WHarley3

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Posts posted by WHarley3

  1. Posted

    Quote

     

    Putnam County is close to having a specialized rescue team that can come to the aid of people who need to be extricated from an embankment, rescued from a fall or find themselves in an otherwise sticky situation.

     

    Anthony Sutton, the county’s emergency services commissioner, told legislators at the July 18 Protective Services Committee meeting that the federal Department of Homeland Security two years ago awarded the county a $150,000 grant to create a Technical Rescue Team. So far $80,000 has been spent on equipment and training, he said.

     

     

    http://highlandscurrent.com/2017/07/24/putnam-prepares-assemble-specialized-rescue-team/

    LayTheLine likes this

  2. Posted

     

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    The Bureau of Emergency Services is pleased to announce the appointment of the following Battalions:

     

    James Gagliardo, Jr. has been appointed Battalion 13. James recently completed his term as Chief in the Putnam Lake Fire Department where he has been a member for 14 years. He has been a career Fire Fighter with the Danbury Fire Department for 10 years. Chief Gagliardo will primarily provide back up to Battalions 12, and 15 and lend his communications expertise to the Bureau ...on various projects.

     

    George Wahlers has been appointed Battalion 16. George will and will primarily cover Mahopac FD and Mahopac Falls FD. George is a past Somers FD Chief and has been a member in that Department for 35 years. Ted Pollack will remain with the County through the end of May.

     

    Shawn Keeler has been appointed Battalion 18. Shawn recently completed his term as Chief of Putnam Valley Fire Department where he has been a member for 25 years. Shawn’s primary responsibility will be providing back-up coverage to Battalion 16, 17 & 19.

     

    Chief Gagliardo, Chief Wahlers and Chief Keeler will assume their duties in the next week to ten days. Battalions serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner for terms of three (3) years. They may be reappointed by the Commissioner in the month of December of the third year of a term.

     

    Please join me in giving the new Battalions a warm welcome.

     

    SageVigiles, dwcfireman, AFS1970 and 1 other like this

  3. Posted

    Quote

    At Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the Peekskill Volunteer Fire Department trustees, Peekskill Fire Chief Vincent Malaspina announced that he will be resigning his position as chief, effective 11:59 p.m. on March 5, after receiving pressure from City Hall.

     

    According to Deputy Chief John Pappas, Peekskill City Manager Richard Leins and Corporate Counsel Melissa Ferraro informed Malaspina that because his son is in line to take a paid position as a career firefighter for the City of Peekskill, the city’s nepotism policy dictates he step down.

     

    “The city is using its nepotism provision to make him resign,” Pappas told The Peekskill Post Friday morning. “The clause states that if you are a city employee or an elected city official, a relative cannot be hired. The problem is, Vinny is neither a city employee or an elected official. He is a volunteer.”

     

    http://www.peekskillpost.net/peekskill-fire-chief-vincent-malaspina-resigns-after-city-cites-nepotism-concerns/

    EmsFirePolice and Billy like this

  7. Posted

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    Brewster NY Assistant Chief Prevails on Due Process Challenge to His Dismissal

     

    A federal court judge has ruled that a New York fire district violated the due process rights of a volunteer assistant chief by terminating him in 2013 without notice and a hearing.


    William J. Ratajack Jr. was terminated from the Brewster Fire Department and the Brewster-Southeast Joint Fire District in August 2013. Chief Ratajack was accused of going on a tirade over the fact that members refused ...to participate in a parade but were hanging around the fire station. During the course of the outburst he reportedly directed the “N-word” at two white firefighters.


    Chief Ratajack filed suit in 2014 claiming the failure of the fire district to afford him notice and a hearing prior to his termination violated his due process rights. He also sued claiming the district and members of the department violated his First Amendment rights and defamed him.


    In an 84-page decision, Judge Kenneth M. Karas concluded that the fire district terminated Chief Ratajack without giving him proper notice and an opportunity to be heard. Judge Karas also ruled in favor of the fire district and the individual defendants on Chief Ratajack’s First Amendment and defamation claims. The ruling does not award damages or order Chief Ratajack to be reinstated. The parties will be back in court next week.
    Here is a copy of the ruling: Ratajack v. Brewster FD and BSEJFD et al Court Decisioin


    For those interested, Judge Karas does a thorough job of discussing procedural due process and the current state of First Amendment law as it applies to public employees.

     

     

    Original article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/10/ex-fire-official-accused-of-using-slur-files-lawsuit/4425917/

  8. Posted

    Putnam County’s most modern fire truck arrives in Carmel

    From MidHudson News

    CARMEL – A $1.3 million 2016 Ferrara fire truck rolled into Carmel Thursday evening for much fanfare.

    The vehicle, which replaces a 2000 American LaFrance truck, is now the premier firefighting vehicle of the Carmel Fire Department.

