Now we know how Wilkes-Barre City Mayor Tom Leighton solves serious problems. He creates new ones.
Leighton, hiding behind a press release, fired 11 firefighters, effective this week, to help solve an expected $2 million year-end shortfall.
The other group he has targeted is city taxpayers. The mayor has threatened to impose a 31-percent tax hike on businesses already struggling to stay afloat and on a group which includes many elderly citizens on fixed incomes.
To date, there has been no talk of any cuts in City Hall, Leighton’s kingdom.
What doesn’t make sense is that the firefighters appear to be the only city union which tried – although not enough – to cooperate with the mayor’s call for help. Five union members retired, and, according to local firefighters union President Mike Bilski, gave up a $1,500 training bonus, according to The Citizens’ Voice. Although why city taxpayers have to pay employees a bonus for training to do their jobs is absurd.
It’s public knowledge that there has been no love lost between Leighton and the firefighters, unlike his cozy relationship with the police officers, who cost the city a bundle when they whined about losing their cherished jobs of counting money in the parking meters. That unnecessary battle cost city taxpayers a bundle in back pay, which also had to be paid to the firefighters, who had a parity clause in their contracts.
These public employee union contracts, like those throughout the country, with their generous pensions and health care packages, are in large measure responsible for the financial woes cities, counties and states face. And who’s always left holding the bag? Taxpayers.
The unions in Wilkes-Barre needed to, but refused, to make any concessions. Leighton asked them to give up three non-federal holidays, which, frankly, should never have been doled out in the first place. Flag Day takes the cake. They were also asked to give up their negotiated 3-percent pay hikes but would not.
Maybe had Leighton agreed to cut his own salary, which would have been a grand gesture, and cut staff in City Hall, the unions may have followed suit.
Instead, for starters, his honor slashes the fire department, which worries union chief Bilski, and with good reason. ”We can’t operate with just one engine on per shift,” he said. Did Leighton think this through? Hopefully, he did. But, this is a guy who wants to demolish the Hotel Sterling, which is owned by CityVest, and worry about the legal ramifications later. Geeeezz! (More on the CityVest debacle soon .)
Leighton said more layoffs are coming. Meanwhile, he and his sidekick, Drew Mc-laugh-lin, are in hiding.
“The city will not have any official comments beyond the press release,” Drew said. Leighton refused to discuss the layoffs beyond his safety net press release.
Frank Sorick, who ran for mayor and is now the head of a new taxpayers’ group, asked, “Why aren’t we cutting some of the folks at City Hall who are not part of the public safety.” Well, we don’t know the answer to that good question because after slashing the fire department, Mayor Tom Leighton ran for the hills.
Councilman Tony George is upset too. “I believe this creates a high risk of danger for our citizens. I have said before that public safety should be our number one priority and that I would not agree with any cuts, let alone a quarter of the department,” George said in an e-mail response to The Times Leader. “There are other cuts that could have been made.”
Surely he’s not talking about the St. Patrick Day’s parade?
- Betty Roccograndi
Don’t forget that when Leighton became mayor he told all the unions that concessions had to be made by ALL the city’s unions or the city would go Act 47 (distressed). The FD made concessions that equal about half a million dollars a year (times 9 years = $4.5 million). No other union did anything except ridicule us for doing it. He then proceeds to treat us like a baby treats a diaper.
Why do you think that is, Dan? I’m really curious.
The extent of the fiscal shortfall in this city, regardless of who or what is to blame, dictates that employee cuts will go well beyond the 11 firefighters who were the first hit. Maybe the mayor misunderstood the meaning of “first responders.” Public relations 101 would suggest that in a city with a large number of senior citizens and rapidly growing crime rates, first responders such as fire, police and ambulance personnel would be last on a list of personnel cuts. My opinion had it not been for some gross mismanagement decisions (cupcake for one), layoffs may have stopped short of first responders. The mayor, whom I have strongly supported, made a monumental mistake with the front-page announcement that eleven first responders would be the first to go. This topped by not one City Hall employee laid off in the second four selected from DPW. Priorities may be the perception that public safety and citizens’ services are not as important as the city “spokeperson.” No question in my mind that Mayor Tom needs to not lay off but fire the top three or four City Hall employees that neglected to suggest to him that laying off eleven fireman first was a public relations disaster for him, not to mention the potential safety consideration.
