NEWBURGH – As the Newburgh City Council continues to weigh its options with regard to potential layoffs of 25 police and firefighters, council members Monday night committed to avoiding firings.
City Manager Joseph Donat proposed a way to reduce the initially discussed property tax increases.
Members did agree there is a need to reduce overtime in both departments.
Without mentioning his name, Councilwoman Hillary Rayford criticized Acting Fire Chief Terry Ahlers for having a base salary of about $86,000, but with overtime pay in 2018, he earned some $231,000.
“You are making over 200-some, thousand dollars. Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you. We talk about overtime, the community needs to know how our comp time is associated with the pay and retirement,” she said.
Rayford renewed her call for a forensic audit of city overtime, particularly in the fire department, something that was supported by Mayor Torrance Harvey who continued his mantra that for years the city government has been mismanaged and corrupt.
