Harrisburg City Council votes 6 to 1 to approve a new contract for city firefighters.
The contract vote was not even on the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting, but after feeling pressure from Mayor Eric Papenfuse, it was added at the last minute.
The firefighters union had approved the new contact weeks ago but City Council had not considered a vote on the pact to allow more time for council members to look the proposed pact over, specifically the section about the closing of the 2nd Street fire station.
The new contract will ultimately save the city thousands of dollars. That is due in large part that firefighters will not see a pay increase this year and only a one per cent increase the next two years.
Also Tuesday night’s meeting was the first since the unexpected passing of councilwoman Eugenia Smith. She died of a heart attack at age 53, on April 11. A red silk cloth was placed over her council seat and Police Chief Tom Carter presented a plaque in her honor that will hang in the atrium of city hall.
