Huntington Indiana's Mayor Steve Updike, may refuse a grant that was issued to place 6 laid off firefighters back on the job. Updike laid off 6 firefighters last fall because of a city financial shortfall. The lay offs were part of a city wide layoff that caused the closing of a fire station in the community of 37,000.
Last week, a 'Safer' grant was awarded to the Huntington Fire Department for $817,360. It would ensure that the 6 firefighters went back to work for at least two years. The city would have to cover a couple of months of pay at the beginning, then the grant would kick in. But Mayor Updike has determined to hold up accepting the grant.
Mayor Updike said, "I will not go out on a limb and get locked in and then I cannot lay off. I've got to have an outlet. I'm not picking on firefighters, but it's not fair."
This was in response to a stipulation of the grant. The stipulation states that during the two years, that no firefighters can be laid off. If the city accepts the grant, and then lays off firefighters, they would have to reimburse the money used from the grant. Mayor Updike said he didn't like the fact that the fire department would have two years worth of immunity.
June 7th is the next scheduled meeting of the Huntington Board of Public Works. If they decide to accept the grant, the Huntington Common Council will still have to vote to appropriate the funds for the first few months of pay. That meeting is at 9am on floor 3 of the City Building.
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