gamewell45

I've been involved as a union rep in numerous discharge cases and as a rule have the burden of proof; in most of them management doesn't do their "homework" and the employee ends up being reinstated, many times with full back pay and benefits as well. It's also important to remember that the union is not there to "protect" the employee, rather they are there to "represent" the employee .

I might be able to be of assistance; I have quite a bit of experience in the labor field serving as a union officer as well as grievance chairman, most of it being in the private sector. If you want I'll supply you with an email address to contact me.

As long as the public is aware that there is a price tag that comes attached along with it (and accepts it), there should be no problem with forming a career department to handle this elite team. However given the mindset of today's taxpayers, any increase in tax dollars paid will most likely be met with resistance on their part. Whoever is going to form this career team will need to have their homework done before going public with their plans.

Give them emergency vehicle status; that solves that issue.

Never let a few bad apples, whether career or volunteer, spoil the entire barrel because to the core in our hearts we are all there to help those during their time of need.

Agreed. Especially in area's where the volunteer turnout is dismal on a regular basis. Westchester has changed over the past 40 years and many departments have failed to keep up with the times and its come home to roost. The AHJ has an obligation to provide fire protection to its residents and if it means conversion from volunteer to combo or a fully career department, that's what is going to happen regardless of opinion. My suggestion to fire commissioners/city managers would be when a member of your department appears before you to make a suggestion that they would feel improve recruitment/retention/participation that you give it serious consideration; the mindset should be how can we make it work as opposed to why it won't work. A positive outlook usually works better then one of negative as people tend to support what they help to create, something I think many departments have forgotten over time. Younger members bring enthusiasm, dedication and Ideas; the older members offer experience and wisdom; combine both and you have a chance to allow the fire departments mission statement to succeed. Just my opinion.

I would explain to the mayor and residents that the firefighters will do the possible; the impossible will just have to wait like it or not.

As long as the public know that firefighters will throw themselves into danger to do whatever is possible to get those human lives out of danger, nothing is going to change their mindset. For the firefighters they are caught between a rock and a hard place; many of us took an oath to help save lives and property and if we know someone's life is in danger all the rules of OSHA and NFPA generally go out the window as opposed to standing around waiting for the minimum requirement of firefighters arrive on the scene. The best thing I think we can do is to educate the public as to the importance of proper staffing and ideally change their mindset. Most likely it'll be an uphill battle but you have to start somewhere.

They can afford it, just that they hate to spend their money unless absolutely necessary.

I'm sure if, God forbid, their house were on fire, I'd bet they'd want to make sure that all the first responders would hear the siren(s).

There you have it; democracy in action. Perhaps a much scaled down version can be presented to the public down the road.

Looks like the Board of Fire Commissioners did their homework; now all they have to do is sell it to the public.

Do you know for a fact that there are only six volunteer members? Do we know it to be factual that they do not respond on emergency calls?? Why shouldn't the volunteers have access to the fire station they serve out of?? Do you know for a fact that all they do is "hang out to just watch TV, read the paper and drink coffee?? IF you want to enjoy that so-called "thank you pension" then you will have to no doubt move to Hartsdale and join the volunteer fire company. Either way, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before you begin to cast aspersions upon the volunteers and department as a whole.

You raise a good point, which I failed to post in my initial post; our Policy is Paramedic, EMT or under the supervision of one; the one exception to the rule is if the call involves CPR and you are currently a holder of a valid card, then you may actually engage in administering CPR. Otherwise hands off.

In my department, unless you are a paramedic, EMT or under the supervision of either, you cannot lay a finger on a patient, so we have to wait until the arrival of either.

While this obviously is a show of patriotic display, there are strict guidelines contained within the US Flag code for the proper display of the flag and displaying the flag as they have (and many other departments have as well) is considered in violation of the code. I'm including a link which shows the proper way to display the American Flag. http://www.legion.org/flag/code

That's why most people have fire insurance; you hope you never need it, but if you do, it's there.

Great news! We should also take notice that the Port Chester firefighters were laid-off and not fired. Fired would equate to a termination of employment (which has a negative impact on one's employment record) whereas lay-off would be for a reduction of work (and has no negative impact on one's employment record). The only reason I bring it up is that you never know who reads these postings; we want to make sure that the Brothers have every opportunity to obtain gainful employment and don't have to explain that they weren't fired to a prospective employer.

I stopped using blue lights since (they are courtesy lights and most drivers are not courteous anyhow) they confused more drivers than not; the last thing you wanted to do was to sit at a red traffic light with your blue light flashing and no one from the other three opposing lanes move because they don't know what to make of it. The way I look at it, I'll get there when I get there. Btw I do think you may be right on the comeback of revolving lights; it makes common sense.

I haven't used a blue light in probably 10 or more years now, however come January I'll dig out my old revolving blue light and place it on the roof upon arriving on scene, thus ideally drivers approaching the scene will take notice and slow down, etc.

You are very correct; you are permitted to display one blue light (of which the candlepower escapes me at the current time) and that's it. You are also required to have a "blue light" card signed by the Chief and be able to produce it upon demand.

The law is a long time in coming; it'll help to make the scene safer for volunteers and in particular for fire police who have to deal with traffic control. I wish more laws that benefit the fire service like this would get pushed through as quick as this one was.

If they win their case, then most likely they'll be made "whole" for lost wages, benefits (including pension credits, etc); i'm sure the village officials will attempt to sweep it under the rug if they can.

I doubt they are sitting at home collecting unemployment; it's tough to live on unemployment, especially if you live in Westchester and this case could drag on for years depending how long it takes to get through the court system and I'm sure most of them have bills that have to be paid. The chances are good that they are already working in either a new department or new career.

Barry, the only problem I had was with your divisiveness, which you have a history of in this forum whether or not you recognize it. It's counterproductive and accomplishes absolutely nothing except dividing people on this forum, that's why I called you out on it. There's no need to address it in the manner in which you did was my point. As for the other issues you bring up, that is something that can be addressed by either contacting the responsible parties or the state and work to create the change you desire.