Political Action Committee to Disband Volunteers and Create Professional FD

[pacnow]

FDNY did it over a century ago.

We need to create a political action committee to:

1) Create legislation forming a county wide department or county wide authority with tax jurisdiction to use eminant domain to acquire all the firehouses, rigs, and equipment from local fire departments.

2) Sell extra buildings, rigs, and equipment and put the money in trust to fund a county wide department hiring career professionals.

3) Organize volunteers with NFPA FF1, FF2, and officer qualifications into duty crews.

4) Create New York State legislation consolidating Exempt Association funds in a nassau county firemans benevolent association and having all future 2 percent money's directed to the new FBA. Buildings, Investments, Assets of current exempt assoications will be consilidated.

5) Fund a more advanced Fire Service Accademy modeled after the rock geared towards unified career and volunteer training.

6) Disband all county fire departments as the county department comes on line.

Save millions and improve service!

The professional firefighters active on this board can provide the leadership along with hiring the best consultants accross the US.

Lets get the ball rolling now!

[Letsplaywithit]

FDNY did it over a century ago.

We need to create a political action committee to:

1) Create legislation forming a county wide department or county wide authority with tax jurisdiction to use eminant domain to acquire all the firehouses, rigs, and equipment from local fire departments.

2) Sell extra buildings, rigs, and equipment and put the money in trust to fund a county wide department hiring career professionals.

3) Organize volunteers with NFPA FF1, FF2, and officer qualifications into duty crews.

4) Create New York State legislation consolidating Exempt Association funds in a nassau county firemans benevolent association and having all future 2 percent money's directed to the new FBA. Buildings, Investments, Assets of current exempt assoications will be consilidated.

5) Fund a more advanced Fire Service Accademy modeled after the rock geared towards unified career and volunteer training.

6) Disband all county fire departments as the county department comes on line.

Save millions and improve service!

The professional firefighters active on this board can provide the leadership along with hiring the best consultants accross the US.

Lets get the ball rolling now!

Why a PAC? Why not a grass roots organization?

People use PAC's to funnel unregistered funds to politians. Are we, going to pay them to get them to do what we want? What's to prevent those that don't want change from doing the same? All that will happen is a bidding war, the politians will get more and more money and nothing will change.

The voters need to let the politians know how they feel, with their voices and their votes.

There are hundred times more taxpayers who want change than those who don't. They just need an avenue to get their feelings to the politians.

[moneytalks]

Money talks (for contributions to polititions).

Ideas walk with out money (for contributions to polititions).

[Vollie's Save Money]

Why a PAC? Why not a grass roots organization?

People use PAC's to funnel unregistered funds to politians. Are we, going to pay them to get them to do what we want? What's to prevent those that don't want change from doing the same? All that will happen is a bidding war, the politians will get more and more money and nothing will change.

The voters need to let the politians know how they feel, with their voices and their votes.

There are hundred times more taxpayers who want change than those who don't. They just need an avenue to get their feelings to the politians.

Go for it asshole. It will be ten times more in taxes than you pay now. We already pay the most taxes in the country. Let's keep the only the only tax that isn't killing us status quo. It's okay to be jealous of volunteer firefighter, which obviously you are, but don't try to make every other resident's tax burden increase. You're an idiot.

[Unregistered88765]

FDNY did it over a century ago.

We need to create a political action committee to:

1) Create legislation forming a county wide department or county wide authority with tax jurisdiction to use eminant domain to acquire all the firehouses, rigs, and equipment from local fire departments.

2) Sell extra buildings, rigs, and equipment and put the money in trust to fund a county wide department hiring career professionals.

3) Organize volunteers with NFPA FF1, FF2, and officer qualifications into duty crews.

4) Create New York State legislation consolidating Exempt Association funds in a nassau county firemans benevolent association and having all future 2 percent money's directed to the new FBA. Buildings, Investments, Assets of current exempt assoications will be consilidated.

5) Fund a more advanced Fire Service Accademy modeled after the rock geared towards unified career and volunteer training.

6) Disband all county fire departments as the county department comes on line.

Save millions and improve service!

The professional firefighters active on this board can provide the leadership along with hiring the best consultants accross the US.

Lets get the ball rolling now!
Grow up asshole we have the highest pay teachers now we fireman what a asshole !!!!!

[Herk]

Its all about UNIONS isnt it.All of you have a great deal of training and experience, why dont you join instead of making UNIONS the chief reason for having paid depts.and increasing our taxes even more.

[lbltjag]

Its all about UNIONS isnt it.All of you have a great deal of training and experience, why dont you join instead of making UNIONS the chief reason for having paid depts.and increasing our taxes even more.

