DUDLEY, Mass. --
One town may be the first in the state to put its entire municipal workforce on notice for job losses.
Town Warns Of Mass Layoffs
NewsCenter 5's Jorge Quiroga reported that the central Massachusetts town of Dudley may lay off its entire fire and police forces. All members of both departments received a 30-day notice.
"Even if one or two got laid off from a full-time staff of six, it could have a real negative impact," said Dudley Fire Capt. David Koneczny.
All the jobs at Town Hall are also on the line.
"A little overwhelming, nobody wants to (lay off workers). We want to do our share, but all towns are in the same position," said Cheryl Fiorentino, of the Dudley Planning Department.
But in the tiny community of only 11,000 with one of the lowest tax rates in the state, a deficit gap of $63,000 this fiscal year might as well be a $63 million hole.
"We have to do it for the betterment of the town. It's nothing personal. We go to church with all these people; we shop with all these people," said Dudley Board of Selectman Chairman Brian Germaine.
To avoid any layoffs, non-union workers have agreed to concessions, but the three unions in Dudley have not.
"We voted against the roll back. We voted against the furloughs at this time with the hope that we can all work together and discover other resources," Koneczny said.
"We have crossed every T and dotted every I, and we have proposed to them everything possible to propose," Germaine said.
The financial mess has everyone on edge and time is running out.
"It's a frightening thought for all of the people of Dudley. It's a shame," resident Frances Berger said.
Town employees have four weeks to find out how many of them may lose their jobs immediately. But with a projected deficit five times as large for 2010, sweeping job cuts may be unavoidable.
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