Taylor City Council votes on firefighter pay cuts and new city clerk

TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) - Taylor City Council made two key decisions at a meeting Tuesday night. They voted on a new firefighter contract and a new city clerk.

City council voted unanimously to approve a new contract with the fire department, which includes a 23 percent reduction in pay and benefits per person.

Councilman Rick Sollars said he hopes the cuts will encourage the mayor to accept all of an $8 million federal grant.

The money would be used to bring back 32 firefighters who were recently laid off and pay for their salaries for two years.

Mayor Jeff Lamarand only wants to accept a portion of the grant money, $3.5 million, because he's worried the city will not be able to continue paying the new firefighters once the grant runs out.

The city's administration is planning to meet with the fire chief Wednesday morning to find out where the grant stands.

City council also appointed a new clerk Tuesday night.

Leaders tell 7 Action News the new clerk, Cindy Bower, has been employed by the city for 23 years.

The former clerk resigned suddenly in June, leaving just two full-time workers in the office to run the voting process.