The layoffs of firefighters have been stopped after members of the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners asked Chief Don Adams to consider stopping the layoffs after a public outcry from about 100 people attending a special meeting at East Lee County High School Tuesday night.

The meeting began shortly after 6 p.m. and continued to around 8:30 p.m.

The focus of the meeting surrounded the lack of money to fund the fire district because of the loss of taxes due to the lack of evaluation of homes in Lehigh.

The board accepted an offer from Damon Shelor, president of the Community Council of Lehigh Acres to listen to results from a blue ribbon committee which will take a look at the budget and try to come up with options to slow down layoffs.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner David Adams said he would like to see all the layoffs put off until the July 14 meeting to see the results from the blue ribbon panel and the possibility of other sources of income and word of a grant from the Obama Administration.

Adams’ comments drew a loud applause. Commissioners Joel Guzman, Chairman Jeff Berndt and Julie Barrett agreed. Board member Ralph Hemingway was not at the meeting due to an illness.

Chief Adams said he would send out letters beginning Wednesday to those who have been told they are being let go because of the funding issue.

Commissioner Adams first suggested that no more layoffs take place until the end of September, just before a new budget is struck.

Richard Pringle, the board’s attorney said the commissioners did not have to make a motion, but simply appeal to the chief to do as they asked. Under Florida law, the chief is responsible for hiring and firing of personnel.

The department has $11 million in reserves, thanks to the chief’s work, since he has been in Lehigh now for a couple of years. The department will have to dip into the reserves to continue to operate.

Berndt said he welcomed any help from the blue ribbon panel and hoped they could offer advice at the July 14 meeting.

When Commissioner Adams said it was his desire to include all that have been laid off and all who have been told they will be laid off over the new few weeks.

A spokesman for the union also made pleas to stop the layoffs and offered in any way they could to keep every firefighter employed. Many in the audience said the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. was the best in the county. A couple of people said they owed their lives to the EMTs and paramedics.

Several more budget meetings are scheduled and if funding can not be found, the possibility of firefighters being laid off is still possible.