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Lawrence Closes 2 Firehouses, Lays Off Workers

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Aug 15, 2009 11:04 am US/Eastern

Lawrence Closes 2 Firehouses, Lays Off Workers

LAWRENCE (AP) ―

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The Lawrence fire department has laid off 10 people and closed two of its six firehouses.

The cuts came Friday after the 136-member Lawrence firefighters union refused to agree to $680,000 in concessions.

Fire Chief Peter Takvorian said he had no choice since the department was running out of money and needed to take drastic measures.

Takvorian says now the city is at risk since the department is short staffed.

City officials said if the firefighters union had agreed to the concessions, the city would have hired at least four firefighters this year.

But union members voted not to reopen negotiations with the city.

Union President Patrick Driscoll said firefighters were being asked to take a larger pay cuts than other workers.