Several members of Coatesville council last night took issue with the city's paid firefighters who created mass hysteria among city residents over a decision to change the status of two career officers to part time.

Firefighter's, mostly union members from paid fire departments, took part in a rally outside City Hall last night to protest budget cuts in the city's fire department

"I don't believe for a second public safety was jeopardized," said Council Member Marty Eggleston. "This council would never do that."

"Last month council approved the layoff of several city employees to help make up a $1.5 million budget shortfall caused by the failure to sell off city owned property. City Manager Harry Walker has said the cuts will save the city $400,000 annually. Among the cuts was the change of status of two of the city's full-time firefighters to part time.

"Since then flyers have been circulated throughout the city claiming fire safety was being put in jeopardy. The flyer claimed that council, at it's July 23 meeting, eliminated half of the city's career fire department in "one fell swoop." Council Member Kurt Schenk said the statement was "a blatant life." The flyer was circulated by Local 3790 International Association of Fire Fighters. Jim Lentz, the president of the local union, was one of the career firefighters moved from full to part-time status.

"Last night Lentz said 19 to 20 shifts have gone open since what he termed the "illegal layoffs" took effect. However, city officials claimed some of the shifts were undermanned because of paid firefighters calling in sick. "If you asked Jim. Lentz what shifts were not covered, he would have to say mine," said Eggleston. "I'm tired of paid firefighters who call in sick repeatedly so they can say shifts are not being covered.

""It's all right here," said Schenk, holding up two sheets of paper.

"Eggleston said he has had major issues with both paid and volunteer firefighters, because they have all had their own agendas. "I've had volunteers pull equipment of trucks because they wanted to make a point," he said. "That's the kind of stuff that needs to stop."

"More than 75 firefighters turned out for the meeting; the majority were union members from paid fire departments as far away as Harrisburg and Johnston. All echoed the sentiment that any cut in fire department staffing was a cut safety. Cutting back on paid firefighters, they claimed, had the possibility of also forcing up fire-insurance premiums in the city.

"City Walker said the fire department was being adequately staffed. He and Fire Chief Kevin Johnson both said volunteers as well as paid firefighters were capable of driving fire apparatus. Johnson said 20 volunteers are now certified to drive the fire trucks.

"Walker also took issue with the scare tactics being employed by the paid firefighters. He said all part-time firefighters can work additional hours. "There is nothing stopping them from showing up," he said. But, he said, the idea the fire department couldn't operate without full-time firefighters was false. "If that is the case the fire department in West Chester couldn't exist; it's all volunteers," he said.

"At one point the definition of what exactly is a layoff became an issue. Lentz insisted the change in status from full to part-time was a layoff.

""Do you still work for the city?" Walker asked Lentz. "

"Yes," he answered.

"The meeting took an emotional turn when Council Member Kareem Johnson recalled it was volunteers who rushed into a burning home on Sixth Avenue in attempt to save his cousin. "There were paid firefighters who were on the scene who didn't try to go into the building. So, I don't want to hear it when you say the volunteers don't care about this city and that paid firefighters care more because it's not true. Those guys should've went into that building, but they chose not to," said a tearful Johnson. Johnson then left the meeting; he didn't return.

"The meeting started with a contentious mood when Police Chief Matthews informed some of those crowded into the council would have to leave because their numbers exceed the 110 capacity limited by fire code. Several firefighters, mostly union members from outside fire departments, moved to the hallway where a large number of city residents had already gathered. But when Matthews attempted to close the doors to chamber, those in the hallway began calling out, "You can't do this." The doors were left open.

"Council Member Ed Simpson said the current debate between different factions of the fire department have been ongoing. "We have two independent groups that both love their job and enjoy doing their job. But for sometime here in Coatesville they have a hard time getting together. It's not fair to the people of Coatesville. This issue needs to be resolved soon," he said.

"Fire Chief Kevin Johnson had sat silent throughout must of the meeting, answering questions only when called upon to do so by Walker. At the end of the meeting, Eggleston said that was done at his request to avoid personalities coming into play.

"Johnson did speak immediately prior to the meeting being adjourned. He said he was disheartened to see scare tactics used to upset the residents. "I'm not here to have a paid department. I'm not here to have a totally volunteer department. We have a combination department and that's what this city needs. That's what works. I've said that for years."

"He said there has been some "bumps in the road" caused by the realignment of the department, but fire safety was never compromised.