Village Of Port Chester Disbands Career FD

[fdalumnus 165]

2 hours ago, gamewell45 said:

I think it's been around 15 years now since Pawling, NY disbanded its police force.  It happened at one of the village board meetings when a motion was made to disband the entire force and turn police matters over the county Sheriff's Office.  There were a lot of shocked people in the village, including members of the police department.

 

The Pawling situation was slightly different. The Pawling PD was comprised of part-timers, many who worked full time PD jobs elsewhere. There were ,of course, a few bad apples that constantly made life "difficult" for some of the residents. Personalities won out over principles. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)  The County Sheriffs Dept picked up many of the part-timers after taking over. Better service? I doubt it.

 

Now back to Port Chester. As any firefighter who works or worked in a combination dept knows, the vollies who hate the "paidman" the most are the ones totally incapable of passing the requirements to becoming a professional firefighter. They are, to say the least, green with envy. Then, there is the next bunch who are successful in life and harbor no resentment. They tend to take a back seat (unfortunately) to the issues because they have a life and can "take it or leave it," when it comes to the FD. The remainder, usually the highest percentage of members, active or not, some living in Florida, North Carolina, etc. just don't give a rats ass. As was stated in prior posts, the union needs to get some volllie support. Ang's post seems to say there is some, and hopefully it grows.

 

The next thing the PCFD needs to do is impeach all three chiefs. Lets face it, they're losers. Didn't the head chief get thrown out of his prior volunteer dept ? They need guys like Joe" Pug", Bob Thalhiemer, Vinny Lyons ,sr., and Bill Neathercott to come back and lead the dept. They were gentlemen, who didn't play games with anyone, especially with the public's safety. Enough of me ranting. 32 years in the fire service and the only thing that got better were the rigs.

Edited May 12, 2016 by fdalumnus

[LTFIREPRG 154]

Here is the file.

Edited May 13, 2016 by LTFIREPRG
File was missing

[LTFIREPRG 154]

[LTFIREPRG 154]

Just out

[dwcfireman 656]

Ok...This temporarily puts the PC career staff back to work.  But, since they're "going back to work," are they still going to earn their full salaries for the time being as they are on administrative leave from the Village of Port Chester?  Or is the Village going to screw them more and only pay them while they are on shift on Rye Brook? 

[Tranz426 22]

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/05/11/reisman-port-chester-firefighters/84241646/

[nfd2004 750]

5 hours ago, Tranz426 said:

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/05/11/reisman-port-chester-firefighters/84241646/

 

 Thank you "Tranz426" for posting that story. We can see that the Brotherhood is Alive and Well within the Yonkers Fire Dept. Firefighters risk their lives for each other and sometimes even die for each other. That is the way it always has been and the way it always will be.

 

  I hope to see this kind of support continue and get stronger for those laid off firefighters. Laid off by some individual(s) who don't care about those firefighters OR the citizens they are assigned to help and protect.

[rob zombie 33]

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/05/13/reisman-mayor-firefghters-port-chester/84341696/

 

lohud gives mayor a soapbox.    

[antiquefirelt 994]

I'm sure I must be missing something, but it appears the Mayor believes he can save $800k a year by cutting these jobs, but didn't account for the $1 million contract he'd violate, causing a net loss of $200k?

[SECTMB 612]

22 hours ago, dwcfireman said:

Ok...This temporarily puts the PC career staff back to work.  But, since they're "going back to work," are they still going to earn their full salaries for the time being as they are on administrative leave from the Village of Port Chester?  Or is the Village going to screw them more and only pay them while they are on shift on Rye Brook? 

 

I don't believe this puts the PC career staff back to work.......only one FF for the Rye Brook night shift that PC was contractually obligated to provide in fulfillment of the agreement between the two. 

[nfd2004 750]

1 hour ago, rob zombie said:

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/05/13/reisman-mayor-firefghters-port-chester/84341696/

 

lohud gives mayor a soapbox.    

 

 Thank you for posting this story as well. We all get to read just why the mayor decided to lay off those firefighters. With 1,200 calls a year of which about 20 are serious in nature. In those twenty cases there are plenty of volunteer firefighters who do respond to these serious calls. As the mayor points out, he feels that the numbers required are clearly there. But what really counts are the numbers that show up in the very beginning. Those that can arrive quickly with fire apparatus and ready to make a quick attack if possible. The job is to save lives and property and a quick attack with a smaller crew is much better than a later attack with a larger crew.

 

  What really counts is how fast that response is with enough people to extinguish a small fire before it becomes a big fire. Therefore saving taxpayers their valuables and property, and perhaps their lives.

 

  Most firehouses with an all volunteer force are not staffed 24 hours a day. When the call comes in, those volunteer firefighters must first drive their own vehicles to pick up each piece of fire apparatus that is needed. This takes time. Something that these on duty career firefighters were able to do.

