Pontiac Firefighters Get Christmas Eve Pink Slips

PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - Pontiac firefighters aren't feeling so merry this holiday season because they have all just been given pink slips.

The entire Pontiac Fire Department received notices from the Human Resources Department Christmas Eve informing them, due to the city's continuing financial emergency, their positions are being eliminated at 7:00 a.m. on February 1, 2012.

They are words on a piece of paper that have the power to change a person's life, words nobody ever wants to see, but especially at Christmastime.

"It sounds like 'The Grinch that Stole Christmas' from them," said Pontiac business owner Lonnie Mitchell. "That's kind of cold hearted to give someone a pink slip on a day that's supposed to be at the time of giving. That's not the kind of gift I would want to receive."

FOX 2 has obtained a copy of the job elimination notice along with the contract termination agreement. In a cost cutting measure, Pontiac's emergency manager is pushing for Waterford Township to take over Pontiac's fire services for $6.2 million dollars a year.

Some residents and business owners that spoke with FOX 2 were worried about what it will mean if they ever have to call for help.

"They already took our police, so I feel that they should work together and come up with a solution to keep our fire department," said Pontiac resident Noreen Anderson, who added she is worried about response times.

"I'm very concerned because if I have an emergency here, the response time from Waterford will be extended," Mitchell said. "Pontiac has training to come inside to save your building, whereas Waterford just stands on the outside and stops it from spreading to other buildings."

The clock is ticking. The emergency manager wants the deal in place in just over a month's time, and current Pontiac firefighters are being told if they want to try and get a job with Waterford Township, they need to have their applications in by January third.

Many have questions about the deal, questions that are hard to get answered because many offices are closed due to the holidays, including Pontiac's city offices where the emergency manager works.

We're told union members could vote Tuesday and decide whether or not to dissolve the department.