New London - The mayor has suspended layoff notices to 25 firefighters until July 17 to allow city councilors to "gain a better understanding" of an amended contract between the city and the firefighters union.

“While the Council is currently deadlocked on ratifying this agreement, members of the Council who have initially opposed the agreement have indicated that they may change their vote if they gain a better understanding of the proposed agreement,” Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio said in a prepared statement.

The suspension is being ordered to allow the council to revisit the tentative agreement at its July 16 meeting. The council failed to ratify the agreement Monday night.

“In the coming two weeks, the City Administration is fully available, as we have been in the past, for members of the Council to meet at length with administrative staff and/or to submit questions to the administrative staff. I am confident if the Councilors avail themselves of this opportunity that there will be no confusion as to the details of this agreement when the Council next meets on July 16th,” Finizio said.

“The tentative agreement creates substantial savings for the City, avoids all layoffs, and enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of the New London Fire Department. The Administration continues to fully support this agreement and we are pleased this agreement has been strongly supported by the fire union as well,” concluded Mayor Finizio.