 

  Here is a video called "Why seconds count". You will see why it is so important to get to the fire scene as quickly as possible with the equipment that is needed.

 

  Mr Mayor, this one's for you.

 

  www.youtube.com/watch?v=piofZLySsNc

[PCFD ENG58 1,085]

 

They kept saying one career firefighter on one fire engine shows up and they are correct. What they are not doing is finishing the rest of the story . When I got hired we had 16 strong career with 400 Volunteers with about 300 give or take and the rest [ 100 ]the older members . The Career staff runs Engine 58 and Engine 59 . When a call came in on the fire phone the firefighter at HQ answered the call and got the info . When it was determined whos call it was [ Eng58 lower Port Chester ] with most of the work or Eng 59 with more area but less work [ mostly bedroom  but some very large buildings [ General  foods 1900 by 500 ] and so on . If it was 58's call he would stop talking and the Sta. 4 firefighter [ Eng 59 ]would get the rest of the info with 58 hitting the road mostly in 60 or so sec. I pulled up to many working fires to find Volunteer firefighters either already standing there or in the building looking for people or the fire . Engine 58 & 59 have 800 gallon tanks and preconnect  lines more scotts to handle the guys already on location .the firefighters would take the lines in and starting to attack the fire . As a rule we did not hit hydrants but had the tools to do so . The next in engine would supply 58 or 59 .That is what was taken away from the dept . 

Edited May 14, 2016 by PCFD ENG58

[lh123 1]

Not really understanding the logic of 1200 calls, but only 20 serious in nature.  How many of the smaller calls would have turned into something more serious if the career engine had not responded with water quickly?

[FireMedic049 597]

10 hours ago, lh123 said:

Not really understanding the logic of 1200 calls, but only 20 serious in nature.  How many of the smaller calls would have turned into something more serious if the career engine had not responded with water quickly?

Actually, the political logic is pretty easy to understand.  

 

The community has a "small" number of incidents and few "serious" calls, so they see the money spent on career personnel as unnecessary since they supposedly have so many volunteers in the department. 

 

Therefore, eliminating the paid firefighters doesn't really hurt anything and spending that money elsewhere helps whatever agenda they have.

 

Since most politicians have little clue about public safety, they tend to be oblivious to the reality of the impact of something like this, like no longer keeping some incidents small since the immediate response is no longer there.  

 

Penny wise, pound foolish.

[nfd2004 750]

How very quickly our political leaders forget.

 

Earlier I mentioned about one of the WORST Fires in our nation history occurring in Port Chester, NY. The same place that just got rid of it's eight career firefighters.

 

Less than 100 miles away to the northeast is Connecticut's Capital City of Hartford. In 2003, Sixteen elderly, handicapped individuals, died in a fire at a nursing home in Hartford.

 

And just like Port Chester, the local politicians have also forgotten. As it seems now, the Hartford Fire Dept is facing the closing of two fire companies among their 10 (?) Engines, 5 Ladder Cos, 1 Rescue Co.

 

Could the elimination of 8 career firefighters in Port Chester, NY or the closing of two fire companies in Hartford, Ct have a direct impact on human lives ? I would think so. Should that be a high priority for any local political or public leader of the fire department ?

 

Is it important for us to have good medical insurance just in case we get sick ? Do I like paying for it ? Absolutely not, but it just has to be done.

[PCFD ENG58 1,085]

Just a reminder , the Port Chester Career staff was at 16 . 8 is all that is left after retirements that were not filled. So this has been coming in my eyes for a few years .

 

[bigrig77 95]

On 5/13/2016 at 7:01 PM, antiquefirelt said:

I'm sure I must be missing something, but it appears the Mayor believes he can save $800k a year by cutting these jobs, but didn't account for the $1 million contract he'd violate, causing a net loss of $200k?

That is correct. The Village is in the red because the 1 million dollars from Rye Brook would offset the cost for the career staff.  This was a nice little chunk of cash that was in the budged and was still included after the guys were cut. Real shifty book keeping.

 

Hope every resident from Port Chester goes to the next board meeting and let them know this is not good. Don't gamble with peoples lives cause your just gonna lose.

[rob zombie 33]

Quote

Hope every resident from Port Chester goes to the next board meeting and let them know this is not good. Don't gamble with peoples lives cause your just gonna lose.

 

 

We will see..........

 

[nfd2004 750]

If Port Chester citizens allow this to go on without a fuss, then when things do go sour, they can blame themselves along with those politicians and chiefs. 

 

What makes it even more interesting this time though is that once again, Port Chester, NY, has been put on the map, just like in 1974. And now people in the entire country will be watching should something go sour.

