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Vote no on 4A
10 Oct 2013 09:23 #224
by ScienceChic
• This department has let go/cut 2.5 PAID positions of 12 total and recruited the largest rookie VOLUNTEER class in its history.
• Both the board and the Chief have stated that it is not their goal to make this an all-paid department and the mill levy is to replace only one of those 2.5 cut paid positions. They've also stated that they'd like to increase their number of volunteers, for which they need more turnout gear, also requested for in the mill.
• The current group of both paid and volunteer firefighters are 100% behind this current Board of Directors and their Chief, as evidenced by the letter 56 of them signed that they requested be read during the February 2013 BOD meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNgqc-yV-H0 The internal squabbles are nonexistent, the Chief and BOD have cleaned up this department and are running it as financially tightly as possible and morale is high.
• Maybe all volunteer worked the best years ago when there were fewer residents and fewer structures and fewer visitors, but times change and it doesn't work today. I was curious as to when the department started having paid staff so I asked - the district has had paid firefighter/paramedics dating back to 1998. They were hired at the urging of the volunteers due to the difficulties volunteers had providing transports with the increasing call volumes. The volunteers have full-time jobs themselves, they can't afford to take 2-3 hours for an ambulance run to the hospital down the hill. They can pop over to assist with a call for a short time, and often do, but full-time, paid staff are required to fill that increasing need. The number of ambulance runs has only increased, and will only do so as more visitors and residents come.
Not only are medical calls increasing, but so are wildfire and structure calls - ECFPD responds to over 1100 total calls/year (medical and fire). The number of people and adequate equipment are required to respond to these. As Travis Griffin said during the Community Meeting, it's critical for an initial attack on a wildland fire that the responding local departments have adequate equipment. There's no denying that this department has outdated equipment - 3 pieces are 24-25 years old - it's time to replace it. There comes a time that it's cost-prohibitive to replace water pumps, parts, and engines and pay the mechanic overtime to keep them maintained, because older vehicles require more care. It was brought up during the Public Affairs Meeting that they have been spending a lot on overtime for the mechanic.
• They've reduced the number of vehicles that they had in their fleet, trimming the fat and keeping the essentials, and are proposing to replace the ones needing to go with trucks that are less expensive AND better suited to our mountain roads and conditions, yet perform the necessary functions that engines and tankers provide. The newer equipment is more efficient and effective for our unique regional needs.
And yes, the Chief lives within 6 minutes of Station 1 (assuming that he drives like I do - a bat outta hell).
And he's heavily involved in this community - he's a member of the Conifer Rotary, he's volunteered to help organize the Mountain Area Relay for Life, he's an active member of the Conifer Chamber attending every meeting and many events, among other things. He cares about this community. You won't find a finer, more upstanding person to lead this department and lead it well he has - I've witnessed that during the BOD meetings and in my interactions with the firefighters. But don't take my word for it - go ask them at the Open House this Saturday at Station 1.
*Edit to add: and the "union" isn't really a union - it doesn't have bargaining rights, it doesn't have voting rights, and the Chief explained all that in the Public Affairs meeting.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Replied by ScienceChic on topic Vote no on 4A
And I say to everyone, base your decision to vote on what this department has actually done - their actions - not what previous administrations have done or what you fear this one will do.WindPeak wrote: Prove to me that you will provide stallions when ECFD has been in shambles for years. It isn't what it used to be. Look how many volunteer firefighters quit because of all the squabbles and union attempts. McLaughlin wants the money to make it a union f.d. He was hired for that purpose. And how does that make it better? You had the best many decades ago when it was really volunteer.
How come Intercanyon Fire District can live w/o a bunch of paid administrators and does a quite remarkable job for their community.
Obviously you can't function with what you have so you want to waste more money to continue to be pitiful. NO, it is time for new management and McLaughlin isn't it. Does your paid mouthpiece McLaughlin even live up here?
Stop preying on people with your talk of house on fire or medical emergency. ECFD has been responding for decades and making do long before you showed up. We have done just fine for decades and will continue w/o wasting taxpayers money. How long you been here?
Vote NO on 4A.
• This department has let go/cut 2.5 PAID positions of 12 total and recruited the largest rookie VOLUNTEER class in its history.
• Both the board and the Chief have stated that it is not their goal to make this an all-paid department and the mill levy is to replace only one of those 2.5 cut paid positions. They've also stated that they'd like to increase their number of volunteers, for which they need more turnout gear, also requested for in the mill.
• The current group of both paid and volunteer firefighters are 100% behind this current Board of Directors and their Chief, as evidenced by the letter 56 of them signed that they requested be read during the February 2013 BOD meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNgqc-yV-H0 The internal squabbles are nonexistent, the Chief and BOD have cleaned up this department and are running it as financially tightly as possible and morale is high.
