Avon Rob

Just heard that the village board has voted to allow him to hold office.

Hopefully the village board & administrator will net hide behind the matter by claiming that it is a personnel issue.

If this turns out to be true, a sad day for both the village and the fire service. How can a man serve a second time as a chief, and be voted out? Lots of questions to be answered. Afraid that he will make them comply with OSHA & NFPA guidelines/regulations. This from a village that PESH deemed deliberately violated rules & regs. Shame on the Village Board. Is it true that the fire wardens voted that he advance at their meeting? Why hasn't the Journal News publish the results of the PESH determinations? The residents had a right to know PRIOR to the recent village elections. Didn't see much in either the Journal News or The Patch. Why?

From what I know, the old Tarrytown engine is owned by John Stiloski.

If I recall correctly, the fire chief/commissioner usually fills out a list of desired engines & ladders, etc. that they wish on alarm assignments. I have buried somewhere a copy of the original mutual plan for Westchester County. I will post when I find it. I think part of the provisions was that you must offer to give mutual aid if requested in order to get mutual aid.

Medics can transport. On several calls they have transported when originally called squad didn't get out. We were back-up, but cancelled as medics were already transporting. Do not know all protocols, but they have transported.

Many squads are in dire need of new members. Anyone I approach states that they cannot take the time away from family and/or work. One person who I asked to join is an RN. She was told that she was required to take the basic course even if an RN. As to response time, it relates to lack of manpower and the protocol for 2nd & possibly 3rd dispatches. A second dispatch is normal due to traffic & size of the response area. Many times you will hear a a squad sign on stating on the ramp awaiting a crew. Signs requesting volunteers are displayed at numerous fire houses & squad buildings, but few answer. In the donation envelope, residents are asked to volunteer. Again, a very poor response. This ties in with the blog about consolidation in that any & all volunteer squads are trying to gain new members, or possibly reactivate former members.

Chief, CONGRATULATIONS! A well deserved honor.

You can write great specs, but still receive a lemon. Once you enter the human element, mistakes can & usually happen. Every department has purchased a lemon at one time or another. Also. sometimes a company gets popular & starts to rush jobs to meet deadlines.

Billy, You were right in mentioning Tommy Brennan. He was a great speaker, and and even better friend when I ran the seminars. Always willing to stay and share with the students after all was over.

Jim Taxter Joe Butler Dan Berry Frank Brannigan

Gentlemen, Calm down please There will always be abuses no matter how much we rant & rave. I retired to Monmouth County, NJ several years ago. While at the local Home Depot with the 'honey do' list I parked to a car with official NY plates. The plates read "NYCOM 1". The New York conference of mayors. He was loading in a lawn mower & grass seed. I don't think that we have lower prices here, but it happened, Departments and/or districts set rules & regs, but unless a complaint is observed & reported, nothing will happen.

I can almost bet that Walter never had 8 aides at the command post!

If I am not mistaken, Elmsford does expand the normal parameters of the numbering system. Also, in the 'old' days, most everyone got along, accepted the info; and cooperated. There also wasn't that many specialized apparatus such as tankers, cascades, quints & others. Also how many departments had the ambulance on the fd radio?

Basically, the departments are listed in alphabetical order and assigned numbers starting with Ardsley @ 201. First car, usually head chief would be 2011. Ass't. would be 2012, etc. Makes sense about 90% of the time. As does most things within the county. This system was started years ago, when life was easier and not so complicated.

Syd, Tarrytown stopped using the "3", all clear while you were still a patrolman. Some say that the members complained due to the fact that a wife would know when her husband SHOULD be back at home.

At one time, the vollies served a purpose in White Plains and other cities. Times are changing. But no need to knock anyone who still wants to participate in any manner. Parades are good for any community. White Plains hosted the NYS convention some years ago. Large crowds lined the streets to watch & cheer on the marchers. As to the 2% issue, didn't Mt. Vernon have the same issue some years ago? If I remember, there was a split in the funding. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. As to working together, get over it. It is a necessity in today's work place.

Gee....and here I thought that Pat Kelly combined ALL the departments in Westchester County. Atleast that is what he told Fla. when submitting his resume.

Chief Raftery is being modest as to the accomplishments of both his men and the surrounding mutual aid departments. They did such a good job, saving over 50% of the building, that it didn't require a fire sprinkler system when it was rebuilt. Enjoy your retirement Bill!

If you count all the illegal apartments in Sleepy Hollow, the population sign on the show would be correct.

Elmsford A&P fire back in the late 1960's. Eng. 80 from Tarrytown drafted for hours from the Saw Mill River. Also GM plant in North Tarrytown, again late 1960's.

Monmouth County sent task force of pumpers with LDH. Also several ladders according to my info.

Marty, Time to go back to the video store!

Don't worry too much for he is now in heaven enjoying a few "Messy Jessie's" hotdogs!

Rob was one of the good guys in both the fire service and in life. Never a bad word about anyone. He will be missed by all. It was sad to see him leave Westchester, it was Florida's gain. Does anyone have more info or sites to visit? RIP Rob!