The Daily Item
REVERE - Mayor Thomas Ambrosino said seven firefighters will be laid off to help the city save money in the face of reduced state aid to Revere.
The announcement is not a surprise to Fire Chief Eugene Doherty who has worked to cut Fire Department costs since March 22 by keeping a fire engine or ladder truck and its crew out of service. Doherty has rotated the service reduction between the Revere Beach Parkway, North Revere, Broadway and beach area stations.
"There is not one station that is less important than another, meaning I can't close one on a regular basis," Doherty said Tuesday.
A $1 million-plus reduction in state money allocated to the city prompted Ambrosino since the year's start to scale back City Hall hours, reduce some city workers to part time status and lay off others, including nine police officers.
He expects the city's money woes to continue through July 1 when a new spending year begins.
"The layoffs are not over," he told City Council members Monday even as Ward 6 Councilor Charles Patch angrily called on Ambrosino to halt a city practice of allowing ranking public safety officials to take city vehicles home with them. Patch claims ending the practice could save $150,000 and save jobs. Ambrosino estimates $3.7 million in city spending cuts could confront the city next year, forcing additional cuts in public safety and City Hall jobs. Doherty said the only obvious source of financial relief for the state and the city is money from casino gambling. Ambrosino agrees. He is a member of a coalition of mayors and town officials who think casinos could generate more than $400 million annually in new state revenues while creating thousands of construction and permanent resort casino jobs.
The coalition supports building three gaming, entertainment and destination venues.
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