NYCAPO
12-12-2008, 02:13 PM
Yonkers budget cuts would lay off 76 full time, approx. 75 part-time workers
By Len Maniace
The Journal News • December 12, 2008
YONKERS - Mayor Phil Amicone said today that he planned to lay off of 76 full-time city workers and approximately 75 part-time workers in order to eliminate a $16 million budget gap.
The cuts would also include 28 demotions and eliminate 44 vacant positions.
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Among the full time layoffs are 11 police and six firefighters, as well as 46 members of the Department of Public Works.
The cuts are fewer that those Amicone estimated a month ago, when he forecast the likelihood of 200 to 300 employees being cut.
The cuts also would eliminate the city's downtown litter patrol and all bulk trash pickups. Residents would have to bring bulk items, like sofas, to the city's recycling center on Saw Mill River Road, the mayor said.
"The layoffs are signifcant," said the Council's Republican Minority Leader. Liam McLaughlin after he emerged from the two-hour meeting with the mayor. "The Council is looking to get see if we can come up with any alternative options."
The full-time layoffs include 11 members of the Police Benevolent Association, six members of the Yonkers Firefighters, 50 from the Teamsters, five from the Service Employees International Union, and four not represented by any union.
The Yonkers Fire Fighters union issued a press release this morning saying its officials would be available later this afternoon for comment on the mayor's "drastic" plans, "including the proposed closure of One (1) Fire Company."
Barry McGoey, vice president of the union, officially Local 628 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said the fire commissioner has told the union that in addition to six firefighters layoffs, 19 lieutenants will be demoted to the rank of firefighter.
The cuts also apparently include the elimination of the city's fire prevention bureau and safety divisions, he said.
Thomas Phelan, president of the Captains Lieutenants and Sergeants union, said in the mayor's meeting with union leaders the mayor said it was still possible to reduce the number of layoffs if the union leaders went back to their members to explore the possibility of further cost-saving measures. Phelan said he planned to do so.
Amicone said he was "optimistic" about the possibility the unions would be able to come up with measures to reduce the need for some of the cuts.
While Amicone's plan would reduce the number of police officers assigned to speciality units, "We are putting more people in patrol; more people who will be in your neighborhoods," the mayor said.
City Council President Chuck Lesnick said he would like to see the city explore some options to prevent layoffs such as having city employees working one or more days without pay, or taking a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut. He said such a cut could be targeted so it did not affect workers earning under $50,000.
Amicone said in a noon press conference that he was also asking the City Council to raise a number of fees, from building permits to professional licenses, as the city looks to generate new revenue going into the next budget year.
He said additional cuts could yet be required in the next six months. He also called for the consolidation of more municipal and school services in the city.
Stay tuned to LoHud.com for more on this developing story, and watch the press conference live here on our Web site when it starts.
To read an earlier story on the cuts, go to http://www.lohud.com/article/20081212/NEWS02/812120402/1018.
By Len Maniace
The Journal News • December 12, 2008
YONKERS - Mayor Phil Amicone said today that he planned to lay off of 76 full-time city workers and approximately 75 part-time workers in order to eliminate a $16 million budget gap.
The cuts would also include 28 demotions and eliminate 44 vacant positions.
Advertisement
Among the full time layoffs are 11 police and six firefighters, as well as 46 members of the Department of Public Works.
The cuts are fewer that those Amicone estimated a month ago, when he forecast the likelihood of 200 to 300 employees being cut.
The cuts also would eliminate the city's downtown litter patrol and all bulk trash pickups. Residents would have to bring bulk items, like sofas, to the city's recycling center on Saw Mill River Road, the mayor said.
"The layoffs are signifcant," said the Council's Republican Minority Leader. Liam McLaughlin after he emerged from the two-hour meeting with the mayor. "The Council is looking to get see if we can come up with any alternative options."
The full-time layoffs include 11 members of the Police Benevolent Association, six members of the Yonkers Firefighters, 50 from the Teamsters, five from the Service Employees International Union, and four not represented by any union.
The Yonkers Fire Fighters union issued a press release this morning saying its officials would be available later this afternoon for comment on the mayor's "drastic" plans, "including the proposed closure of One (1) Fire Company."
Barry McGoey, vice president of the union, officially Local 628 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said the fire commissioner has told the union that in addition to six firefighters layoffs, 19 lieutenants will be demoted to the rank of firefighter.
The cuts also apparently include the elimination of the city's fire prevention bureau and safety divisions, he said.
Thomas Phelan, president of the Captains Lieutenants and Sergeants union, said in the mayor's meeting with union leaders the mayor said it was still possible to reduce the number of layoffs if the union leaders went back to their members to explore the possibility of further cost-saving measures. Phelan said he planned to do so.
Amicone said he was "optimistic" about the possibility the unions would be able to come up with measures to reduce the need for some of the cuts.
While Amicone's plan would reduce the number of police officers assigned to speciality units, "We are putting more people in patrol; more people who will be in your neighborhoods," the mayor said.
City Council President Chuck Lesnick said he would like to see the city explore some options to prevent layoffs such as having city employees working one or more days without pay, or taking a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut. He said such a cut could be targeted so it did not affect workers earning under $50,000.
Amicone said in a noon press conference that he was also asking the City Council to raise a number of fees, from building permits to professional licenses, as the city looks to generate new revenue going into the next budget year.
He said additional cuts could yet be required in the next six months. He also called for the consolidation of more municipal and school services in the city.
Stay tuned to LoHud.com for more on this developing story, and watch the press conference live here on our Web site when it starts.
To read an earlier story on the cuts, go to http://www.lohud.com/article/20081212/NEWS02/812120402/1018.