CTFF

Pavia, Larobina, Valentine and few others I won't name do.

The Mayors plan is about political payback and nothing more. It's not about public safety and it certainly not about saving money for everyone in Stamford.

http://yfrog.com/kkmnztuj link to picture of engine.

Keeping true to our witty nautical banter... Rumor is the plan is headed to Davy Jones locker. I've tried to work in a beasties boy reference as well but just gave up.

Is the truck fully staffed ( 4 interior qualified firefighters)? I would assume you'd operate in the fashion as directed by the IC.

You guys are going to start running automatic mutual aide city wide?

hey when then fleet is in the shape it is now why would you need a spare? (sarcasm)

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-Fire-Rescue-chief-departs-with-1450695.php#page-1 Stamford Fire & Rescue chief departs with concerns over city fire service's future Jeff Morganteen, Staff Writer STAMFORD -- Tuesday marks the end of a 41-year career for Robert McGrath, the departing chief of Stamford Fire & Rescue and a Stamford native who worked his way through the ranks from a firefighter to captain before taking the helm of the city fire department 11 years ago...

Yeah because a Random guy on the internet claims to have seen a document it must all be true!

No, I would never do that. I was just wondering if you had seen a mythical ct mountain lion as well.

Have you seen a mountain lion running around in CT (since the Greenwich one was hit) as well?

My comments here are never in an official capacity. I have never heard the term "rival organization" used to describe any volunteer organization by members of local 786, Vollies are the only people I've seen use the term. No.

So much like your stance on L786 barring SFRD firefighter from volunteering in stamford (when in fact FLSA prevetns it), You have no documentation showing where L786 declared anyone a rival orginaztion? Thats what your response feels like to me.

I think the SVFD deal is only 85% done, I'm not sure they've agreed to any minor details yet.

Yes changing the laws and or rules would also work.

Speed Limits, Helmet laws, seatbelt laws, the amount of booze we can drink then drive limit personal freedoms as well but they are simply the laws we live with. Now of course you can say but you may hurt someone else but not following the above and you'd be right, of course you may end up hurting your family by not following laws and rules laid down. You don't like the no volunteer rule, stop taking test, you're on the job and don't like it? Get off the job.

I'm not sure as I don't speak for anyone but myself, I have to wonder if by double dipping the poster was asking about SVFD paid personel and if they would be allowed to volunteer and collect any abatements?

The no volunteer stance is also to protect the firefighter. Firefighters are going to run into problems in the future when making claims for job related illness and dieseas. A career firefighter is going to put in a claim and the city he works for is going to provide proof that he volunteered while he was a career guy. His employeer will then point the finger at his volunteer dept and tell him to go after them, guess where the volunteer dept/town/city is going to point the finger? guess who is stuck in the middle? Sometimes we have to protect people from themselves.

I think you could also argue that Stamford is the community where we work and therefore can't volunteer as firefighter/emt's in Stamford. Then I would make a case the city should not grant tax abatements to people who volunteer for independent entities.

I know it is easy to pick on the union stance but I figured I'd bring up the FLSA here "When Congress amended the FLSA in 1985, it made clear that people are allowed to volunteer their services to public agencies and their community with but one exception - public sector employers may not allow their employees to volunteer, without compensation, additional time to do the same work for which they are employed." We are not allowed by law to volunteer in Stamford.

I've seen mention about the tax abatement laws but am not familair with them. I seem to recall the stamford volunteers stonewalling the past administration when information was requested from them. I guess this is like the age old question which came first, the chicken or the egg. We all know it was the chicken. Wouldn't it be better to build a gym at the firehouse? One time cost, serves multiple people and might draw firefighters to the firehouse?

I'm not sure why a recruitment and rentention program hasn't been done in Stamford. I would hope aa member of a volunteer dept in Stamford you could answer that question. What efforts has the volunteer made to make a R&R plan work? I think it can be done in Stamford. I know the possibility of points on the entrance exam for volunteers has been discussed. I know this may only benefit a small portion of the volunteers but it is a step in the right direction, right? I would think any recruitment and rentention plans for the SVFD would have to come from the SVFD Budget. I'm not sure how the city could offer something to members of a private organization.

Cogs, I'm sure that SFRD units from their current stations (E1, E6 and E7) could respond into the area of the Belltown fire district and meet the NFPA standards for response time and personel. Belltown would not be without protection.

If we look at any of the recent fires up north there has been a large number of SFRD units working these calls. This gives us a insight into the response we can expect from the SVFD, I can't look it at the situation any other way. As for mutual aide it would have to be agreed upon by SFRD (The Chief), I would hope the Chif would take into consideration The people he is paid to protect and their wishes. Maybe the downtown residents won't feel like sending their fire dept to protect people who just caused the downtown tax to go up while up north gets a tax break. It's seems anytime the mention of SFRD covering the city you assume the volunteers go away, I've yet to see this spelled out. Belltown will never be without fire protection, if Belltown FD stopped responding SFRD will continue to respond.

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.