CTFF

The city writes a check and a few months later the truck shows up. How does it work by you?

The city writes a check and a few months later the truck shows up. How does it work by you?

While I think the concept and use of RIT to be proactive as opposed to reactive is better use of personnel, it's another band aid covering the lack of manpower. If I need RIT I'd hope they'd be 100% ready to go not 90%, because they threw some ladders or removed some window bars. Call another truck co or use an engine on scene to perform these tasks.

While I think the concept and use of RIT to be proactive as opposed to reactive is better use of personnel, it's another band aid covering the lack of manpower. If I need RIT I'd hope they'd be 100% ready to go not 90%, because they threw some ladders or removed some window bars. Call another truck co or use an engine on scene to perform these tasks.

When the charter changed ( 2012) a new position was created, something along the lines of "assistant chief of volunteer fire services". This salaried position will be filled when the volunteers submit 3 names for the chief to choose from, 3 names were submitted and there were issues with two of them. The Chief is still waiting on names...
I'm sure this position would have been there for the volunteers but they can't even fill that job.

The city didn't hire, they "promoted" volunteers to paid/career positions. To be promoted you had to be a volunteer within Stamford and in good standing, just apply and an interview. No written test, NO CPAT prior to hiring and you moved ahead of everyone sitting on the active civil service list.

Two ways to fix this.
Give The President line item veto power.
Or
Bills need to be singular in nature ( no more pork, the Sandy Relief bill would about sandy relief, not Alaska fisheries)

Cogs,
What is the cost of 200 volunteers vs the cost of 20 career firefighters?
gear?
training?
insurance?
those 20 career firefighters are also going to stay 20+ years on the job. How long does the average volunteer stay active?
I'm sure if we break down 20 career firefighters are the better bang for your buck over the course of their career.
I love the overstaffed or stretched to thin angle the "Brown" plan detractors have. The answer is neither. The resources of SFRD will be spread out, SFRD will be doing more for the residents dollar.

Two ways to fix this.
Give The President line item veto power.
Or
Bills need to be singular in nature ( no more pork, the Sandy Relief bill would about sandy relief, not Alaska fisheries)

Come on now Pete, you know all the answers to your questions. Why even ask?

It seems we've found a new way to beat this dead horse, the recently awarded safer grant.
I would hope at this point reasonable people realize Senator Lieberman simply misspoke when the word volunteer was used in the press release. I'm sure he used the word to either be politically correct so to not offend anyone or he is unaware of what the grant was awarded for, I'm sure he has more important things to worry about then strife in the Stamford fire service.
Now lets wash the sand out of our shorts and get back to the heart of this topic, arguing.

It seems we've found a new way to beat this dead horse, the recently awarded safer grant.
I would hope at this point reasonable people realize Senator Lieberman simply misspoke when the word volunteer was used in the press release. I'm sure he used the word to either be politically correct so to not offend anyone or he is unaware of what the grant was awarded for, I'm sure he has more important things to worry about then strife in the Stamford fire service.
Now lets wash the sand out of our shorts and get back to the heart of this topic, arguing.

After thousand of posts, on a few boards it seems we are back to the same spot.
I can see your point of view in regards to Malloy. I'd argue the SVFD signed plan also has many important details left out and to ME that is proof the volunteers are fine with doing business in this manner. Of course the "SFRD Plan" has not had the opportunity to be openly discussed either.
The ability to resolve the issue is going to come to a public vote via charter change.
A novel concept would be coming up with a plan all could live with and asking the public to support that with a vote in regards to charter change.

After thousand of posts, on a few boards it seems we are back to the same spot.
I can see your point of view in regards to Malloy. I'd argue the SVFD signed plan also has many important details left out and to ME that is proof the volunteers are fine with doing business in this manner. Of course the "SFRD Plan" has not had the opportunity to be openly discussed either.
The ability to resolve the issue is going to come to a public vote via charter change.
A novel concept would be coming up with a plan all could live with and asking the public to support that with a vote in regards to charter change.

Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 786)
To Hold Meeting For Firefighter Candidates
Almost two years ago more than 670 aspiring firefighters took a civil service exam in hopes of joining the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department. After spending countless weeks and months studying for the written exam, and taking a demanding physical ability test, and a nearly two-year wait to be certified as firefighter candidates, they may all be left out in the cold. The city administration may throw out the test because of Mayor Pavia’s proposed taxpayer funded privately owned and operated fire department to serve North Stamford, rewarding his friends and political allies with a job.
On Saturday, April 14 the Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 786), which represents the firefighters of the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department, will hold an informational meeting for candidates who took the test and may likely see their hard work go for naught. The meeting will be held at the Piedmont Club at 152 Hecker Avenue in Darien beginning at 2 pm. All candidates are encouraged to attend.
There will be an information session to explain to the firefighter candidates what their options are if the civil service list is not certified by the city.

"New" senior guys will fill the role, provided we don't have large gaps in hiring firefighters. Simply being a senior guy does not mean you'll pass down positive lessons . I've learned how I shouldn't behave from certain "senior" men, these lesson will serve me just as well a lessons from great senior guys as my career goes on.
While we don't see the same amount of fires as some of our current senior men saw over the course of their career, we can still learn from today's fire. We can learn everyday through Youtube and a ton of other firefighting websites. Granted this may not be hands on learning but it is still learning. The issue with a youtube lesson is it a what to do or what not to do lesson?
I also don't think there is anything wrong with today's youth. Why isn't a bad question in the correct context, my parents encouraged me to ask why, I hope that is because they wanted to but were afraid to.
Who's going to be the new senior men? I hope all of us can become "great" senior men when the times comes.

Taken from another site I read:
Brothers,
There will be a union solidarity rally, this coming Monday, 3/5/12 at the Goverment Center. (888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, Ct)
The United Auto Workers, United Electrical Workers and IAFF Local 786 are staging the rally to bring attention to the contract struggles going on with the City of Stamford.
The rally is scheduled for 430pm, prior to the monthly Board of Reps meeting, please make every effort to attend, we are fighting for fairness and equality for working class people.
Please wear something that identifies you as a Stamford Fire Fighter, please pass on to friends, family, other fire departments, etc.
The union meeting will follow at 630 pm at the Piedmont Club in Darien, CT.
It is important that we have a strong showing.
In solidarity,
Brendan Keatley, President
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This will make the entire fire service look bad. People wont read the entire story and assume firefighters can sue them, this may prevent people from calling us early.

This will make the entire fire service look bad. People wont read the entire story and assume firefighters can sue them, this may prevent people from calling us early.

The homeowner and her boyfriend knew the FD's policy and chose not to pay because they did think they would suffer a fire.

While layoffs make the news we need to keep in mind many cities are not filling positions when guys are leaving the job.

While layoffs make the news we need to keep in mind many cities are not filling positions when guys are leaving the job.

Google for it, .ppt is the file extension, you be amazed is what out there for free.

I'm not really sure the Mayor is a "best option" guy and I'll point out Bobby V as my prime example.
The mayor can't even get his plan out of the Public Health and Safety Committee of the BOR. The SFRD plan isn't even there, though the members are aware of it and have asked the city for the cost of it as it is written. I don't think we are close to change in the fire service in Stamford. I've said for a bit now the city needs to get everyone in the room to discuss and devise a plan. Present that plan as a unified fire service and move on. This Mayor won't do that.
I won't get into the scheduling debate of our hypothetical fire service again but I do have to ask one question.
If paid firefighters can be stationed 24/7/365 with out an increase in cost or much lower then the Mayor's plan, why remove them at night? Why not get more equipment out the door closer to the fire with full crews? Isn't that in the best interest of the public?

I recently had the opportunity to do a few days of swift water training, I'll try to pass on a little of what I learned.
The first I learned is a brand new respect for moving water.
the NFPA defines "swift water" as water moving faster then 1 knot.
Water rescue is the technical skill we kill the most rescuers doing (drilling including).
The proper equipment is a must ( cold water suits are not swift water suits). You can be tied off but need a life vest that allows you to free yourself from the line quickly and easily.
http://store.mpgear.com/images/products/display/extrasportswiftwaterfury_red.jpg
notice the red ball on the above picture? that ball allows you to slip free from the rope you are tied to.
ask away on this topic, today is the perfect day to discuss it.