BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Injuries, potential retirements and a lack of firefighters available to fill positions is causing financial troubles for the city.

In a presentation Monday City Comptroller Angela Gray shared projected $280,000 short fall in the fire department budget due to overtime.

The problem, despite the recent hiring of six additional firefighters, is a lack of staffing.

That's due to the fact that six recruits are still attempting the academy, two firefighters are set to retire and two additional firefighters are eligible.

On top of that, are injured firefighters.

Chief Ken Stull spoke at the meeting last night to clarify that hazard pay is no longer being paid to firefighters when there are fewer than five on a shift. He said six are assigned to the shift so the clause in the contract is not kicked in.

Although six are assigned to a shift, filling the shifts is impossible without overtime, due to the lack of staffing.

Although the city has submitted a grant that would allow them to hire more firefighters, Stull said that currently there are no eligible firefighters on the civil service list.

Essentially that means that even if more hires were approved there would not be anyone available to fill them.

During the meeting Scott McRoberts asked if the city could work with the fire department to come up with some ideas to help stabilize the financial losses.

He said that it was clear the union was not interested in negotiating with the previous council and he said that understood their reasons.

However, he suggested that the new administration might be able to find more common ground with members of the union and perhaps open portions of the contract for re-negotiation.

Councilor Jennifer Stevenson said it was a discussion worth having, even if it doesn't end up being something that can be done.

Mayor Michael Tooley sought additional information about the financial situation at the department and clarity on the numbers in the budget.

Council gave consensus on a more detailed presentation, which will likely take place at a future city council meeting.