All due respect Herk, but the Unions are the least of it. The fire service is struggling to meet its obligations to those it owes a duty to protect.

There have been many attempts at getting a productive dialog going as to how to address the problem. And make no mistake, there is a problem. The solution I offer is combo departments. The only solutions I've seen proposed from the other side is "maybe you should join".

The problem is that the world we live in today just doesn't allow most to volunteer. The requirements are ever more stringent, and just too great a burden for most to undertake. Even 9/11 couldn't save the volunteer fire service. In the aftermath of that tragedy there was a surge of enrollment in volunteer membership. It has since faded. This is just the reality of the situation.

When paid FF's come into more widespread use here on the Island, they will be Unionized. It is the public policy of the State of NY, embedded in our constitution, to promote the organization of workers engaged in public sector employment. This was arrived at in an attempt to balance the scales between the work force and the state. It is what it is. What people need to realize is that public sector Unions are very different animals than their private sector counterparts.

I have frequently been dismissed here and elsewhere as a stooge for my Union (IAFF). What seems to be ignored is that no newly formed FF's organization would be required to join the IAFF. They could be Teamsters, or CSEA, or AFSCME. That's really up to them. But they will be Unionized. Not because of political clout, and not because of Union greed. But rather because the drafters of our states constitution saw fit to make Unionization the public policy of this state in order to ward off the kind of abuse and mischief that employers have been subjecting their workforce to since the construction of the Pyramids.

I hope this aids in your understanding of things.

[Daytop Village]

All due respect Herk, but the Unions are the least of it. The fire service is struggling to meet its obligations to those it owes a duty to protect.

There have been many attempts at getting a productive dialog going as to how to address the problem. And make no mistake, there is a problem. The solution I offer is combo departments. The only solutions I've seen proposed from the other side is "maybe you should join".

The problem is that the world we live in today just doesn't allow most to volunteer. The requirements are ever more stringent, and just too great a burden for most to undertake. Even 9/11 couldn't save the volunteer fire service. In the aftermath of that tragedy there was a surge of enrollment in volunteer membership. It has since faded. This is just the reality of the situation.

When paid FF's come into more widespread use here on the Island, they will be Unionized. It is the public policy of the State of NY, embedded in our constitution, to promote the organization of workers engaged in public sector employment. This was arrived at in an attempt to balance the scales between the work force and the state. It is what it is. What people need to realize is that public sector Unions are very different animals than their private sector counterparts.

I have frequently been dismissed here and elsewhere as a stooge for my Union (IAFF). What seems to be ignored is that no newly formed FF's organization would be required to join the IAFF. They could be Teamsters, or CSEA, or AFSCME. That's really up to them. But they will be Unionized. Not because of political clout, and not because of Union greed. But rather because the drafters of our states constitution saw fit to make Unionization the public policy of this state in order to ward off the kind of abuse and mischief that employers have been subjecting their workforce to since the construction of the Pyramids.

I hope this aids in your understanding of things.

Oh good Lt. JizzBag from LB is here. WE ARE NOT WORTHY....

Hey douche nozzle are you a crack ho or what?

Shut up already, we're tired of hearing your idiotic opinions. The drafters of the state constitution... are you an idiot or what? Let me guess your parents dropped you on your head several times when you were a child.

The unions under Lindsey destroyed NYC and now you advocate for the same fate for LI. Go away you little bug, just go away.

[lbltjag]

Oh good Lt. JizzBag from LB is here. WE ARE NOT WORTHY....

Hey douche nozzle are you a crack ho or what?

Shut up already, we're tired of hearing your idiotic opinions. The drafters of the state constitution... are you an idiot or what? Let me guess your parents dropped you on your head several times when you were a child.

The unions under Lindsey destroyed NYC and now you advocate for the same fate for LI. Go away you little bug, just go away.

I must say how impressed I am with your deft use of the English language.

And the way you artfully defeated my arguments! It really was a thing of beauty. Were you on an Ivy League debate team in your youth? You certainly come off that way.

I'd also like to point out that NYC seems to be doing alright for itself.

[wdycwif]

Forget it Ltjag, the Rhodes Scholars here wouldn't recognize a hammer if it hit them on the head.

[go union go]

Why don't you all take a minute and look at the way your departments are abusing the use of EMT's and Paramedics. Especially in Suffolk County.
Despite what you all want to believe most of The Suffolk County departments employ some sort of paid EMS. Sadly though the ignorant district managers and fire commissioner feel that EMS is not a legitimate profession so on top of EMS duties they lump all kinds of things such as house cleaning, mail pick up, garbage runs, and countless other menial tasks. Why don't we ask the Paramedics from Terryville who after the last commissioner election were given a whole slew of new house duties. Or the departments who hire CC's with no professional experience because some dumb ass fire Chief thinks CC's and Paramedics are the same thing. If any sector was in need of unionization it would be the EMT's and Paramedics of Suffolk County.

