ENGLEWOOD – Nine young men who were hired as firefighters this year, and believe they were wrongfully dismissed just days before starting at the academy, are suing the city and its former and current manager.

Although they were fired, via email from the former City Manager Edward Hynes, on April 11, they waited until now to file the suit because they “haven’t gotten clarity,” their lawyer Michael Prigoff said.

“I offered to meet with city officials and was rebuffed,” Prigoff said. “We were looking for information.”

The city’s attorney, William Bailey, said he was hesitant to respond to Prigoff due to “pending litigation.”

Prigoff represents Michael Cangro, Carlos Canizales, Kenneth P. Corrigan, Michael Kraus, Steven Longa, Thomas Martin, Michael Rawson, Jonathan Reitz and Sebastian Rollo.

Rollo said he had received a conditional job offer in January and fulfilled all of the obligations that followed, including background checks, physicals, psychological exams and drug screenings, all at the expense of the city.

They reported to the firehouse for orientation on April 8 where they were fitted for gear, received badge numbers and signed payroll and medical benefit paperwork, Rollo said.

“We were all told to put in our notice and leave our jobs so we could start the fire academy the following Monday, April 15,” Rollo said. “We all left our jobs that same week, excited to serve the city.”

Then on April 11 each received an email from Hynes that the conditional job offers had been rescinded due to budgetary issues and that he was “sorry for the inconvenience,” Rollo said.

The men say they don't think that is the case though, and feel it is an issue of race. They say that they were among 15 new hires for the fire department, 12 of whom were non-residents, and all of those 12 were white.

They said since the hiring process began residents and “political associations” have complained about their hiring.

Hynes did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

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“I never expected my life would be ruined because of this political nonsense,” said Kraus, who said he resigned from the New York Police Department to work in Englewood. “On that first day of work at the firehouse my dream was finally reality. Except now that dream has become a nightmare.”

In addition to the firefighters, six police officers were conditionally hired by the city before a hiring freeze was put in place. They are still waiting to see if there is space in the budget, which will be introduced next week, for their positions.

The suit comes in the wake of an ordinance passed unanimously by city officials Tuesday night which would give Englewood residents preference when it comes time to hire both police officers and firefighters.

Mayor Michael Wildes said because the ordinance was passed by a “super majority” he will “effectively have his veto overruled” but he is still considering it.

“In view of the pending litigation, I’m not really permitted to opine other than to say that my heart goes out to the young men in attendance,” Wildes said. “The process allows for some discretion in selecting candidates. Test scores are important as we want the best applicants to ensure our safety but there’s broad agreement throughout our city, as with most cities, that efforts should be made to include members of the community.”

Prigoff wants more clarification on the ordinance, saying that Englewood residents initially received a six-point bonus on the written exam. With the new ordinance, that bonus would be even bigger.

“This would effectively give residents a 20-point bonus to just pass the test,” he said. “Is that really someone that is successful?”

Email: sobko@northjersey.com; Twitter: @katesobko