Cutbacks Have New Camden Fire Chief Worried
Thursday, January 13, 2011
| courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post
by Lucas K. Murray
The loss of units means Camden has relied more on mutual aid service from volunteer departments outside the city. The only other all-career staffed department nearby is Gloucester City, which laid off firefighters of its own last year.
On Monday, city spokesman Robert Corrales said negotiations between the city and unions representing its workers remained unchanged.
Last week, Trenton requested and was granted an extension to its layoff proposal from the state Civil Service Commission. In the state capital, 61 fire department employees are slated to be laid off Feb. 7.
The extension is meant to keep as many firefighters for as long as possible, officials said, as the city waits on the status of a federal grant meant to offset some firefighter salaries.
Three fire stations in Trenton are in danger of closing as a result of the layoffs. Only one municipality in New Jersey was awarded a SAFER grant through FEMA in 2010.
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