[lbltjag`]

Why don't you all take a minute and look at the way your departments are abusing the use of EMT's and Paramedics. Especially in Suffolk County.
Despite what you all want to believe most of The Suffolk County departments employ some sort of paid EMS. Sadly though the ignorant district managers and fire commissioner feel that EMS is not a legitimate profession so on top of EMS duties they lump all kinds of things such as house cleaning, mail pick up, garbage runs, and countless other menial tasks. Why don't we ask the Paramedics from Terryville who after the last commissioner election were given a whole slew of new house duties. Or the departments who hire CC's with no professional experience because some dumb ass fire Chief thinks CC's and Paramedics are the same thing. If any sector was in need of unionization it would be the EMT's and Paramedics of Suffolk County.

Suffolk should go the Colerian Township (Ohio) way, moving to disband all members of the ems / firedepartment, and move to 24x7 staffing of career and part time firefighters for the few that meet the standards.


"During mid 1984, Colerain's volunteer system was disbanded and staffing of the stations was around the clock with part-time and career employees. Volunteers who wished to retain their status with department were now considered part-time employees of the Township. Stations would be staffed 24 hours a day, in contrast to responding tot he firehouse from home, as was the case with the volunteer system. This form of staffing ensured adequate personnel, as well as a more timely response to emergency scenes."
The Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS serves the largest township in Ohio. Colerain Township measures 43.5 square miles, abutting the northwest corner of Cincinnati, and serves over 60,000 residents. The Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS, formed in 1975 through the combination of two volunteer departments then serving the area, remains on of the largest and busiest suburban departments in the state.

Prior to 1975, the Groesbeck Fire Department, which began in 1931, and the Dunlap Fire Department, in 1954, provided fire protection in Colerain Township. Both volunteer departments were highly regarded in the southwest portion of the state. As Colerain Township began to realize significant growth, it became apparent that one fire department could better suit the needs of the township. in 1975 the Groesbeck and Dunlap departments merged, forming the Colerain Township Fire Department under the direction of Chief Cloyce "Corky" Snyder. the "new" department consisted of eight full-time employees, including Chief Snyder and many volunteer firefighters who were the backbone of the department.

The Colerain Township Fire Department functioned well form its onset under this system. The department maintained the high regard that was afforded the Groesbeck and Dunlap departments. Residents and businesses of the township received the best fire suppression, fire prevention, and EMS that was available at the time. During this time the completion of I-275 (Cincinnati's circle freeway) brought rapid and significant growth to the once predominantly rural community. The township expanded its two-station fire department to four, which better served the expanding community. While Township growth continued into the 1980's, retaining volunteer firefighters and EMT's became increasingly difficult. Chief Snyder and his staff pursued various options to remedy the staffing situation. The chosen option consisted of staffing the station 24 hours a day with a combination of career and part-time personnel.

During mid 1984, Colerain's volunteer system was disbanded and staffing of the stations was around the clock with part-time and career employees. Volunteers who wished to retain their status with department were now considered part-time employees of the Township. Stations would be staffed 24 hours a day, in contrast to responding tot he firehouse from home, as was the case with the volunteer system. This form of staffing ensured adequate personnel, as well as a more timely response to emergency scenes. Colerain was one of the initial departments in Ohio to utilize this form of staffing; a system that still works ell for the department today.

Chief Snyder's strong leadership continued moving the department in an upward direction until his retirement in 1986. Upon Chief Snyder's retirement, Assistant Chief Bruce Smith was appointed Director and Chief of the department.

From a membership of approximately 75 in 1986, the department grew to over 100 by 1989. In May of 1989, paramedics were added to the department's EMS division. The department's EMS, previously operating with advanced EMT's, was upgraded to include six career firefighter paramedics. The addition to the career staff, bringing the total to 17, would ensure continuous medic coverage to the township. From the program's inception, Colerain's ALS (advanced life support) units continue to remain the second busiest in Hamilton County, next to the City of Cincinnati.

Due to growth of the community, in October of 2004 a 5th fire station opened at the corner of Kemper Road and Pippin Road. It houses a front line engine, water tanker, a back up squad, rescue boat and the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials response truck.

