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Blaise Gomez, News 12, The Bronx,
City of Newburgh officials are facing criticism for keeping a council member’s grandson on the payroll for almost a year after he failed to pass training required to become a firefighter.
News 12 is told that Rayquan Bryant first failed the Westchester Career Firefighter Academy last year – but in an unprecedented move, was kept on the payroll by city officials and allowed to try again.
He flunked out of the 17-week academy about a month into it last year, yet the city kept him on the payroll at full salary even though he was barred from responding to fires.
Rather than terminate Bryant after he flunked out the first time, City Manager Todd Venning kept him on the books, paying him a $42,000 annual salary. Despite not being able to perform the work for which he was paid, Bryant was still considered a firefighter.
