Furloughs would save one DPW job

Vernon — After meetings with union representatives for Vernon’s Department of Public Works, new town manager Catherine Steinel says she may have found a way to save one job slated for layoff. In her review of Vernon’s proposed budget, Steinel says that an option to save one position is for DPW employees to agree to take five days off without pay, which would net the township about $65,500. These furloughs would essentially cover the value of one DPW job. In another matter, after reviewing the budget, Steinel says she was also able to reinstate a $5,000 cut made to the township’s volunteer fire and emergency services departments. The money would come from the township’s Fire Prevention Trust Account and would not have an affect on the budget bottom line. At a previous meeting, Mayor Sally Rinker and other council members questioned that cut. The council noted that the fire and EMS personnel are all volunteer positions and said and it would be unfair to take money from them for supplies and miscellaneous items needed for those jobs.