Following a 50-minute, closed-door meeting with city officials Tuesday, the president of Pottsville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 44 said he believes one police officer's job may be saved from the 2013 budget crunch.
"Nothing's in stone but I think we can save one for sure. We're working with the city to try to save the other two," FOP President Brian Kotzmoyer said.
Later this week, city officials will be giving the FOP proposals for discussion. The FOP will meet Friday at City Hall to discuss them, Kotzmoyer said.
On Nov. 29, when the council presented its tentative 2013 spending plan, it announced it was planning to lay off five full-time workers - three police officers, a street worker and a tax office employee.
It was a shock to many. City employees who have been around since the 1980s said there has never been the threat of layoffs before.
City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said inflation has the city in its clutches. Anticipated expenses in 2013 will include a 7-percent increase in health care, a 21-percent increase in insurances and a 22.7-increase in pension contributions.
But changes can still be made to the $8,038,888 spending plan before its final approval, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Dec. 27.
In an effort to save jobs, city officials met with representatives of Pottsville AFSCME Union 2835 on Dec. 10 and FOP representatives on Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Tuesday.
City representatives at Tuesday's session included Palamar, Mayor John D.W. Reiley and Councilman James T. Muldowney.
Representing the FOP were Kotzmoyer; Brian Reno, the lodge's vice president; Gino Yourey, the lodge's secretary; and FOP members James Joos, who is also a city police officer; and police Capt. Steve Durkin.
The meeting was held in the conference room on the second floor of City Hall. It started at 3:30 p.m. At 3:57 p.m., the mayor, Muldowney and Palamar stepped out.
"They want a minute to themselves," Reiley said. At 4:02 p.m., Joos came out and invited the city officials back in and the meeting ended at 4:19 p.m.
The only ones who would stop to talk to the media afterward were the mayor and Kotzmoyer.
"A little bit of progress was made. We're trying to cut expense so we can get some changes in the revenue. We're going over each line item. The FOP is very cooperative. There's been a little bit of give on their part and a little bit of give on the city's part. Hopefully, we'll get it all worked out," Reiley said.