MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Mayor Ted Gatsas has announced the city will be bringing back nine firefighters in March -- five more than the Board of Aldermen approved on Tuesday.
The decision was made by Gatsas and Fire Chief James Burkush, who said his department's expected a surplus this fiscal year. By reducing overtime by hiring additional staff, that savings will be enough to cover the salaries, Burkush said.
Some of the aldermen who supported hiring more firefighters on Tuesday are criticizing the move as "one-upmanship."
Mayor Ted Gatsas, who reached out to the Union Leader while on vacation, said the nine firefighters are part of the same recruitment class and were among those more junior members laid off in July. It is not fair to hire back some members of that class and not others, he said.
Read more of this story tomorrow only in print in the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Copyright 2012 - The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
