Fayetteville officials apologized to firefighters for comments that were made during a budget meeting last.
Over 100 firefighters attending Monday night's city council meeting at City Hall after the comments were captured and shared on YouTube, according to the Fayetteville Observer.
"The guys love these kinds of jobs," Councilman Chalmers McDougald said after the council discussed the firefighters' 120 day work schedule and possible pay raises.
"It's like being retired and still working," Mayor Nat Robertson followed up with.
The comments sparked emails from spouses and others who defended the schedule.
"I have been recently appalled at the comments directed at the entire department of firemen," one letter said.
"Some unfortunate words were made," City Manager Ted Voorhees said to the firefighters gathered at the council meeting. "So I want to apologize that I did not step up and tell people, 'Look, let's move on.'"
