Bnechis

I did not know MV had the need for a Brush Rapid Attack Truck.

Just a couple of interesting points in the proposal: 1) They have already calculated that Springdale is onboard even thought they have not signed the agreement. Even if they think thats a done deal, it is premature to put it out there. 2) The total staffing is 6 positions short of what is needed to meet the staffing levels listed. 3) The performance standard includes time, but not personnel. so as long as 1 FF arrives in the time, then they meet the standard. 4) Station Staffing. This is bad policy to list in this contract what the staffing needs to be. having equal staffing sounds nice, but does not give the PAID chief of the volunteer FD enough flexability. If you have 3ff's in a station do they ride on 1, 2 or 3 rigs? It may make more sense to have a 2 man engine in each then group the other 3) two man teams could be assigned to tankers, ladders &/or rescues. Note: I'm not suggesting that 2 or 3 man rigs are acceptable, just basing it on whats listed. Whats most interesting is other than they call it a volunteer dept., there is very little mention of volunteers in it (other than the minimum training standard).

Tons of OT are built into this proposal. There are 54 career personnel (plus Chief, & marshalls). 18 daytime and 12 nightime shifts averages to 15 firefighters 24 per day. There are 168 hours in a week, meaning if divided by 4 shifts eguals 42 hours each. If each is scheduled to work 42 hours (thats 2 hours per week OT x 54 workers). To cover the average 15 shift positions requires 60 personnel, but they are only hiring 54 (who figured the staffing #'s needed). So thats an additional 240 hrs per week of OT. Now add the approximate 20% contractual time off (vacation, sick, etc.)that needs to be covered or 33 hours per week. Thats 381 OT hours per week or 19,812 Overtime Hours per year for basic shift staffing. If an average employee costs $75,000/yr then the OT costs for the planned shortfall is $1,071,563 or 12.6% of the budget.

As one of the large cell service providers, I do not see these jobs as becoming "nonexesting". They also are a major provider of "hardwired" internet, phone and TV service. They are not "eliminating" the jobs, they are move them offshore. BTW, All "wireless" service in NY is supported by hardwire, without maintaining that network, there will be no wireless service.

Does that include the 10,000 employees who's jobs are being eliminated? Thats more than 25% of the work force will be laid off.

NYCmedic can you explain how a company making a huge annual profit wants to eliminate 10,000 jobs and you think that all the employees, including those 10,000 employees should be happy they have a job. If your employeer declared that they do not need to cut costs but want to eliminate jobs so they can make a larger profit you would be ok with a large layoff, meaning either you loss your job or your co-workers loss it. And if you do not lose it, you will be asked to work harder because we know you can do more with less.

So when 3 chiefs cars are on the scene, how would one know which is command?

ROFLMAO. We use to tell that to a lady at 666 Pelham Rd. It would keep the space craft from beaming her up. Unfortinatly, she still could not go out, because of the soviet submarines in the lower harbor might get her and the planes dropping jet fuel on her as they were going into LGA.

NO

Hope its not verizon, my home phone line went dead the day they went on strike. They gave me the earliest available appointment, and its in 3 weeks. They also said that we would still be billed for any service we are not recieving.

Its either part of a PD mesh network (they have been talking about it, but I did not think they were ready to implement) or the new tracking system from 207a resolutions.

It does apply to fire districts. And you are correct, its just the tip.

And this specific group has routinly taken the position the manpower can be lowered, except if you read their fire administration handbook, which is where NFPA got the manning numbers for #1710 (funny that ICMA says that the NFPA got there #'s out of thin air). In anticipation of being asked by our Manager (as suggested to him in the article) today I contacted a couple of our apparatus venders. I was told that the cost for the system on a new class A pumper ranged from $48,000 to $80,000. More importantly the cost to retrofit apparatus (according to them) is much higher because of re-plumbing, assuming that there was enough space in the pump compartment to accomedate the upgrade. We were advised that at least 3 of our engines would require a longer frame to accomedate the compressor, so from a fleet perspective we would need at least a 1/2 million $ and realistically we would to replace 3-4 engines (in addition). You are right on the money on the firefighting manpower needs. On a different note, can those magic bubbles perform CPR, carry the "Jaws", set up hazmat booms, perform station maintenance or inspect properties? Highly unlikely, they never have in the past

