Four Atlantic City firefighters in danger of losing their jobs are transferring to a neighboring department.
Ron Laielli, Matthew Williams, William Nagel and Joseph Welsh III are four of 85 firefighters hired on a federal grant.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant ends in September. And, although Mayor Don Guardian has said there's enough money to last until November, the state has indicated otherwise.
A
memo from Timothy Cunningham, director of the state Division of Community Affairs that oversees the city, says the jobs will "terminate" Sept. 21.
"The City intends to rehire a limited number of former SAFER grant funded firefighters,” Cunningham wrote in the July 5 memorandum. “In connection with such hiring, the City will conduct an interview process. Information regarding the interview process will be provided at a later date through the ACFD.”
In preparation, some of the firefighters facing their jobs ending have looked elsewhere.
"While we are disappointed to lose four experienced and dedicated firefighters, I understand their decision to leave the department, " said union President Bill DiLorenzo. "After learning that the SAFER grant funding would not be sought after, and the plan was to lay off 85 firefighters, tough decisions were made by these members. The Atlantic City firefighting family will definitely miss these highly respected individuals."
