Key council meeting

With layoffs on the line, it was a huge City Council meeting last night. Big crowd, many firefighters and other city employees, plus supporters of Library, Parks and other pet departments. Initially, Mayor Dean Bunkers unveiled an amended budget, calling for 13 layoffs of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE’s), including two Fire Department and three Police Department personnel. Later in the four-hour marathon, he gave a second amended budget, which he had been working on until late in the afternoon. It outlined nine layoffs, “saving” four jobs, including one each in Fire and Police personnel. No formal action was taken, although council advised Bunkers to “continue on his path” and look for possible ways to save more jobs. Council must pass a balanced budget by Dec. 31.