CTFF

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For those who would like to see the mayors Powerpoint but don't care to search for it: http://boardofreps.org/committees/pu...nt2_110209.pdf and his Fiscal PPT http://boardofreps.org/committees/pu...an2_110209.pdf Also some of the petitions have shown up: Quite humorous, I wonder if they told Blanca they taxes would rise on the property she lives in under the Mayors plan? http://boardofreps.org/committees/pu...trs_110208.pdf http://boardofreps.org/committees/pu...pet_110208.pdf

Cogs, No doubt that the fire Service was founded by volunteers. There are more volunteer firefighters in America then there are careeer firefighters but more of the population is protected by career firefighters then they are by volunteers (according to the NFPA study from 2002 I'm looking at). CTFF PS I live in a town with a 100% career dept and any time they need my support they get it.

At looks like at this point we are beating a dead horse, but then again that's not the worst thing to happen to a horse on the internet. Sure the Declaration of Independence says "the persuit of happiness" it is simply not what the law states and I've point a cople of examples of what I mean earlier in this post. You want guys to be able to be dedicated volunteers, many (like myself) want union guys to be dedicated union members and a firefighter can't do both in Stamford. If you want to work to change the laws so employees can volunteer (doing the same job) where they work go right ahead. I doubt you'll be able to change any Unions view on volunteering ( again, doing the same job) where union members work.

Thanks. No idea who that guy is, I just like how that photo is starting to pop up.

Sqd, Seeing you've brought up Stripping resources and the letter from Capt Hayes I've got a question. How do you feel about your fire truck leaving your district for a fire call only to find out the dept you were called into didn't even bother to respond? CTFF PS Also what Chief is that in the photo on stamfordfireplan.com ?

Cogs, I know you've asked for proof of volunteers working against career Firefighters or blocking the adding of positions in combination departments. I'll offer up what I've seen in one combination dept. I was a non-resident member of a combi dept. Being a non-resident made it rather tough to make calls in a timely fashion, most of the time I was lucky to make it to the firehouse before the rigs were back. The volunteer side of the dept had a very liberal definition of "making a call". The union there gave a more realistic account of actual responses to the local government and the volunteers countered with their version of what was going on. Guys who had not been around the dept in years were asked and begged to comeback, some guys returned and went right back on the line with no training. This was used to bolster the appearance of a bigger volunteer component of the dept. Much of the information was relayed to the local government behind closed doors as to not scare the public. In my opinion the volunteers did actively work against the union when it came to staffing, I believe this put the public and firefighters (Union and Volunteer) in greater danger. In my opinion what was done by the volunteer leadership was to protect volunteering and had zero to do with budget concerns or public safety. I am certain that this still happens in that dept today. I've seen volunteers working against the career side of the same Dept and it's been happening for years in that dept. Now I see some of the same things happening in Stamford. CTFF

roto-ray

Cogs, Like most of the union members here have posted I am not anti-volunteer, I have no problems with guys who volunteer at home as long as it's not in a town that has career firefighters and they are not responding mutual aide into towns that employ career firefighters. CTFF

Your interpretation of freedom of choice is narrow and simply wrong. Motorcycle riders in certain states would love to not be able to wear helmets but by law they have to. I'd love to own fully automatic weapons and suppressors as I have the right to bear arms but CT does not allow them.

If these 12 guys are employed by SFRD it is illegal for them to volunteer in Stamford and has nothing to do with the IAFF. So I ask again, how many of these 12 are employed by SFRD?

Of these 12 guys: How many are employed by SFRD and therefore can't legally volunteer? Of the rest how many live in Belltown?

Greenwich could one up Stamford with the following guy: Jeff Wilpon Not just a manager of a baseball team, The Chief Operating Officer, and He already has more training then Bobby V, see link below. http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6042031

I would never joke about the need for traffic direction. Not sure what happens from here, maybe the meeting gets rescheduled before the full board meets in February. If that doesn't happen I'm not sure what we'll do as pitchers and catchers can report on the 14th. I guess we should wait till after the world series.

The meeting tonight was canceled, the city can't afford to have bobby in a meeting when he is needed to direct traffic.

I know we've all seen the site but anyone else notice the stamfordfiretruths.org add up on the Stamford advocate site?

Maybe that Burton fellow will get his money back from Uconn and build the Burton family firehouse? But remember he gets to pick the next Chief.

I'm pretty sure this is the point we are at now. Volunteers are not getting out the door to every call and you seem to suggest volunteers are picking and choosing which calls to go to. Someone is going to get hurt or killed when volunteers wait for the size up to determine wether they are going to respond. When the citizens you are there to protect call 911 it is a major incident to them. Yesterday you lamented that TOR did not have a driver but a crew was there. This topic started in 2008 it's now 2011, who's fault is it that TOR does not have drivers? It's TOR's fault. I'm not anti-volunteer, there is a place for volunteers in the system but if they are not there 100% of the time what place should they be given?

Thankfully a no brainer is right up my alley. So your concern is the city is going to have to hire more career firefighters? Isn't the mayor trying to fix this by hiring more career firefighters?

I wonder if some of the more experienced Stamford guys could recall Incidents where a specific unit was needed but was on another call and unit that could fill in was not sent? I simply don’t remember areas being left uncovered.

http://www.stamfordfiretruths.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Stamford_Fire_Final.pdf Mailing sent out by Local 786 to residents in Stamford.

Cogs, I've debated the current plan, your plan, offered a different plan of my own (on this site or another)and I've attended public meetings in regards to the fire service. At one of these meetings I heard you plan brought up and I'm pretty sure I saw task force members chuckle about it. I'm not saying that to put your plan down, I think your plan is better then the mayors plan but I don't agree with everything you've proposed. The task at hand should be how do we fix the system once and get it right the first time? Now is not the time for a grassroots effort. I don't see this mayor listening to people outside of his inner circle until his plan falls flat and I'm sure he'll have an equally bad plan "b" as well.

Exactly.

Cogs, I've seen Bobby V in action, I've come to my own opinion of the man. I'm glad you agree we both "toe the party line". My line is public/firefighter safety, your party line is all about protecting fiefdom and you've done little to sway anyone's opinion that your about anything else. Cheers, CTFF

Cogs, Bobby has already served in a capacity in regards to the fire service in Stamford and to me he was/is a flat out liar. My opposition to the Mayors choice is also more about the fashion and timing of the selection then it is about unqualified "Bobby V". But I understand you've got tow the party line.

Cogs, Director Callion faced much ire when he asked the VFD's to provide training records to him. Were you in Ansonia or another thrid world country when that took place?