In 2006 Colerain Township Fire Department continues to move forward and remains strong. In 2006 there were 2,788 fire response runs and 5,956 EMS response runs. With the 5 stations there are 5 first out engines, 1 spare engine, 1 110' ladder, 2 water tankers, 1 heavy rescue, 2 rescue boats, 4 front line squads, 3 back up squads, 2 paramedic units and the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials response truck. All 5 fire stations are open 24 hours 7 days a week. There are 53 career firefighter/paramedics (this includes all officers), 1 career mechanic, 1 career administrative assistant and 110 part-time firefighters/EMT/paramedics. Bruce Smith continues to serve as the Director and Chief with Joe Silvati and Deputy Chief. There are two assistant chiefs, a battalion chief for each shift (there are 3 24 hour rotations), two division chiefs (training and EMS), and a captain for each shift for each station.

Along with making emergency responses, Colerain Township Fire Department has an extensive training division, public safety division (which includes fire inspections and public education), fire investigation unit, vehicle repair and maintenance garage, and citizen's fire academy. Please open the links at the top of the page to learn more about each of these divisions of the fire department.

[getrealnow]

The more appropriate question is do you read what I write? Or, better yet, can you comprehend it.

Listen, I think Two-Hatting is wrong. That's no secret. But, now pay close attention here: What I say in my post is that Two-Hatting in an organization that is served by a brother Local is morally reprehensible. I'm sure this distinction does nothing to change your mind about me or my opinions, but perhaps I can drive the point home for you in a way you'll understand.

I don't know what you do for a living, but I'm pretty sure it's not firefighting. Whatever it is, garbageman, lawyer, stockbroker, whatever. There is no one volunteering to do the work that you do, is there? Career FF's are in the unique position of having people that actually compete for the work that you do. Further complicating matters is the fact that they are willing to do it for nothing.

So, whatever it is that you do, suppose tomorrow morning a group of people showed up at your workplace and offered to do what you ordinarily do - and - they're willing to do it for nothing. Can you imagine this? I really don't think you can.

Now, as difficult as this is for you to imagine, take it one step further and say that the bunch of guys that are willing to do your work for free are members of a neighboring Local to you? Even if they're not Unionized workers, how do you think you'd feel about some other tradesman from your profession just showing up at your workplace and saying "you can send these guys home, we've got this"? I think you'd be pretty steamed.

I know you will come back at me with the old and worn-out "but all you paid FF's do other trades work on the side" BS. It's just not the same thing. Not even close. If you go back a few posts you'll see where I went into detail about how the two practices are different. I'm too lazy to paste it here. Instead, I'll throw one more example at you that may illuminate your understanding of this situation.

I do carpentry on the side. I don't do it for free. That fact notwithstanding, what do you think would happen if I showed up tomorrow at a Union jobsite with my tool belt in hand and told the project manager to send one of your overpriced Union guys home because I'll do it cheaper. You know what would happen, they'd chop me up into small pieces, that's what.

This is true, and we all know it. If you were one of the guys on that site, you'd probably be leading the attack. Despite this, you want to defend the right of other Unionized FF's to come onto my "jobsite" and do just that? You're wrong here on this one. You can disagree with my stance on Two-Hatters in general, but I don't see how anyone can defend doing so in a department that is served by a brother local and where you are directly threatening the job security of those employed there.

Morally reprehensible? You bet it is.

[CFD Ladies]

Ok lets have a paid fire department and lets just leave the rich to live on Long Island. Things are tough enough with taxes and cost of living. Lets not fix something that isn't broken.. If you want to be a paid FF go to NYC or someother City that has paid FFs.

[lbltjag]

Ok lets have a paid fire department and lets just leave the rich to live on Long Island. Things are tough enough with taxes and cost of living. Lets not fix something that isn't broken.. If you want to be a paid FF go to NYC or someother City that has paid FFs.

Not broken? Are you living on the same Island that I am.

The service is sub par. The cost is astronomical. The emphasis is on obtaining more and more "goodies" for the members, while doing nothing to improve response to emergencies. Not broken?

You really need to do something about your denial issues.

[Unregistered990999]

FDNY did it over a century ago.

We need to create a political action committee to:


5) Fund a more advanced Fire Service Accademy modeled after the rock geared towards unified career and volunteer training.



Lets get the ball rolling now!

You obviously havent seen the Nassau fire academy. It is looked at as one the the best fire academys in the country. Get your facts straight.

[Ripusoffagain]

Go for it asshole. It will be ten times more in taxes than you pay now. We already pay the most taxes in the country. Let's keep the only the only tax that isn't killing us status quo. It's okay to be jealous of volunteer firefighter, which obviously you are, but don't try to make every other resident's tax burden increase. You're an idiot.

It has been ten times more in theft of taxpayers money from some officials who abused their office, citizens & firemen of the community.