Employees Targeted for Layoffs Get 2-Week Reprieve

At least 20 Hawthorne employees who were to be laid off Friday will keep their jobs for another two weeks, city officials said.

“We felt we could sustain them for another two weeks,” said Mayor Larry Guidi, adding that the last day for employees has been delayed until Jan. 25. “We have so many irons in the fire and we wanted to get as much done as we could before we lose all these people.”

About 125 full- and part-time employees were given pink slips last month in an effort to save the city nearly $4 million. Officials said the need for the budget reduction was sparked by voters’ rejection of a 5% utility tax in November that was expected to generate $4 million.

As part of the cutbacks, the city has trimmed 25% of the staff from each department and eliminated all crossing guards. The city also has closed its only municipal pool and teen center. Hours at the senior citizens center also have been cut.