Westminster : Fire Department to Rehire 2 Firefighters

Two of five firefighters who were laid off as part of the reorganization of the Fire Department will be offered their jobs back within the next two months, according to Fire Chief John T. DeMonaco Jr.

DeMonaco said Thursday that Billie Nelson and Paul Sanchez will be rehired to fill vacancies in the department caused by the retirement of two other firefighters.

Nelson, 30, will replace Clay Stearns, a paramedic, who is retiring Oct. 10 after 26 years with the Fire Department. Sanchez, 36, will take the spot that will open up when Fire Capt. Bill Carter, a 30-year veteran, retires in late November, DeMonaco said. “We look forward to having them back,” DeMonaco said. “That will take some uncertainty out in the department.”

However, Richard Brandt, James Keehn and Tim Creed have been terminated as a result of the City Council’s decision Tuesday to reduce staffing levels in the city’s three fire stations to cut overtime costs.

Janie Miller, the city director for personnel services, said Brandt, Keehn and Creed were sent layoff notices on Wednesday.They did not receive severance pay, she said.

With the layoffs, Fire Department sworn officers dropped to 63, with each shift down from 20 to 16 firefighters. However, there will be three “floaters” each shift to cover firefighters on vacation, on leave or out sick.

The Westminster Firefighters Assn. has described the staffing level as dangerous. With their supporters, they have filed a notice to recall Mayor Charles V. Smith and three other members of the council.

At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Rebecca Danna, one of the recall proponents, served recall notices to Smith and council members Craig Schweisinger Charmayne S. Bohman and Tony Lam.

The council members have until Wednesday to respond, according to City Clerk Mary Lou Morey, who has ruled as invalid a similar recall notice filed last week that contained only four signatures.

A new state law requires 20 signatures, Morey said. She said Danna’s recall notices met this requirement.