[PCFD ENG58 1,085]

It won't take long for it to go sour, stay tuned .

[rob zombie 33]

At the board meeting tonight, a re-vote in two weeks was decided.  The 2 trustees who abstained/voted no brought it up.  Large turnout by career FFs, somewhat for residents.  

[bigrig77 95]

Well i thought the meeting went well. Mayor and the Board just kept getting blasted with truth and you could tell it hurt. The board knows they all committed political suicide and that they will not be in office after the next election. A lot of great points were made and the speakers were all well informed and cool calm and collected. The real highlights came from Chief Flynn, Barry Mcgoey, and A Officer from Greenburgh who's name escapes me. They all had there ducks in a row, they came with that cool heads, and most importantly, they let the board know that we as firemen are not going away. We will keep on them till this is resolved.

 

Another highlight was at the end when the Mayor tried to stop two board members from adding a item to the agenda. Tried to say that Trustee Luis Marino could not second Trustee Greg Adams vote to re-instate the Port Chester Eight because he had abstained from the now infamous first vote. After some back and forth the item was added to the next meetings agenda. 

[nfd2004 750]

Thank you "bigrig" for keeping us ALL updated. As we outside of the Westchester area continue to follow every move very closely keeping a watchful eye on "The Port Chester Eight" situtation.

 

Not only is the job of these Eight firefighters at stake, but also the lives and property of those who depended on them. From sixteen, to eight, and now to ZERO career firefighters.

 

 "PCFD58" states, "it won't take long for things to go sour". Question - What type of fire service leader would be willing to risk it and go along with cutting any career firefighters ? I would guess that this also puts those fire chiefs at a liability if the worst case should happen by encouraging this action rather than trying to fight against it.

 

Take my word for it, the Brotherhood is alive and well. And will be watching........

[velcroMedic1987 330]

 

On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 11:44 PM, rob zombie said:

At the board meeting tonight, a re-vote in two weeks was decided.  The 2 trustees who abstained/voted no brought it up.  Large turnout by career FFs, somewhat for residents.  

 

How many of the career FF live in the village?   They won't carry a lot of clout because they can't do anything for the elected reps of the village.

Politics!

 

[PCFD ENG58 1,085]

Out of the last 8 that let go , All

[rob zombie 33]

Just when you think things couldn't get weirder..........

 

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/rye-brook-port-chester/2016/05/20/port-chester-oath-office/84666408/

[SECTMB 612]

If you are not old enough, let me educate you.  There was a time when a 'used care salesman' was the lowest form of profession.  Lower than Al Bundy, shoe salesman.  But rather than keep that title and status, the used car profession evolved into the pre-owned car profession, climbing many rungs up the professional jobs ladder and relegating Politicians to the lowest rung where they all seem perfectly content.

[fdalumnus 165]

Seems one of the volunteer companies, Washington Park E&H Co. #4, (Eng 64) sent a letter to the village board demanding the PC8 be reinstated. Cited the public safety factor in eliminating the career force. And the safety of the volunteers. 

 

Scuttlebutt (rumors) is that Rescue Co. to follow suit, and many members want recall vote on the three chiefs.

 

Turning into a real clusterxxxx.

[nfd2004 750]

11 hours ago, fdalumnus said:

Seems one of the volunteer companies, Washington Park E&H Co. #4, (Eng 64) sent a letter to the village board demanding the PC8 be reinstated. Cited the public safety factor in eliminating the career force. And the safety of the volunteers. 

 

Scuttlebutt (rumors) is that Rescue Co. to follow suit, and many members want recall vote on the three chiefs.

 

Turning into a real clusterxxxx.

 

 Excellent point. Apparently those THREE Chiefs have not only put the citizens and their property at risk, but with their decision to eliminate those eight career firefighters, they have put their own members at risk as well. I am very glad to see that some of Port Chester's own volunteer firefighters realize that. It doesn't really matter which T-shirt or uniform you wear. Firefighters get hurt and even sometimes die while performing their duties.

 

  Those three chiefs should have NEVER recommended the removal of the "PC8". The chiefs have apparently proven to many the real lack of knowledge within the fire service they have. As well as the total lack of concern they have for those who must depend on them. For any fire chief to recommend the elimination of any firefighters under their command goes AGAINST everything taught or learned from past experience.

 

 The best thing those chiefs can do is to make amends and admit their foolish mistake by bringing back those eight career firefighters. The first step is to bring back those eight firefighters. The next thing for those chiefs is to readily admit how wrong they were. Fire Chiefs are human too. They make mistakes as well. But it is much easier to admit a mistake like this now, Rather than NOT admit a mistake today and attend a funeral later because they wouldn't.

[Quickness 7]

Unfair to characterize all the officers of PCFD. Many were kept in the dark about this.