Pa. City Accepts SAFER Grant Lowered by Mayor

Scranton City Council on Thursday unanimously accepted a $5 million federal grant to rehire 30 firefighters, but did so reluctantly because that amount is $3 million less than the city had been awarded last month to rehire 50 firefighters.

The city was awarded a nearly $8.2 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the Department of Homeland Security that would have paid for calling back 29 laid-off firefighters plus one on military leave and adding 20 new firefighters for two years.

However, earlier this week, Mayor Chris Doherty declined $3.1 million of the grant because the city would not be able to afford to keep paying all of the rehired firefighter after the two years is up and because the city would have to pay unemployment benefits when they would be laid off.

Council majority members expressed dismay about the mayor's rejection of part of the grant, but agreed the lesser amount needs to be accepted.

Scranton resident David Dobrzyn told the council, "Shame, shame, shame. We're turning our back on $3 million. It's shameful."

Resident Marie Schumacher said while she would like to have seen the city take the whole grant, she understands the mayor's position. She asked if the city could reapply for the grant in the future. Councilman Jack Loscombe said yes, but added, "I don't think the federal government will look on us favorably after handing money back."

Councilman Frank Joyce added, "I am very appalled that the mayor is returning some of the money."

Councilman Pat Rogan said he believed "there could have been an agreement made" with potential firefighter retirees to gauge how many would retire after two years and thus how many rehired members could have been kept.

Acting on an emergency certification by the mayor, the council introduced an ordinance to accept and disburse the $5,068,080, and then suspended rules to hold the second and third readings on the same measure to adopt it on the same night. Mr. Joyce, Mr. Loscombe, Mr. Rogan and Councilman Bob McGoff and Council President Janet Evans all voted in favor of introduction, second reading and adoption.

The $5 million would fund 13 firefighters who were already recalled earlier this year after a slow response to an East Mountain fire and 17 others currently laid off.

Copyright 2012 - The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service