CTFF

http://blog.timesuni...rom-free/11338/ Editorial from the times union on this issue:

In light of the uptick in chemical/hazmat suicides, the dangers to the public and responders I see no problems with this.

Cogs, I wonder how you view the picture of a few things. 1. The cities lawyer leaving out full sentences of the charter in regards to charter change? Is he simply incompetent or is he scared at how easy charter change's can be made. Yes I do recognize getting the changes worded properly is the hardest part of the change. 2. The mayor has tried to squash testimony in front of the board of reps ( possibly in violating of the charter.)? If the Mayor's plan is the better plan why are they tryign to lie and scare people away from the Brown plan?

Front page of the advocate today: "If this was a corporation he would be fired. If this was the military organization he would be court marshaled." Mayor Michael Pavia speaking about Peter Brown, assistant fire chief. This is because the board of reps want to talk to chief brown about his plan. The mayor does think chief brown as a city employee should oppose his plan. If Stamford was a city the Mayor would have already been fired.

Cogs, I can't see any competent incident commander turning down manpower at a fire simply because they are paid or a volunteer. For instance If belltown guys are operating at a fire in truck45, T45 has the building and a ladder needs to be thrown for guys on the second floor what ladder is going to get grabbed? I'm going to grab the closest ladder not the closest SFRD ladder. I've said it before I don't want to see anyone from the public, SFRD or any of the VFD's hurt, to me that is unacceptable. To me the biggest stumbling block will always being the sharing of information. Will all the FD's share info on training? I don't think so and this will always be the disconnect.

I guess I'm still a bit lost. We hear from the supporters of the mayor's plan that volunteers will/do respond from their homes/jobs while the career firefighter will drive the rigs to the call. Here a SFRD rig goes to the call, yet the volunteers don't respond from just down the road in the firehouse?

This crew of three in house without driver all are FF1 and are also considered interior firefighters by TOR? One of the three was also a line officer for TOR?

The career staff would answer more calls. With units moving from the southend and woodside 2nd due districts would increase. Run totals would be up across the board more work for the same money and that is more work.

All over the nation people seem to want more from their government for no increase in taxes. The Brown plan does just that, yet some in Stamford don't want anything to do with it, I guess it must be something in the water.

I would guess Mr. Maounis has never taken a test to be a career firefighter. As best as I can tell he works in the financial industry. Intresting reading if you punch his name into google, seems he has been fined and order to go re-training to resolve an issue with the state of CT. He's just another wall street guy blaming public sector workers for the economic problems of the US.

have you checked out: http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/tools/sc_grants.shtm

Johnny with a 42 hour work week 42*52 the number is 2184 hours scheduled per year for a firefighter. We work 8 24hr shifts a month more often then we have 7 day work months.

these two guys are the reported front runners.

the 24 on 72 off schedule averages (over 13 weeks?) a 42 hour work week. The DC of training and the two captains in training do not work 24's the Capt and 4 Lt's at 911 don't work 24's The Fire Mechanic does not work a 24 Nor do any members of the Fire Marshall's division. This of course can be verified by a quick reading of the Contract.

It's hard to guess the intentions of this letter, I'm sure it was sent with a purpose. Is he hoping to draw us into a fight like the Chief of Springdale likes to do? Would he like to claim he was threatened like Bobby V's dubious claim? Is he trying to create a bigger rift between the Dept's so he can say "see they won't work with us!"? Or was he simply upset the BOR cut money to from the VFD's and he fired off a letter full of errors because he didn't take the time to look over his latest pièce de résistance?

I think in this situation it would be up the the insurance to file suit. I doubt you'll see that happen, it's cheaper to pay the claim the pursue this in court. Where was the IC when all this roof work was going on?

They had one recently in New Britain, CT. Any of the guys who've been to classes or lectured on do you have any links for training purposes?

For those interested in this topic look up last nights "60 minutes". They ran an piece on Congressmen Dobson (?) from Texas and his proposed bill, which is looking into changing how companies avoid paying taxes by "moving" overseas. The CEO of Cisco claims that they have over $40 billion that they won't bring into the US based on out tax code and all told there is over a trillion dollars US companies have that can't be taxed by the gov't. The CEO also states they would bring money back if the Government would lower the taxes closer to what European countries tax at.

No can't explain it to you. Of course you could always blame "unions" if you want to feel better, it's seems to be in vogue.

Who knows, Stamford is a mess right now. It does not look like the mayor has put any money in the budget for hiring firefighters in the next fiscal year. Until the people who took the test start making noise I doubt you'll get any answers.

I was there and it was great presentation by Chief Terpak. The chief is a great public speaker and if you get the chance to see his presentation don't miss out.

I want to say I've seen pics of rig in PA that is this concept, from what I remember reading the rig was broken/OOS more then it was in.

Looks like Stamford is going to hire police officers, sounds like the city will certify that list... http://www.thedailystamford.com/news/stamford-police-hire-more-officers

You'll get results for this test...unlike Stamfords Fire test.

Board of Reps Members Request Projections for Fire Plan Alternatives Despite chances that alternative plans to what Mayor Pavia is proposing may require city charter revisions, members of the Board of Reps still want the chance to analyze them. http://stamford.patch.com/articles/board-of-reps-members-request-projections-for-fire-plan-alternatives