    Fire Chief Vincent Ruggiero said the new tower ladder vehicle is equipped with a 100-foot rear mount ladder, a 2,000 gallon-per-minute pumper and a 400-gallon tank. He said the truck will be able to handle “any type of fire anywhere within the region.”

    The new vehicle was manufactured in Louisiana and driven to Carmel.

    PHOTO: Neville Apparatus Corp

    post-252-0-02098900-1454807577.jpg

    JP59 and Westfield12 like this

  9. Posted

    A GREAT Commissioner of Somers FD, someone who was well respected within the entire fire service and area community for many years, an Ex-Chief, someone who always tried to do the right thing, lost by 21 votes due to sneaky and underhanded last minute politically motivated tactics. This person was running unopposed until tonight.

    Lies were placed by the opposing party via an email right before the election stating that he makes $200,000 a year in the Fire District Commissioner role, when in fact, this is a volunteer position. Because of these remarks and other last minute false statements, a candidate was able to win via write in ballots. A candidate who couldn't be bothered to get on the ballot the right way, by collecting signatures on a petition, and giving the opposing party a chance to respond to her outrageous and false claims.

  13. Posted

    WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

    I can't see how some people think this is intentional when the guy ran out in front of the car.

    NASCAR driver Tony Stewart ran over a competitor, 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr., during a confrontation at a sprint car race on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York. Ward was killed.

    In the video above, via YouTube, you can see Ward apparently confronting Stewart on foot after Ward's car is run into the wall. He is struck, dragged, then thrown a number of feet. According to Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero, Ward was dead on arrival at the hospital.

    WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcQdj2I_uTE&list=UUlU5OoR7ktCapu6ernPukTw

  19. Posted · Edited by WHarley3

    George has been a firefighter in Yonkers longer then some Empress members have been alive. He's seen the whole face of EMS in the City change, and he used to run calls with Yonkers VAC! He's good people, and he's obviously very honest and straightforward. And he lives 55 miles from the city because when he started, someone who was on a fireman's salary couldn't afford to live anywhere near Yonkers. And that has absolutely nothing to do with him, he's dedicated to the city regardless. He's one of the most respected guys on the job today. Give him the respect he deserves, especially since he has insight that most people don't have enough experience to have.

    JM15, CBX4627, Squad11 and 1 other like this

  21. Posted · Edited by WHarley3

    I know a Captain in a Westchester department resigned shortly after being appointed recently. Another member of the department is suing the department for having higher score yet getting passed over for the Captain promotion on the same test. The member suing used to be one of the union reps for the department.

    I orginally thought this was a member of a Dutchess County career department, but the person is only a Chief in a Volunteer department in Dutchess as well as a career firefighter.

  22. Posted · Edited by WHarley3

    Why is Somers PAYING Westhester EMS to dispatch private, for profit, transports from their dispatch room?

    Does WEMS pay rent, or is this in the contract?

    I've been to a couple of Somers Commisioners meeeting over the past few years. There always was very little attendance,including the membership of Somers FD, but all the commisioners. Some of what's been said here was being discussed at the meeting.

    One Commisioner, who was formerly a Chief I later found out, seemed to get really angry when the subject of going to 60 Control would save money came up. It was like there was no reasoning with him. Seemed like he had an axe to grind whenever two commisioners would say anything at all. There was palpable tension between him and these commisioners, and you can tell he wanted no change whatsoever and saw absolutely no flaws with anything. He also seemed to imply he was in charge of the radio room, and could not explain how he seperates himself from WEMS. With that Commisioner still on the board, I don't think any of the above is going to happen anytime soon, unless he get's knocked out during the next election.

    It's sad that one person can hold grudges, is frightened of any change, and can harbor so much anger that it prevents a department from moving forward.

    Monty likes this

  24. Posted

    Schumer says he'll fight 'draconian' cut to firefighting grants

    11:41 PM, Jun. 15, 2011 |LoHud.com

    Written by

    Richard Liebson

    WHITE PLAINS — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer vowed Wednesday to fight a "draconian" 17 percent cut in Homeland Security fire grants that have funneled more than $9 million to 24 fire departments in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties over the past two years.

    "These are tough times for our state's local governments," Schumer said during a conference call. "Budgets have collapsed, but the demand for services continues. ... And now, an important lifeline from Washington is under attack."

    http://www.lohud.com/article/20110616/NEWS01/106160393/Schumer-says-he-ll-fight-draconian-cut-firefighting-grants

  25. Posted

    Firefighters who saved couple from blaze are reluctant heroes

    12:00 AM, May. 31, 2011

    Written by

    Terence Corcoran, LoHud.com

    Putnam County, New York

    MAHOPAC — As he climbed a ladder in the middle of the night in the pouring rain to help an elderly couple out of their burning home, fire Lt. William J. Bahr said he never gave a second thought to what he should do.

    http://www.lohud.com/article/20110531/NEWS04/105310311/Firefighters-who-saved-couple-from-blaze-reluctant-heroes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage