debts. A number of firefighters showed up at Tuesday night's meeting to supports Lattanzi. They said there were other cost saving measures.

CLAIRTON, Pa. --

On Tuesday night, Clairton City Council voted to eliminate the position of fire chief.

After 22 years as chief, John Lattanzi no longer has a job.

Council said his $40,000 salary is needed to pay of debts.

A number of firefighters showed up at Tuesday night's meeting to supports Lattanzi.

They said there were other cost saving measures.

Clairton volunteer firefighter Kevin Jones said, "We appreciate the fact that there are financial problems in the city, and we would have been willing to work with them. We're just asking that maybe they should have came to us and said 'hey what can you do to tighten up your boot straps? What can you do to take on some of the financial burden?'"

Chief Lattanzi was not at Tuesday night's meeting.

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