Geppetto

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Posts posted by Geppetto

  2. Posted

    Stamford reps to consider budget cuts
    Kate King
    Stamford Advocate
    May 5, 2013

    "...Mitchell also proposed reducing three volunteer fire departments' budgets by a total $468,875.

    The proposal -- which would affect Springdale, Turn of River and Long Ridge -- is intended to force the volunteers to the negotiating table. The three departments lodged a lawsuit against the city and Fire Chief Antonio Conte earlier this year after clashing with public safety officials over a November charter change that mandated the consolidation of all fire services. The city has since filed a countersuit against the three departments for not complying with the merger.

    "The negotiations are still kind of iffy and certainly I want them to come and negotiate in good faith," Fountain said.

    Pavia had already withheld half the departments' annual budgets in his original proposal. If the Board of Representatives accepts the Fiscal Committee's recommendation for further reductions, the departments will receive only enough funding to cover operations through the first quarter of next fiscal year. The Board of Finance would likely set aside the withheld money in the contingency fund, however, with the understanding the budgets would be restored if the lawsuits are settled...."

    http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-reps-to-consider-budget-cuts-4490433.php#ixzz2SVKRhNvS

  15. Posted

    New Haven Register

    10/11/12

    An antique, restored firetruck, decommissioned nearly a century ago and stored in a barn for years out of state, reached its final home Wednesday. The 1909 horse-drawn engine with a new-fangled gas-powered water pump, was rededicated by dignitaries Wednesday as it sat on display at City Hall. ...

    http://www.nhregiste...dd179413403.txt

    WTNH clip

    http://www.wtnh.com/...ed#.UHeMbFH080M

    Westfield12 likes this

  19. Posted

    http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-residents-to-vote-on-charter-changes-3815459.php

    "...The election's charter questions, which elected officials finalized earlier this month, represent the culmination of nearly a year's worth of work by the Charter Review Commission and Board of Representatives. The volunteer commission presented more than 70 recommendations to the board this summer, which city representatives whittled to nine ballot questions.

    Chief among them is the question of whether Stamford should combine its professional and volunteer firefighters into one department under a single fire chief. City representatives approved a three-part ballot question on the subject, which proposes a unified department with one chief and one fire marshal. The department would also have assistant fire chiefs from both the career and volunteer ranks. The question stipulates that the "Volunteer Departments are an important component of the new combined department."

    "We tried to formulate a structure where there would be a partnership between career and volunteers," Sandak said. "In fact, the proposed charter changes include language that solidifies the role of the volunteers in the Stamford fire service."

    John Mallozzi, co-chairman of the Board of Representatives Charter Committee, said the question was designed to streamline Stamford's fire services, while highlighting the importance of the volunteer companies.

    "We're talking about a consolidation of service that is fair," Mallozzi said. "That recognizes that there is one city department, but also recognizes the service that the volunteers give the city. There's language in that charter change that protects the volunteers. Nobody is going to push them out."..."

    SageVigiles likes this

  23. Posted · Edited by Geppetto

    “While I could see how you may disagree I can say with all candor that we at BFD are working diligently to ensure as smooth a transition as possible should the proposed Charter changes pass, while at the same time working to develop viable cooperative alternatives should it not. As you might expect we will do all we can to bring about the changes we feel are in our residents and our best interests, but as you say the political process will decide and ultimately that will be that.”

    Pete:

    Is this the smooth transition that you mentioned? Or is it the viable cooperative alternative?

    It looks like, and I could be wrong, that since BFD is represented here, that they have no intention of going along with any political solution.

    The charter commission met, and all parties had multiple opportunities to give their input for development of at least the framework for where Stamford’s fire service should be going. As proposed, I see no removal of any of the fire districts, but a responsibility given to 1 chief for all of the city. It appears that that independent panel of city residents didn’t entirely agree with any particular side.

    As for R&R, the proposal gives the volunteer sector an assistant chief, chosen from their ranks to handle and represent their issues. Sure, there is a Chief above him, is he accountable for every issue? On paper yes, but then so is his boss, the director of Public Safety, and his boss, the Mayor. As it stands now, it appears to me, that the volunteer sector wants NO other bosses.

    I believe, that the sense of frustration, as exhibited here over nearly one hundred pages, is also felt on the public side, and pressuring/threatening/coercing/warning – pick your verbiage; of a potential lawsuit is not helping the volunteer position.

    http://www.boardofre..._ltr_120709.pdf

    115 days to go.

    FD828 likes this

  24. Posted · Edited by Geppetto

    Recommendation for single Stamford fire department moves on to November ballot

    July 10, 2012

    Kara O’Conner

    Stamford Times

    http://www.thehour.com/stamford_times/news/recommendation-for-single-stamford-fire-department-moves-on-to-november/article_73f2bfd6-cacd-11e1-a4aa-0019bb30f31a.html

    & of course …

    Attorney challenges legality of plan to merge Stamford fire departments

    July 11, 2012

    Kara O’Connor

    Stamford Times

    http://www.thehour.c...742f26731d.html

  25. Posted

    I could be wrong but, why would the city department have to spend any money on r&r? Playing the devil's advocate, it's their grant. Can't you just see the screaming, if whatever was spent on r&r, didn't meet someone elses expectations? After all, what does the career department know about volunteer r&r?

    It appears to me that they are the only ones trying to work at consolidating, regardless of any "ulterior motives". Like it or not, the political process, and it's rules - as has been pointed out many, many times - is painful for everyone; and everyone has to work within it's constraints. I am sure that the career staff has their marching orders; and probably has been doing their best to stay within the lines.

    At the very least, both the career department and the volunteer districts will gain something by putting the additional staffing at E-8 & E-9.

    Yes, it all depends on the wording and

    November can't come fast enough.