Taylor mayor could be heading to jail for refusing $8.1 million grant

TAYLOR (WXYZ) - Taylor's mayor Jeffrey Lamarand is not in favor of an $8.1 million grant to bring back 32 laid off firefighter for two years.

Mayor Lamarand calculates--in the long term-- it would put the city $600,000 in the hole because it does not include overtime, worker’s comp, or unemployment.

The grant comes with strict guidelines and the city would have to pay all of the money back if any mistakes were made.

The majority of city council wasn’t happy with his decsion

 “Council, in the resolution, basically ordered me to accept the $8.1 million grant,” said Mayor Lamarand.  “So, they are trying to push the envelope in me accepting all of it without any real justification or the expense or a look at the long term impact.”

“I understand where the mayor is coming from,” said Taylor Fire Chief Bob Tompos.  “He is responsible.  He is the fiduciary for the city. So he has some strong concerns for some costs that may not be covered by the grant.

Mayor Lamarand told 7 Action News it’s likely he will be going to jail over this.  A judge ordered him to comply with council’s resolution and take the funds.

His deadline to do so was Tuesday which means he could be held in contempt of court.

Councilman John Delo isn’t buying it. “If the ayor is considering going to jail-- some sort of martyrdom-- it is simply for the wrong reason,” said Delo.  “If he wants to be a martyr, he should be accepting the grant for the 63,000 residents of Taylor who are not being served to the city’s greatest ability by what has become a purely political stance.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Lamarand has asked FEMA for a $3.7 million grant which would bring back 14 laid off firefighters.

The mayor says he is hoping to hear from FEMA soon as to whether they will give them the $3.7 million grant.  Chief Tompos says he is willing to work with that and hopes all parties can come to an agreement soon.