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Both Ben McLaughlin, Jamestown firefighter union president, and Mayor Eddie Sundquist urged the City Council to approve the SAFER grant and hire eight additional firefighters Monday.
During public comments prior to the vote, McLaughlin congratulated the city, Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Coon, the administration and Paula Pichon, city grant writer, for successfully being awarded with the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, as well as the recent Assistance to Firefighters grant. He added that both grants are "very competitive" and require a "lot of work," appreciated by the Jamestown Firefighters.
McLaughlin also expressed appreciation toward City Council members for engaging in "dialogue" regarding the SAFER grant despite their concerns regarding the financial implications of the grant.
"While there are reasonable uncertainties of how these positions will be funded in the future, we don't know what the city finances are going to be or what the funding opportunities will be," he said. "What we do know is that we have a need and FEMA agrees. We know that we do not meet the NFPA standard for minimum staffing."
McLaughlin suggested that with the approval of the SAFER grant and eight additional firefighters, Jamestown residents would have better EMS coverage, better fire protection and better response times during emergencies. He added that approval of the resolution would increase the safety of Jamestown firefighters while also decreasing the burden of neighboring volunteer fire departments that provide mutual aid to the city.
"This grant provides the city with additional resources and prioritizes public safety," he said. "It's rare that the union, deputy chief, the mayor and the community all agree on a particular issue. This is a good thing for all parties involved, especially the public that we serve."
On behalf of the Jamestown firefighters union, McLaughlin asked City Council members to vote in favor of the SAFER grant and lifting the hiring freeze to allow the Jamestown Fire Department to hire eight additional firefighters.
Following the City Council's decision to table the resolution Monday night, Sundquist released a press release expressing his frustration with the council's vote.
"I am disappointed that City Council declined to take action on the hiring of eight firefighters through the SAFER grant program," he said. "In my opinion, hiring these firefighters is a no-brainer."
According to Sundquist, the eight additional firefighter positions would be covered under the SAFER grant for a period of three years, with a "minimal impact" on the city's annual budget.
Sundquist said "a number of questions" were raised by City Council members during Monday's voting session that were not discussed in the previous weeks.
"City Council has repeatedly declined to respond to the administration's requests for questions on this grant, instead opting to ask them during the Council session tonight," he said. "I will be working with the council president to schedule a meeting to allow City Council to meet with FEMA representatives so they can directly ask questions about the SAFER Grant."
Sundquist concluded his remarks by urging the City Council to "put forth solutions" regarding the SAFER grant resolution for the safety of Jamestown residents.