May 22, 2009 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville firefighters and the city have apparently reached an agreement that will allow the employees to keep lounge chairs and a television at the East Side Fire Station. “I’m happy everything has been worked out,” said Lt. Bill Mickey, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1917 on Thursday. “I don’t know what was said, but apparently the letter sent to us last week by Councilman David McIntire has been rescinded.” The firefighters had planned to remove the furniture at the end of their Thursday shift, but were notified earlier in the day it would no longer be necessary.

In the May 14 letter, McIntire, who oversees the fire department, directed the three man crew to remove the personal furniture, initiate an exercise program, maintain a hourly time study of department activities, pursue grants, continue education, work with private and public business to develop plans for fire drills and become proactive in the schools.

The mandates were to “better serve the residents of Connellsville and provide them with a better value for their tax dollar.”

However, the department members termed the letter as “retaliatory” for an arbitrated contract award that gave the firefighters a 4 percent salary increase and longevity pay for the four-years of the contract.

The unionized department had worked under the previous contract for nearly 18 months before a new agreement was reached.

McIntire’s letter was delivered to the fire station one month after the agreement had been signed.

“The city did not like the outcome and therefore decided they are going to do everything in their power to make our life miserable,” said chief and 40-year veteran of the department Dennis Petrowski after the letter was received. “It is nothing more than harassment and retaliation.”

Mickey said Thursday that there was no other reason for the contentious letter to be sent other than to send a message that the city was not happy with the decision of the arbitrator.

The letter was turned over to the department’s legal counsel Richard G. Poulson of the Philadelphia-based law firm of Willig, Williams and Davidson, who also represented the city employees in the arbitration.

Mickey said that Poulson and the city’s legal counsel, Mitch Mitchell, worked together to settle the matter that might have resulted in a civil lawsuit.

“We’re grateful it has been rescinded,” said Mickey.

McIntire could not be reached Thursday for comment.