Healz

Sir, while I agree with many of your posts/statements, I have to respectfully disagree with this one. In my humble opinion (mind you I'm just some silly volly), a paid "driver" would do no good for anyone. A paid driver would just create smoke and mirrors and would be useless for the FD members, let alone the towns citizens.

There are no Paid Drivers In Westchester. This is a derogatory term used by Volunteers to demean their jobs as Professional Firefighters that work in combo departments. Professional Firefighters in Lake Mohegan, Peekskill are fully trained in the NYS academy and are Firefighters, Not Paid Drivers.

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

Good Guy. Way to young.

This is the decision that each man made. They knew what the conditions that they worked under and took the risk.

<br />QUOTE:<br />As long as the people that are in charge (Commissioners)make the election rules(time, and place)things can be steered in any direction they want.<br /><br />   New York State makes the laws as to the time/date of the election, not the fire districts.    It is true that the fire district does choose the location.  For my district, it is in the fire house, right in the center of town.<br />

This is my last post on this subject. You can take your shots.

The elections are over the 17 have voted.

<br />QUOTE:<br />As long as the people that are in charge (Commissioners)make the election rules(time, and place)things can be steered in any direction they want.<br /><br />   New York State makes the laws as to the time/date of the election, not the fire districts.    It is true that the fire district does choose the location.  For my district, it is in the fire house, right in the center of town.<br />

Sorry. Our voting times have been changed to 3pm -9pm by resolution of the commissioners, also our Treasurer is appointed and not elected.

<br />Depends on where you work in all actuality. For example...I actually work for the city manager.  But in the spirit of the way your question is posed...both.  Different sort of relationship..but firefighters work for the Chief and the Chief works for the firefighter, or at least they should by ensuring good policies are there, that they are enforced, and everything possible is done for their safety and well being.  Good thread bro.<br />

In your case it changes every 2 years.

<br />Maybe because if I can't find a specific question you want answered no one else can.  And 17 votes doesn't make it a secret election...I knew of every district vote where I used to live. To be quite honest...I didn't vote in a single one...and the fire service is my profession. So if I didn't make the effort..do you really thing anyone else cares, knows or even wants to take the time?<br />

Alas, you are correct. People don't care till they need us. That's why we will never progress.

Although I agree that the elections are not "well publicized", I am not getting your REAL point here.  If you are aware that there are elections, and you are so concerned with who is running, then why don't you 1).  Run for the position; or 2).  Put someone up that you think would do a better job.  You can easily go to the NYS Association of Fire Districts website and you can get all the information and timeline as to when petitions have to be filed, etc.What I am also not getting from reading many of the previous posts, is why would you not want an experienced person, i.e. Ex-Chief as a Commissioner?  Would you rather see five John Q. Publics in there that have no knowledge of the fire service and will just nickel and dime everything?I know that I am very grateful to have Ex-Chiefs on our Board since I have never been affiliated with the fire service.  Yes, I have been involved in EMS for 23 years, so I have knowledge of "emergency services", but I know nothing about fighting a fire.  Do I bring anything to the table?  Yes, I feel I do, having a bookkeeping/construction/administrative background, I am not "just a body" sitting on the Board.As far as adding the election of Fire Commissioners to the General Election in November, would be fine with me, but will probably never happen.  I am sure you would be pretty hard pressed to find Mr. John Q. Public, "businessman", who gets on the train at 7 a.m., returns home at 7 p.m., who wants to be a Fire Commissioner.  If they volunteer for anything, it is usually to coach soccer or Little League for their little "Johnny".I feel this post is going nowhere.  I think it just comes down to someone who, for whatever reason, has it out for Commissioners due to a past incident.  Sorry.

Not for Commissioners but for the system. As long as the people that are in charge (Commissioners)make the election rules(time, and place)things can be steered in any direction they want. Our election times have expanded over the years. That's good. Some people here still must travel over 10 miles of holiday shopper choked roads to possible wait out in the cold to vote. Thats not good

I have been involved with the EMS and Fire service for 40 years and have watched as different Commissioners come and go, some good, some bad, and some real bad. I watched once as my local district was systematically disassembled and not progress because of petty politics, the newer commissioners are still rebuilding and in these tight times it is no small feat. Until recently I was not eligible to run for office because of my job. Now I am retired and looking at leaving the area and will not able to commit to a five year term.

All well SNAFU Status Quo

<br />In 30 seconds of googling I found Pleasantville's.  On the dept's website, on a local online newpaper, and on the Mount Pleasant Town website.

I assume this is the district that you live in? What is the URL of the webpage that you speak of?

For those of you that get allot of your local information by reading the lohud site. You'll notice that you can read all about every election in the county. Here is a challenge, start your stop watch as you click on Lohud.com. Time how long if you can at all find the notice of election for your district. That is without loading a specific search. The clock is ticking.

Also You did not read the original post? You could not mount a specific google search because you would not have the knowledge of an election taking place.

Almost 2000 views and the question is still NOT answered and probably won't be. I.E. 17 votes a secret public election.

I don't understand what URL you want listed...

The URL of the legal notice for the elections of your fire district. A 1000 views and no one has answered the question.

Most places you will see signs for the candidates who are running with the times and date.   Really dont need a newspaper posting.

It is a legal requirement that District elections be posted. Where is it posted on the electronic edition of the paper?