Bravo. Now lets take it one step farther. NYS Labor Law is crystal clear on this; The employer is responsable for providing and certifying all employees in any and all applicable OSHA training requirements. The courts have held that volunteer fd's are "employeers" and volunteer ff's are "employees". The training required is listed in the following standards: Fire Brigade Respiratory Protection PPE Confined Space Hazmat Traffic Safety Bloodborne Pathogens Control of hazardous Energy Thats a very large % of Firefighter training. Technically that means that unless you work for OFPC or Westchester County, they can not "certify" you. Only your agency can do that. And for your agency to certified you they need to activly participate in your training. As an example if you take OFPC Hazmat ops and bring the certificate back to your dept. unless they provide another 2-6 hours of in house training and testing you do not meet the requirements under NYS Law to be certified and the law says you can not respond to any calls without this.

Ok I just finished reviewing the ICMA report and the holes in it are so large that you can drive a tower ladder thru it. This is not surprising as I find the ICMA reports often ignor the ICMA's recomendations. Without going into a 50 page rebutal, the 3 biggest problems include: 1) Conduct Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) fire department self-assessment as means toward overall organizational improvements. The ICMA report was written 3-4 years after the CFAI was incorporated into the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Since the ICMA is an original partner in the CFAI and one would think they would have known that it no longer exists under that name. 2)Conduct a community fire risk analysis using the CFAI’s Risk, Hazard, and Value Evaluation (RHAVE) model. Both CFAI and the USFA stopped using, supplying and supporting RHAVE 2 years before the report was written. and 3) Utilize a mid-size pumper equipped with a compressed air foam system (CAFS) or FIT tool, and staffed by one firefighter, at fire station 3 and fire station 7. The Mid-size pumper the are suggesting is: Not quite a mid size, but they claim that 1 man with this rig and CAFS and or FIT can replace a class A pumper with 3 FF's. Since they are suggesting that 2 of the 3 engine companies go to this they are completely ignoring everything that an engine company does beyond initial attack (assuming a 1 man unit can do initial attack with these tools). Who searches? Who forces entry? who does the 1,00 of other things that are done on not just fire calls but EMS, rescue Hazmat, etc.? It is quite clear that they have no idea what a fire dept does, but they are the experts many communities are using to determine what they need.

Great, the ICMA thinks you can drop costs by adding this and then you can get rid of the back-up & 3rd man. And you state we need them just as much if not more. One needs to look very carefully at this.

The USFA funded a study on CAFS in an urban setting. Boston equipped 2 engines and used the system. In the study Boston was very positive, but they never invested in it. Does anyone know why?

10 Days for FFI & FFII...................... Thats the same certifications that the career accademy takes 60 Days to get (yes they get a few more certs.....but lets be real here). I wonder are they leaving something out, or does anyone think the career accademy is 50 Days too long?

not in NYS. Very few states allow ISO points for it, a few will calculate additional GPM if you have it (i.e. during ISO testing they determine you can maintain a 500gpm tanker shuttle, they may credit it as 750gpm).

In some fire depts. the Federal courts have said that requiring a degree discriminates against some canditates, so only a HS deploma is a requirement. This rule has been in effect for 30 years. Our Police dept. requires an associates to get hired, BA/BS for Sgt., Masters for LT. We use to have parity in our pay, but thats long gone....hmmmmmmmmmm Who's smarter those with or those without?

Including the Chief of Department

I've heard that for at least 30 years. The plan includes a high speed train to NYC. We may need it when the TZB falls into the river as the plans for its replacement are just as far off.

Yes a big one on Sept. 15 at Glen Is. Call Fire HQ if you want info 654-2214

Only if the bridge is over troubled waters

The History "Doctor" is the one who brings the meltaways...but never on a Monday (CH Bakery closed then)