AUBURN – Blaring car horns and shouts of support rained down on Court Street on Friday as firefighters marched to protest issues with their contract.

The picketing in front of the City building came more than a week after the firefighters union issued a vote of no confidence in City Manager Patricia Finnigan.

“Our members have had enough,” said firefighter Scott Smith, who is also the treasurer of the Local 797.

The main gripe for firefighters is the failure of city leaders to honor the most recent contract. A 2 percent cost of living raise for firefighters has been denied. The city has been attempting to decrease the fire department’s minimum staffing from 14 to 13 firefighters. In addition, some training, programs and positions could be cut – including the department’s fire prevention officer.

“Everyone knows what happens when you get rid of a fire prevention program,” Smith said.

Specifically, Scott said cutbacks proposed by the city will decrease levels of safety for the public. Under department policy, firefighters will not be able to charge a burning building as soon as they arrive at the scene if they don’t have sufficient personnel.

“We’re going to have to wait for another engine from another district before we can start working,” Smith said. “If there is no immediate life hazard, we sit there and watch the building burn.”

Friday afternoon traffic was loud at Turner and Court streets as the firefighters marched and civilians joined in. Drivers honked in support or shouted out the windows. Protesters handed out pamphlets with information about the contract debate.

Firefighters and citizens alike paced back and forth along the sidewalk, hoisting signs with messages like: “Save our city. Demand Pat Finnigan’s resignation.”

Many blamed Finnigan for pouring money into various projects while proposing cuts to police and fire departments. One man pointed out that Finnigan and other city leaders want to shell out $350,000 for furniture for the new City Hall. In fact, the plan is to buy the furniture from Peruvian sellers.

“We have craftsmen in this city and in this state who are more than qualified to make furniture,” said Ed Desgrosseilliers, who lives on Hatch Road.

At a meeting earlier in the week, Finnigan said existing furniture in the Auburn City Building is either too old or the wrong size to make the trip to the Auburn Hall. The new building is designed to help city staffers work efficiently and some new furniture is necessary, she said.

“This furniture will not be luxurious,” Finnigan said. “It will be utilitarian.”

But Desgrosseilliers and others were miffed about cuts to public safety while, they said, city leaders spent big on items of vanity.

“Pat Finnigan has violated the trust of the public,” Desgrosseilliers said. “I want the mayor and the councilors to go, except for a few members.”

A new firefighters contract was supposed to be signed by July 1, according to Smith. Firefighters are currently working with an expired pact.

According to the Auburn Firefighters Local 797 handout: “The city of Auburn has inevitably made the firefighters’ work environment more difficult due to repeated threats to cut manpower and, in turn, endangering the full protection of its citizens.”