Groton Fire Company Braces for Round of Layoffs

In a month’s time, nine out of 25 members of the Poquonock Bridge Fire District in Groton will lose their jobs because of financial constraints.

The cause of those constraints is the subject of much debate – and firefighters say the cuts could be politically motivated.

In an effort to determine how these cuts might affect public safety, NBC Connecticut reached out to the fire chief, president of the firefighters union, president of the Poquonock Bridge District Board and the Groton town manager, all of whom declined to comment.

The president of the board referred to the situation as a “sensitive matter at this time.”

Poquonock Bridge is Groton’s largest fire district by far, and according to the Associated Press, the department will need help from other districts after the cuts.

Firefighters say the layoffs will be made according to seniority.

Taxpayers last month approved a budget of $3.9 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1, $700,000 less than the district had this fiscal year.

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