Maybe the $1.5 million “cop pay” made you feel good but it was a slap in the face to the taxpayers. We want more real cops on the streets. Just like the military, there are real Navy Seals and then there are fakes who claim to have done more than they really have. I am not sure who in the Fire Dept. started the nickname “Easter Seal,” but in this case it fits.
I don’t know what started it, but once Denise Carey started trying to keep East Station open he became vindictive and it’s been downhill since. My blog doesn’t help.
I’m sure it doesn’t. But,hey, you need to speak out.
For all of the time TML was a councilman, and for the first two terms as mayor, he did not need a “spokesman.” Now we have a $36K plus perks parrot (and as I understand, a relative) doing what Marie McCormick had done quite well for both T. McGroarty and Leighton.
Why do we need TWO lawyers? (Vinsko is also related). Why does the Mayor put the safety of the city as a last priority over furloughs of staff? Maybe because they are either related/beholding/or in some other way connected to the mayor’s ass.
There is so much deadwood on staff that could be terminated and never missed. Kane can’t be fired because she is elected, but, SHE SHOULD GIVE THE COUNCIL A TRUE AND ACTUAL ACCOUNTING of the City”s finances? But, WHERE IS SHE?????
All excellent points, Ray, especially regarding the necessity of a spokesman for the mayor when there is already an administrator onboard.
I see a mayor and cronies that have stolen and lied to us for years. When Leighton became mayor I thought he was going to save the city, he could do no wrong. Then he closed the Heights fire house. Then he cut the FD numbers. Now even more. All while stealing gas, having shady dealings with ex-judge Conahan, taxpayers paid for security systems, and we even payed some of the monthly fees, and so much more.
I’ll post a question Dan has in his blog. If the council has to approve the budget, that means they have to study previous budgets, and if that is right….. HOW DID THEY MISS A MILLION DOLLAR DONATION? Why? Because they are in Leighton’s pocket.
Oh I see the ‘cop pay’ made the comments. I can do math (our mayor and council can’t). If the FD made concessions in 2004 of half a million a year then, to date, that is $4 million. Take away the $1 million that 5 superior court judges said was due them, and the city is still $3 million ahead because of Leighton’s lies.
Casey, you and Dan, both in the FD, have your facts and math wrong. The city can only pay what they can afford. I do not want my taxes raised so you can have 7-10 weeks of sick and vacation time. The private sector is lucky to get 2 weeks vacation and 1 week of sick time. Makar sold you guys down the river after getting his extra $$$.
Lying coward who is too scared to use their name, or whatever your handle is. I’m not FD, but the twisted version of the info you have proves you are a coward that works for city hall. One of the cronies, how much free gas and other things did YOU get?
Whoa, things are heating up….as well they should as people lose their jobs the month of Christmas. I cannot think of anything profound to say other than I am truly concerned for the affected city employees as well as the escalation of anger. Considering seniority factors they are employees on the lower end of the pay scale, no doubt some living pay to pay. Having been in the position of letting people go, I can attest to the gravity of the situation. I do believe that the city is a fiscal mess, not all their fault, and that people must be let go. I also believe it needs to be done fairly and certainly correctly…neither seems to be true in this situation.
You got that right, Richard. And, yeah, I’ve been rather surprised at the volume of anger expressed here too.
There is a pattern to the layoffs. It is called CYA.
My opinion…
DPW holds “Gas Gate” over Leighton
The police hold “CARS FOR CASH” over Leighton
City Hall holds many things over Leighton.
So who does he pick on? Fire fighters!
Like Saddam’s Republican Guard… Leighton is surrounding himself with a band of, albeit shrinking loyalists.
I really hope the fire dept fights hard for parity because they are getting screwed.