Frenchtown Township officials have turned down a $900,000 federal grant that would have been used to hire nine full-time firefighters because they don't have the cash to match the offer.
The board this week decided to "deobligate" the township from accepting the grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The action was recommended by Supervisor James McDevitt. Mr. McDevitt said the township could not come up with $255,312 to meet its first-year obligations under the grant.
"You hate to give it back, but we have no money to contribute at this time," Mr. McDevitt said. "We used every avenue we had, even (U.S. Rep. John) Dingell's office. We all regretted having to do it, but it's just something we had to do."
The grant was to be used to pay firefighters over a four-year period. The $255,312 included a 10 percent match ($34,200) plus all medical benefits for the first year, which amounted to about $28,300 a firefighter.
The township learned in November that it would receive the grant but has been scrambling since to find the needed funds.
Declining the grant and returning the money to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal government can give the money to another municipality, Mr. McDevitt said. More importantly, the township avoids possibly defaulting on its obligations, which could affect future grant applications, he said.
"If we would have defaulted, it would have hurt our status," the supervisor said. "If we put in for another grant, which we plan to do, it won't hurt us."
There was little discussion before the unanimous vote at Tuesday's meeting. Fire Chief James Grahek and several firefighters attended the meeting, but none spoke.
The department had hoped to boost its work force with the grant. The department, which once had up to 19 full-time firefighters, is down to 14 full-time workers, Chief Grahek said in December.
The firefighters normally work 24-hour shifts but have to work an extra 12 hours to cover shifts that have been depleted by injuries and retirements.
