fdalumnus

 
 Thank you "Tranz426" for posting that story. We can see that the Brotherhood is Alive and Well within the Yonkers Fire Dept. Firefighters risk their lives for each other and sometimes even die for each other. That is the way it always has been and the way it always will be.
 
  I hope to see this kind of support continue and get stronger for those laid off firefighters. Laid off by some individual(s) who don't care about those firefighters OR the citizens they are assigned to help and protect.

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

Just out

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/05/11/reisman-port-chester-firefighters/84241646/

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

 
The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.
 
Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.
 
The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

Today PC gets toned out for a automatic alarm in a commercial establishment. I heard only 1 engine sign on it was 62.  Maybe I am wrong but I only heard one. thought PC had 300 volunteers?  1 engine with maybe 2 or 3 guys. If you have 300 volleys that truck/ engine should be out the door on the drop of a dime.   Oh all 300 were working or at their homes up north.   Hmmmm 

Locally we've lost a few.  Brewster (though it's been reincarnated), Putnam Valley, Cortlandt, Town of Ossining, Village of Haverstraw, to name a few. 

NJ has been under the gun a lot recently and have done away with some big jobs like Camden. 

No public service agencies are safe.  Everyone is a potential political target.

 
If I read the above correctly, Five of the seven volunteer fire companies are willing to support those laid off career firefighters. If that is correct, "Hat's off to those Brother Firefighters who are willing to step up to the plate and do what is right". This could be a huge plus in their favor. Try to put yourself in those career firefighters shoes. They loose their jobs from what I am starting to realize over some political or power hungry individuals, who apparently have no concern for these firefighters or for the citizens who depend on them.
 
If I were one of those laid off firefighters, I would make sure I never forget who supported me and who didn't.
 
Of the Five departments whose members are supporting those laid off firefighters, is it possible for someone to post which departments they are. They deserve a "pat on the back and recognition" for what they are doing. Let the World know what True Brotherhood in the Fire Service is all about.  

The 3  stooge's in charge have asked the captains for a list of volunteers that will work over night   to cover the Rye Brook station . 5 of the 7 company's so far have turned them down with no answer from the other 2 . 

It was obvious from the start that no Village Board would have done this without assurances from the Volunteers, that they could pick up the duties of the Paid Firefighters and fulfill the Rye Brook contract. How many of the Vollies are AFL-CIO or Teamster members . How could they be party to putting fellow Union members and their families"out in the street". Remember the Port Chester local is part of the AFL-CIO

The chiefs did pound the desk, to get rid of them. Like I have said before, had nothing to do with money. The people that have to get up is the citizens and the business owners.They are all paying their taxes which provide emergency services, and they took part of this away. Total bull.... Have a public forum and let the public decide. Not a few people behind closed doors

The chiefs did pound the desk, to get rid of them. Like I have said before, had nothing to do with money. The people that have to get up is the citizens and the business owners.They are all paying their taxes which provide emergency services, and they took part of this away. Total bull.... Have a public forum and let the public decide. Not a few people behind closed doors

 
Absent from most of this banter has been the giant elephant that is the Port Chester volunteers.
 
Now I am not suggesting that the rank and file were part of the negotiations prior to the dismissal of the entire career force, but this thread looks to be painted with financial blame with little said about the animus toward the Union.
 
So where is the widespread support from the PCFD volunteers? Yes, there are a handful out there support the laid off members, but with claims of upwards of 300 volunteers to support the village...one would think that more than a handful would show visible support?
 
Why have more volunteers not taken a stand with their "brother" career firefighters?
 
Have we not heard time and time again "that we are all brothers?", "the fire doesn't care if you are paid or volunteer", "I am a professional too" and other countless canned lines of absolute BS for years on this board and others out there.
 
Where is the cry of the volunteers? Where is the Chief pounding the desk?
 
In places like Lawrence (MA) and Providence (RI) were departments were dissimated due to the agenda of a Mayor, Fire Chiefs have resigned in protest (no worries, some boob is always found to sit-in), but the leader took a stand in protest.
 
I'll throw the gauntlet to the PCFD Chief and other "leaders" at his side....you sure have been quiet about this issue. Your silence is deafening. When will you stand?
 
There must be a bunch of hearing impaired individuals that live in "la-la-land" on this board if they still want to pretend that this was solely a financial crisis. This appears to be nothing more than good old fashioned retribution against a small labor union.
 
You want to know why?....Wait for the court documents and depositions...nothing like a nice controlled and sterile legal environment to find truth and oppress political smoke.
 
Who will stand? The Chief? His subordinates? The Volunteers?
 
BMA 
 
 
 
 
 

Just digging around some website files and came across one of my "Photo Hunts" from 2011", in the Boston/Worcester MA metro area, and figured I'd share:
 
http://emtbravo.webspaceforme.net/PhotoHunt/111707.html

I find it a bit troubling. Yes methadone, suboxone, subutex programs have pros and cons, however, they're end goal is to help make the patient a functioning member of society again. I.e. career counseling, ongoing therapy.....in a nutshell, changing the behavior that led someone to abuse. With these "drug rooms", all I see is a place where you can get high as a kite and not worry about overdose. They're not trying to change the behavior, they're saying it's acceptable.

We really shouldn't be perpetuating a bad habit as something that's okay to do.  Instead, we should be putting more funding towards helping these people come off the drugs through treatment and therapy.  Methadone clinics help a little bit, but we, as a society, would benefit greater from having programs that "unhook" people from drugs and allow for either group or individual therapy sessions to stay off of them (think of how Alcoholics Anonymous works).

 
I am not a legal expert either, didn't play on TV or stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, however, I believe public officials are personally insulated from liability for their public decisions.
 
Regarding Gullivers, while I was active at the time, my department was not involved.  A close friend from Glenville was on scene and still remembers it as if it was yesterday as much as he would prefer to forget it.  Like a combat veteran, there are some memories best left behind.  What happened then one hopes will never happen again, but while fire codes and construction methods can minimize some dangers, as we have seen in years since, catastrophes always find a way to occur.   

 
  Thank you "buffguy". That will give the readers a good idea of just what happened. So the "Wise Wisdom" of those towns leaders today is to eliminate those 8 career firefighters.
 
  I'm no legal expert but just "IF" something were to go sour in the future, I would guess those public officials could maybe be held liable for their action taken. Reminds me of an old saying I remember. But true today as it was then.
 "Penny wise and a pound foolish".
 

Does PC really need 7 pieces of Engine apparatus?  Probably not but that's a whole other story - towns keeping with traditions of we had 5,6,7 engines for decades so we still need them.  Times and technology change.  Probably get away with 4 engines in PC and consolidate manpower.  Same in places like village of Mamaroneck. Both with 4,5 fire houses do we need that in a small town?    But what do I know.  

I have a good idea maybe the village should sell one of the pieces of apparatus and firehouse property of a company that can't get rig out for a call and put the brothers and sister back to work.....

Could this be the Mayors next Press Release when they hit the tax Cap
 
The Board first considered in depth the possibility of abolishing the paid firefighters Sanitation positions a couple of years ago but was able to avoid doing it at that time.  Recently, with the budget deadline fast approaching and the possibility of having to override the tax cap looking more and more likely, the Board revisited the option of abolishing the paid firefighters Sanitation positions and decided that doing so was in the best interest of the Village and its taxpayers.  The Private Contractor Start in June
 
If you Work for the Village of Port Chester you Should be out with the Firefighters, You Could be Next. Using the Volunteers is just another way of Subcontracting Union jobs.