According to their Facebook page, they say the city closed the Fire Department as of 8 a.m. on Monday.  

They say they tried to get on the City Council agenda for this Thursday, but were denied.

The disagreement comes from the city initiating a contract explaining who is responsible for the equipment the crew use. While the department is temporarily back open, they're hoping to find a fast solution.

In voting against the funding, Mayor Butler contended the city could save $4 million if the city eliminated the “minimum manning” clause that requires 15 firefighters are on duty at all times and not accept the grant. Almost all of the city’s $800,000 in overtime expenses also would be gone, he said.  

The minimum manning stance is at the crux of a four-year contract dispute with the Watertown Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 191. As a result, the city will save money in personnel costs because many of those firefighters earn top-tier annual salary wages of $55,635 and they will be replaced by new people earning a base salary of $44,799.