The decision to cut 16 firefighters from the Oswego Fire Dept. will have dire consequences, the union president warned city officials.
One police lieutenant position also was on the chopping block as the cost-saving measure, according to Syracuse.com.
IAFF Local President John Geraci told the council before the vote: "If you make the decision to cut these 16 firefighters, you're going to need to be able to live with the results. I don't know if it happens tomorrow or next week or next year, but there are going to be negative consequences to these cuts."
The department has 58 members, not including the chief and assistant chief, which means they will lose 27 percent of their staff, the reporter noted.
The last 15 firefighters hired will now lose their jobs, and a vacancy created by a retirement won't be filled.
The mayor and council has faced criticism from citizens as well, the paper reported.
Mayor Billy Barlow told the crowd: "I hate layoffs and these last few weeks have been the hardest weeks of my life. I wasn't excited to come here tonight. I haven't been excited to come to work these past two weeks. Especially since some of these guys that were affected I personally know -- some of them my age, starting families and buying homes."
