Stories Related to Need For Some 20 Layoffs In City Of Hazleton A Matter Of Debate

HAZLETON – Mayor Jeffrey Cusat’s announcement Thursday of his intent to lay off about 20 city employees on May 8 underscores the deepening rift between his office and the city council. In a press release, Cusat attributed the layoffs to “the untenable budget passed by city council which mandates the administration to make deep personnel cuts in specified departments.” Cusat urged residents affected by the layoffs to contact the city council, which he said had refused to cooperate with his office in an effort to make the administration “look bad.” Cusat said in a phone interview on Sunday that the council had made cuts to line items specific to several departments in its amendments to his proposed 2017 budget, making the layoffs necessary. According to the release, the layoff would impact employees from the Streets, Building and Maintenance, and Parking departments, as well as garage mechanics and non-uniform police. Councilwoman Grace Cuozzo takes issue with Cusat’s contention that the layoffs are the fault of council, saying that if the mayor’s office would implement sound fiscal principles with regard to spending, the city would rebound financially in such a way that the average resident would have continued quality services and opportunities for increased income, without the necessity of increasing property tax. Further, Cuozzo took issue with Cusat’s statement that budget cuts made by council to specific line items made the layoffs necessary. “For example, we made no cuts to the streets department,” she said.

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