IBJNews

  • Home

Judge: Anderson can lay off firefighters

Associated Press
October 24, 2012
Keywords
Anderson, Government, Law, Legal Issues, Legislation, Local Government, Madison County, Regional News
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint

A Madison County judge has thrown out parts of the city of Anderson's contract with its firefighters that bars layoffs and sets minimum staffing levels.

Circuit Judge Dennis Carroll said in a 27-page ruling Tuesday said that Indiana law gives municipalities the right to lay off employees because of economic conditions. Carroll says that's a core management right that can't be bargained away.

Anderson city attorney Jason Childers says he's happy with the decision.

The Herald Bulletin said the ruling set the stage for furloughing as many as 20 firefighters and seven police officer to close a budget deficit. The Anderson City Council was expected to take up the budget later Tuesday.

A message seeking comment was left for Anderson Professional Firefighters Local 1262.

A councilman offered a plan Tuesday night making $1.3 million in alternative cuts and using most of that money to keep the police and fire department positions. The council voted unanimously to delay decisions on the budget until Monday.

Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith said he'll look at any suggestions, but that years of declining property tax revenue have left the city with few options.

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Anderson
    Mark CombsOctober 24, 2012 3:37 PM
    Mayor Smith has stated that he is willing to look at other options and suggestions. And, Anderson is not dying. Mayor Smith is doing an excellent job at bringing in jobs. Get your facts straight before you post.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Anderson
    RonOctober 24, 2012 10:57 AM
    Why would a city that has high crime rate. No jobs. Basically has nothing to offer do this. Why not lay off lazy and non productive city employees. Why not lay off some wasted city job positions.? Cut pay in most positions esp. the Mayor. Anderson is ranked at the bottom. The city is dying and this is just gonna drive more citizens away decreasing the population even more. Anderson used to be a city of 70,000 now it's below 59,000. Bad move for Anderson if it lays off police and firefighters.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

    Post a comment to this story

    COMMENTS POLICY
    We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
     
    You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
     
    Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
     
    No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
     
    We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
     

    Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

    ADVANCED SEARCH
    Sponsored by
    ADVERTISEMENT

    facebook - twitter on Facebook & Twitter

    Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ on Facebook:
    Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ's Tweets on these topics:
     
    Subscribe to IBJ

    1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

    2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

    3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

    4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

    5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

    ADVERTISEMENT