The districts legal notice detailing the day & time & term of the elections and the last day you can submit your name to be put on the ballot is put in the local newspaper by law. The names of the candidates that are running are on the ballots. There is no legal requirement to post the list of candidates in the paper. I dont have the exact law # in front of me, but will post it later.

It is correct that the candidates don't have the be listed. But the time and place of all elections does. Please just list the URL and how long it took to accomplish this task? Just answer the question. Simple? We'll see.

Yes !!! The secret public elections. For those of you that get allot of your local information by reading the lohud site. You'll notice that you can read all about every election in the county. Here is a challenge, start your stop watch as you click on Lohud.com. Time how long if you can at all find the notice of election for your district. That is without loading a specific search. The clock is ticking.

At this time there are 742 viewings of this post and not one person has posted the URL of the notice of elections. Can anyone find the notice? How long did it take you?

Yes !!! The secret public elections.

For those of you that get allot of your local information by reading the lohud site. You'll notice that you can read all about every election in the county. Here is a challenge, start your stop watch as you click on Lohud.com. Time how long if you can at all find the notice of election for your district. That is without loading a specific search. The clock is ticking.

99% percent of the people that vote in fire district elections are Volunteers and their family and friends. The other one percent are people who wander in looking directions.LOL

If you think things will change, how can it?

If these election were moved to the regular election day it would.

(1)Save money instead of paying for a special election each year

(2)Be decided by many more diverse populous.

The fire district that I vote in Lake Mohegan, some voters would have to drive over 5 miles through heavy holiday traffic to vote. Then stand on line maybe outside in the cold. This district takes in 2 Townships Yorktown and Cortlandt never has a polling place been in Cortlandt. For so large a fire district with 4 firehouses to have the district elections in one corner of the district is just wrong.

<br />VAC - Paid personell??? That makes no sense....<br />

This all comes down to money and who controls it.

<br />I'm not advocating billing victims in general, but I also feel like there is a fairly obvious line. Whitewater rafting during such a monumental storm, for me personally, is a considerable foreseeable danger.<br />

I think that this is part of the problem. What constitutes extra danger? If you have a Life Insurance Policy you'll notice it is * and void if you go sky diving, hang gliding, scuba diving or spelunking.

Soooo, what is dangerous enough that people should pay a fee to participate in? The big question?

Hey! When I suggested that extreme sportsmen be financially responsible for their own rescue I was called a buffoon, here. I wonder how the public feels paying for the rescue these foolish individuals.

Thank you all for opinions. While I did not mean to be abrasive, I wanted to make a point here.

If the average expected life span of an American is 78.3. Then anytime a member under that age dies from (MVA, Drowning, Household accident, Cancer, Heart, Food poisoning, ETC) then they are entitled to a LODD funeral with full honors and multiple FDs like Mahopac VFD gave.  I would image that budgets and the precious time that volunteers give would soon be strained to the point of breaking. Volunteers complain about the amount of time training takes now, add another 5-6 hours a month for funeral detail. After all they are many more volunteers then paid. (As pointed out in another post)

During my time I have seen many nice, wonderful, great guys die before their time and did not get a LODD funeral. The FD if involved line up at the wake to pay tribute. Maybe sent an engine for flowers and lined up in front of station as the Hearst and family past. There are many FFs from paid FDs(including FDNY) that are members of Mahopac VFD that I am sure could have advised on them on protocol.

As for doing this for every member, time will tell. 25 or 60 year members we'll see, I believe time is on my side. As I don't live in the Mahopac fire district and as pointed out the public's opinion doesn't matter in this event.  The taxpayers may want to vote, with their opinions, in the future at the voting booth. Oh that is if the public ever can vote at the secret public fire district elections that take place during the month of December instead of during regular November elections. (but this is another matter)

Since this was not a LODD, I would hope that no taxpayer money was used for this funeral. If that is the case that full reimbursement from the Company for all District expenses is instituted.

So when I worked in the HOUSE. I could date one of my coworkers Wives while I myself am still married. Get killed by that FF and get a LODD funeral. YEA RIGHT!!!

I witnessed this spectacle, Mahopac has forever cheapened the LODD funeral.

<br />Down here they'd call that a Tailgating unit!!! <br /><br />Seriously, it's great to see Rehab units starting to become a reality in Westchester. Will it also have a warming tent for winter months?<br /><br />Thanks for the photo, Rob.<br />

Thats what I thought it was!!! All it needs is a grill.

Volunteer= a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.

What went wrong?

Are you sure that the type of person who comes to a VFD for the LOSAP, Tax break, SUV, or cheap gas is really the kind of person you want as a volunteer?

<br />If your talking about the department which I think you are, they can't talk to 60 control on the fire channel.  The radios are programmed to only have fireground abilities, along with a couple other channels.<br />

Negative different Dept.

Wow Seth! You truly don't understand.;^) If we buy that truck and show it off at a parade it will, of course attract more volunteers.Yea that's right. Please give us donations because we are VOLUNTEERS that work for free. Don't mention the LoSap or Tax breaks and other perks that the public pays for and doesn't attribute to the VOLUNTEER. And last but not least "What do you want we're only VOLUNTEERS" This is the accountability that I have seen over the 40 years in the fire service. OK I dug the hole you all can through me in it.

There is a Dept in Northern Westchester that has given out over 50 portable radios so they can call on scene. Yes somebody is on scene. No they cannot do anything but call on scene. I do believe that this is slanting the RESPONSE TIMES.