Geppetto

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local...0,7142229.story Budget unifies pay for city firefighters

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/greenwichct/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=683302&hit_count=yes&headerFooter

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

Stamford Advocate Editorial http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Volunteers-ordered-to-comply-4410800.php

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Angela-Carella-Court-order-dispatch-data-latest-4404335.php

http://jobview.monster.com/Assistant-Fire-Chief-Job-Stamford-CT-US-117648489.aspx Anyone interested?

Officials: Stamford Hired Firefighters Without Approval Anthony Buzzeo Stamford Daily Voice 11/13/12 http://stamford.dailyvoice.com/politics/officials-stamford-hired-firefighters-without-approval

Fire merger leaves unanswered questions Kate King and Martin Cassidy Stamford Advocate November 7, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Fire-merger-leaves-unanswered-questions-4017693.php

Stamford voters approve Charter changes Kate King Stamford Advocate November 6, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-voters-approve-Charter-changes-4014290.php

Unifying fire services to be put to a vote Kate King Stamford Advocate November 4, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Unifying-fire-services-to-be-put-to-a-vote-4007218.php#ixzz2BHE1QNaB

Vote yes on Charter fire question Stamford Advocate Editorial November 2, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Vote-yes-on-Charter-fire-question-4004486.php#ixzz2BD7Vd5AM Stamford Times http://www.thehour.com/stamford_times/news/firefighters-make-case-for-proposed-charter-changes/article_3a471364-2512-11e2-8810-001a4bcf6878.html

Op-Ed: Charter revision: Partnership between the career and volunteer firefighters Stamford Advocate Jay Sandak October 26, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/opinion/article/Op-Ed-Charter-revision-Partnership-between-the-3985472.php

Fire issues focus at Charter hearing Kate King Stamford Advocate October 24, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Fire-issues-focus-at-Charter-hearing-3979186.php#photo-3640626

Union Pushing For Merger of Stamford's Career, Volunteer Firefighters Patrick Barnard Stamford Patch 10/15/12 "The proposal to merge the volunteer and career departments is one of nine suggested charter changes that will appear on Stamford ballots on Election Day...." http://stamford.patch.com/articles/union-pushing-for-merger-of-stamford-s-career-volunteer-firefighters

Union stumps for reorganization of fire ranks Martin B. Cassidy Stamford Advocate October 14, 2012 www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Union-stumps-for-reorganization-of-fire-ranks-3948015.php

New Haven Register 10/11/12 http://www.nhregiste...dd179413403.txt WTNH clip http://www.wtnh.com/...ed#.UHeMbFH080M

Port Authority boat sinks off Breezy Point as officers practice water rescue By KATE KOWSH, PHILIP MESSING, LARRY CELONA, KENDALL RODRIGUEZ NY Post September 10, 2012 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rescuers_cop_sized_bAnMRVdcxDyfXpTINy5K6N

Angela Carella: Fire feud falls in the laps of citizens Stamford Advocate Editorial September 4, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Angela-Carella-Fire-feud-falls-in-the-laps-of-3839915.php

Stamford voters to settle fire dept. flap Stamford Advocate Kate King Saturday, September 1, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-voters-to-settle-fire-dept-flap-3833802.php

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."..."

In any case, that would require certification of a hiring list, which the mayor has been stalling for quite some time. Now wouldn't that put a spin on things?!

Fire services issue to go before voters Kate King Stamford Advocate Saturday, July 14, 2012 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Fire-services-issue-to-go-before-voters-3707691.php

“…If anything, the proposed changes will lead only to more disharmony, escalated litigation,…” I find that phrase particularly enlightening myself.

“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.

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