CALUMET CITY | At a time when as many as 11 of the city's police officers face the prospect of losing their jobs to save city government money, the City Council seemed eager to avoid taking responsibility for such layoffs.
The City Council used a special meeting Thursday to consider several budget-cutting moves, including positions and salary cuts. One measure that was supposed to be considered was the layoff of 11 police officers, which was estimated to save the city $581,376 during the remaining two months of the 2010 fiscal year.
Instead, the council voted 7-0 in favor of a measure giving the Calumet City mayor full authority to approve layoffs within the Police Department "without the council's consent."
Third Ward Alderman Thaddeus Jones, currently the Democratic nominee for a suburban seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, said he did not think the council should be involved in approving layoffs, and 2nd Ward Alderman Magdalena "Leni" Wosczynski agreed.
First Ward Alderman Eddie Gonzalez said he was opposed to any layoffs within the Police Department.
"I don't know how hard we have worked to find other parts of the budget that can be cut," he said. "I'm not in favor of layoffs of any police officers."
But Gonzalez's "yes" vote would permit Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush to make such layoffs, if she wished.
Qualkinbush on Thursday would not say if police layoffs would occur, how many officers would be affected or when such layoffs would take place. She said she wished the council had taken some action of support.
"It would have been nice if we had all stuck together. Instead, they threw it at me to do," Qualkinbush said. "But I'm here to make these tough calls. I'm not afraid to do this."
She said the police budget likely will have to take layoffs to help save money for this fiscal year, while also permitting the city to afford the provisions of its contract with police that provides officers and dispatchers with 4 percent raises effective May 1.
If police officers are laid off within the coming weeks, it would be the second time in the past five months the city has used such layoffs to save the municipality money.
In October, seven police officers were laid off. But they were rehired two weeks later when public outcry over the situation went solidly against Calumet City municipal officials.
Since then, the city has continued to negotiate with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1, which represents Calumet City police officers. The sides have been unable to reach a cost-cutting compromise that would help the city financially while averting the need for layoffs.
Lodge President Mitchell Growe said he was not surprised by the council's actions Thursday.
"Everyone is trying to point the finger (of blame) at each other, so they didn't make a decision," he said. "It's so typical."
