Newburgh City Council members listened and received comments from the public, mainly from city firefighters and additional residents in reaction to the tragic fire that took place last month on Lander St.

On the evening of June 15, a fire had broken out at 68 Lander Street, a three story residential apartment building. A resident on the third floor, later identified as Justin Benedict, had jumped in order to escape the flames and was transported to the hospital. Benedict’s mother Debra, was trapped inside the building. Firefighters were unable to reach her in time and she died at the scene.

Benedict was present at the city council meeting with his brother, James, who traveled from Texas, and other family members and friends.

“I would like to know why there was only seven firefighters on the scene? Why would that be allowed?” James asked. “I was born and raised up here and it makes me feel disgusted that this was allowed to happen to my mother.”

Justin approached the microphone while on crutches and offered comments and thanks for the city firefighters for the work they did despite the outcome. “I’m not holding anyone responsible. All I need to say is that I, I plead with y’all [city council],” Justin said. “I plead with y’all to listen to what your fire department has to say when they come up here and take what they have to say into consideration.”

Nicholas Bedetti, President of the City of Newburgh Firefighters IAFF Local 589 spoke. “In January [2022], when the idea of reducing our daily staffing minimum from 10 to seven came up we told the city government it was a bad idea. At January’s [2022] council meeting, we begged you to reconsider the staffing change that came from the city manager,” Bedetti said.

The staffing change recommendations were presented by City Manager Todd Venning in January as a means to reduce $1.7 million in overtime pay.

“If our staffing levels were at 10, Engine 1 out of Grand Street Firehouse would have been staffed and on scene in one minute. There are strategies, there are tactics to everything we do in order to have a successful outcome,” Bedetti said.

Several councilmembers offered their individual responses to the public comments. “Staffing and overtime, that’s actually a matter of the contract. This council does not get involved with the contract. If you work with us, we are able to help more,” said Councilman Anthony Grice. “Let’s approach it in a more collaborative way.”

“When we were looking at the budget for the past several years, that if we were to continue with the overtime in both of these departments, it would not be sustainable for the taxpayers. It would not be sustainable for the entire City of Newburgh,” said Councilwoman Ramona Monteverde. “We [city council] did what we thought was best at the time so that we could, you know, make sure that services were still in place, that we didn’t raise taxes.”

Councilman Bob Sklarz concurred.

“I know that you’re involved in contract negotiations now and we really need to sit down and come to a mind that we can agree to both sides and we can move forward with a healthy level of staffing and a safer city.”