R.I. Firefighters Fight Liquidation of Station's Equipment

March 19, 2014
A R.I. firefighters' union has filed a court case to keep Providence from liquidating equipment in a station set to close in May.

March 18--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Coventry Firefighters Union has filed a court appeal to halt the pending liquidation of the Central Coventry Fire District.

Union President David Gorman said in a news release that the union appealed to the state Supreme Court because, "First and foremost, as of today, there is not a plan in place that would provide emergency services or fire protection to the community, secondly the liquidation is not necessary, the district has plenty of money, there is nearly $2 million in the bank, cash on hand and an approved budget. If someone was willing to sit down with the firefighters and negotiate with us, we know that it can work, but no one is willing to do that, no one will give us the opportunity. Lastly, there is no need to saddle the ratepayers with a liquidation assessment of nearly twenty million dollars when this can be resolved."

Gorman said the union filed the appeal Friday. The organization did not request an injunction or a stay from the liquidation order because, "If we need to request a stay we will do so, but we are hopeful that we can resolve this without any further legal action, as long as we are given the opportunity".

The Fire District is set to close May 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Copyright 2014 - The Providence Journal, R.I.

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