Four full time dispatchers in the city of Hubbard received layoff notices on Tuesday.
The layoffs would close Hubbard's dispatch center from November 23 through the end of the year due to a budget shortfall. A fire and an electrical issue cost around $49,000 and the money was taken out of the police budget. The funds were to be reimbursed through insurance money, but according to the layoff notices, City Council Finance Chairman Patton Gilliland asked to table the motion at Monday night's council meeting.
Chief Martin Kanetsky, Hubbard Police Dept. doesn't agree with the decision. "This is ridiculous that we are even standing here talking over this right now. We need our dispatching. We need our people here, and the city of Hubbard knows how valuable they are, and everybody should be in an uproar over this. This is uncalled for."
The city will now look to the Trumbull County 9-1-1 center to dispatch calls if the layoffs happen. All dispatchers could be recalled after the first of the year.
