Newburgh Heights mayor says council proposes ‘catastrophic’ layoffs

NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) - Newburgh Heights Mayor Gigi Traore announced Thursday council members have proposed “catastrophic” layoffs for the village.

According to Traore, these layoffs include:

• Two firefighters
• One police officer
• One service department employee
• Entire housing and building department, which is two employees

“I want to be very clear, this corrupt move is not about finances,, it is political,” said Traore.

The impact would affect residents, as well as employees.

Traore said besides safety concerns for residents, there would also be no leaf pick-up or snow removal.

Traore added council members have refused to consider cutting their own salaries.

She is urging residents to show up at the council meeting on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. to tell council members to “lay off the politics, not the staff.”

If the proposed layoffs are passed next week, they would go into effect immediately, said Traore.

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