Dec. 13--Firefighters who face layoffs unless a federal grant is renewed will at least be employed two more weeks, officials said.
The city will pay for the 51 firefighters until the end of the year, if necessary, Public Safety Director Will Glass said.
The firefighters were hired on the Staffing for Adequate Emergency Response grant, which expired earlier this year. An extension allowed the city to use the remainder of that $9.5 million grant until Dec. 4, but then it stopped.
Unused overtime money had been taken to pay those salaries until today, but that, too ran out.
Fire leaders are hoping to hear by next Friday about whether a two-year extension grant has been approved.
Copyright 2013 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
