Owego Firefighters Walk Out

Owego’s Mayor says he has received the written resignations of nine firefighters over the delayed vote on a new safety handbook for the Owego Fire Department.

35 firefighters have reportedly turned in their gear over the fight with the Village Board but Mayor Kevin Millar says he considers anyone who has not submitted a formal resignation still members of the department.

The firefighters threatened to walk out several weeks ago if the Village Board didn’t approve the guidelines but delayed action when the board said at the April 29^th meeting that trustees would review the dozens of pages of the Standard Operating Guidelines.

The fire department had received six citations from the New York State Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau following an investigation into the on-duty death of firefighter Matthew Pocari last year.

Fire Chief Scott Gurney was among those turning in their uniforms May 30 over what he said were safety concerns.