Harper Woods

Harper Woods police, fire get pink slips

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

The first day of February was a rough one for Acting City Manager Randolph Skotarczyk, a day on which he had to make a decision that he called one of the worst things he’s ever had to do.

He had to issue police and fire layoff notices.

“Due to the current financial situation in Harper Woods, we’re facing and have been dealing with a deficit that is over $1.6 million,” he said. “I have been forced to issue layoff notices to four police officers, four firefighters and the elimination of our civilian aid program in the Police Department.

“This is painful for all of us,” he said.

Skotarczyk was given the power to cut staffing levels at a recent City Council meeting.

The layoff notices were scheduled to be issued on Feb. 1, with layoffs effective in March.

The city is pursuing options for bringing in funding that could help matters, but nothing is guaranteed. If, however, they find a way to bring employees back, Skotarczyk said they will do so.

“We are looking at avenues of funding,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re tax maxed.

“I have an obligation to be fiscally responsible,” he said. “We have to have a budget in which our expenditures equal our revenues.”

That is a high order since 2013 is projected to see a 39 percent gap between expenditures and revenues.

He praised the employees for coming up with some concessions, which he said in better times would have been considered good concessions, but they were not enough.

As the former police chief, he said this is especially hard for him. He said he personally hired some of the ones who are getting laid off.

Skotarczyk said if he doesn’t act now, though, the city will be in “an extremely perilous” situation.

“These are really unprecedented times,” he said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.