Audit: Volunteer firefighters got naughty perks

[Guest]

(04/18/07) WEST ISLIP - Volunteer firefighters don't receive a salary, but a state audit revealed Wednesday some on Long Island are getting questionable perks.

The report stated West Islip Fire District 104 used taxpayer money to purchase large amounts of pornographic movies. According to the audit, someone in the West Islip firehouse spent $615 on a Playboy TV subscription and adult pay-per-view videos. An attorney representing the department said that expense was not approved, and the individual responsible was fired as a result.

Also included in the audit were the volunteer fire departments in Manhasset-Lakeville, West Sayville-Oakville and Syosset. Between the four departments, more than $400,000 was used on dinners, the report said.

Although the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department held public hearings and approved the expense in its budget, the audit questioned the purchase of an $80,000 truck that is not used to fight fires.

© 2007 News12.com & Rainbow Media

[Remember585 815]

What was the amount spent on kleenex?!

[eckyphats 0]

Im glad theres firefighters out there still making us all look bad...thanks guys!

[RWC130 594]

I hope they had HDTV and Large Screen TV to go with the $615.00 in Porn. LOL

That is crazy and so EMBARRASSING. Now the whole Fire Department will

suffer cause of a few @$$holes!

This does not just hurt them, It hurts ALL Firefighters!

[JohnnyOV 2]

Although the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department held public hearings and approved the expense in its budget, the audit questioned the purchase of an $80,000 truck that is not used to fight fires.

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if it is one of those racer car things...I'd be raising hell too if I was a resident and paying for that out of my taxes

[MFVFD179 0]

Large Screen HDTV... HAHAHA

I have no problem paying taxes (probably because I don't pay any right now ), but to have tax dollars spent on something that is completely useless is rediculous. $480,000 used on dinners and a truck is an insane amount of money. $615 dollars on playboy and pay-per-view??? That must have been a lot of pornography to watch, no wonder they got caught!

[Guest partyrock]

I love all the noise being made about $615 worth of soft core p***. Some of these depts have food budgets of close to $100,000. I'm talking full sized commercial kitchens, viking range, double door stand-up freezer, deep fryers, and a fully stocked kitchen that would put the food network to shame. There is so much excess down there that isn't being adressed. Buildings so massive and elegant they make arcitectual trade journals. Duplication of services that makes Westchetser look bare bones. Newsday pointed it out, but the initial noise has faded.

[Guest]

Doesn't the island have more apparatus than like the FDNY and LA combined?

[ex-commish 490]

I love all the noise being made about $615 worth of soft core p***.  Some of these depts have food budgets of close to $100,000.  I'm talking full sized commercial kitchens, viking range, double door stand-up freezer, deep fryers, and a fully stocked kitchen that would put the food network to shame.  There is so much excess down there that isn't being adressed.  Buildings so massive and elegant they make arcitectual trade journals.  Duplication of services that makes Westchetser look bare bones.  Newsday pointed it out, but the initial noise has faded.

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Party, I dont think the noise has faded in fact courtesy of those depts new laws have been enacted to monitor and regulate how fire districts spend money. And newly elected commissioenrs have to take certain classes.

Shameful it took some foolish spending that made us all look bad but I think in thier case it is the beginnng of the end when it comes to all those perks

[Guest partyrock]

The changes that were made were mostly bandaids that have and are going to do more to hurt the guys who play by the rules and do the right thing. The people who allowed all that excess are still in charge. They just can't plead ignorance next time around. There will definately be more transparency in their budgets, but does that really matter if noone is looking at them. Now they can't go to Cozumel and call it training. Excellent. Now other NY depts can't send their members to training in Florida or Boston when the same training is available in NY. Not all training is equal. Just because an extrication course is available in NY, doesn't mean its the same as one offered somewhere else.

[firecapt32 282]

I have said it before and I will say it again.. so listen up--when you take your local taxpayers money either by taxes or by donations yes donations... you better be spending it on usefullthings.

If you take donations you might need a 501-c3 tax form.

as you can see not knowing is not an excuse

keep goor records and CYA.

[firecapt32 282]

I have said it before and I will say it again.. so listen up--when you take your local taxpayers money either by taxes or by donations yes donations... you better be spending it on usefullthings.

If you take donations you might need a 501-c3 tax form.

as you can see not knowing is not an excuse

keep good records and CYA.