Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said Tuesday he's shutting down the Auburn Fire Department's Frederick Street station in an effort to save costs and improve efficiencies.

The move, he said, does not require Auburn City Council approval, though he said he has discussed it with them. He also has the backing of interim fire chief Mike Hammon.

The move went into effect immediately. Firefighters were notified Tuesday morning.

The decision also comes at a time when he and the AFD firefighters union are at odds over contract negotiations. Palesh missed a deadline to formally notify the AFD the city wanted to negotiate a new contract, and the AFD union has said it is willing to go another year under the current contract. City officials want the AFD union to go ahead with the talks despite the missed deadline.

A key issue in the contract dispute is a required 15-person-per-shift staffing requirement, which has led to a spike in overtime costs for the city.

Palesh said Tuesday that the closure of Frederick Street station, located at the corner of Owasco Street, has nothing to do with the contract situation.

Union officials were not immediately available for comment.

A 2003 consultant's study of the fire department operations had recommended changes to the AFD's station alignment, including the closure of the Frederick Street location. It said the station, which was built in the 1960s, should be sold or used for another purpose.

The city now operates stations at Frederick, Clark and Market streets.

For a full report, including reaction to the decision from a variety of stakeholders, read Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.