• Maybe all volunteer worked the best years ago when there were fewer residents and fewer structures and fewer visitors, but times change and it doesn't work today. I was curious as to when the department started having paid staff so I asked - the district has had paid firefighter/paramedics dating back to 1998. They were hired at the urging of the volunteers due to the difficulties volunteers had providing transports with the increasing call volumes. The volunteers have full-time jobs themselves, they can't afford to take 2-3 hours for an ambulance run to the hospital down the hill. They can pop over to assist with a call for a short time, and often do, but full-time, paid staff are required to fill that increasing need. The number of ambulance runs has only increased, and will only do so as more visitors and residents come.
Not only are medical calls increasing, but so are wildfire and structure calls - ECFPD responds to over 1100 total calls/year (medical and fire). The number of people and adequate equipment are required to respond to these. As Travis Griffin said during the Community Meeting, it's critical for an initial attack on a wildland fire that the responding local departments have adequate equipment. There's no denying that this department has outdated equipment - 3 pieces are 24-25 years old - it's time to replace it. There comes a time that it's cost-prohibitive to replace water pumps, parts, and engines and pay the mechanic overtime to keep them maintained, because older vehicles require more care. It was brought up during the Public Affairs Meeting that they have been spending a lot on overtime for the mechanic.
• They've reduced the number of vehicles that they had in their fleet, trimming the fat and keeping the essentials, and are proposing to replace the ones needing to go with trucks that are less expensive AND better suited to our mountain roads and conditions, yet perform the necessary functions that engines and tankers provide. The newer equipment is more efficient and effective for our unique regional needs.
And yes, the Chief lives within 6 minutes of Station 1 (assuming that he drives like I do - a bat outta hell).
And he's heavily involved in this community - he's a member of the Conifer Rotary, he's volunteered to help organize the Mountain Area Relay for Life, he's an active member of the Conifer Chamber attending every meeting and many events, among other things. He cares about this community. You won't find a finer, more upstanding person to lead this department and lead it well he has - I've witnessed that during the BOD meetings and in my interactions with the firefighters. But don't take my word for it - go ask them at the Open House this Saturday at Station 1.*Edit to add: and the "union" isn't really a union - it doesn't have bargaining rights, it doesn't have voting rights, and the Chief explained all that in the Public Affairs meeting.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
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10 Oct 2013 10:14 #227
by Venturer
Replied by Venturer on topic Vote no on 4A
Thanks for your looooong post. You don't get it. It doesn't matter what the Chief or anyone says it matters what the the language in the ballot says. It doesn't say it is limiting the equipment or only replacing 2 positions. You have no guarantees based on the language. Until you can show me where it says it in the ballot question you can argue ad nauseum about what stallions you need to fight better, pretty inept then in my opinion. A blank check is what you are giving them. I have a bridge to sell you if you are that naive.
Vote NO on 4A
Vote NO on 4A
Science Chic wrote:
And I say to everyone, base your decision to vote on what this department has actually done - their actions - not what previous administrations have done or what you fear this one will do.WindPeak wrote: Prove to me that you will provide stallions when ECFD has been in shambles for years. It isn't what it used to be. Look how many volunteer firefighters quit because of all the squabbles and union attempts. McLaughlin wants the money to make it a union f.d. He was hired for that purpose. And how does that make it better? You had the best many decades ago when it was really volunteer.
How come Intercanyon Fire District can live w/o a bunch of paid administrators and does a quite remarkable job for their community.
Obviously you can't function with what you have so you want to waste more money to continue to be pitiful. NO, it is time for new management and McLaughlin isn't it. Does your paid mouthpiece McLaughlin even live up here?
Stop preying on people with your talk of house on fire or medical emergency. ECFD has been responding for decades and making do long before you showed up. We have done just fine for decades and will continue w/o wasting taxpayers money. How long you been here?
Vote NO on 4A.
• This department has let go/cut 2.5 PAID positions of 12 total and recruited the largest rookie VOLUNTEER class in its history.
• Both the board and the Chief have stated that it is not their goal to make this an all-paid department and the mill levy is to replace only one of those 2.5 cut paid positions. They've also stated that they'd like to increase their number of volunteers, for which they need more turnout gear, also requested for in the mill.
• The current group of both paid and volunteer firefighters are 100% behind this current Board of Directors and their Chief, as evidenced by the letter 56 of them signed that they requested be read during the February 2013 BOD meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNgqc-yV-H0 The internal squabbles are nonexistent, the Chief and BOD have cleaned up this department and are running it as financially tightly as possible and morale is high.
• Maybe all volunteer worked the best years ago when there were fewer residents and fewer structures and fewer visitors, but times change and it doesn't work today. I was curious as to when the department started having paid staff so I asked - the district has had paid firefighter/paramedics dating back to 1998. They were hired at the urging of the volunteers due to the difficulties volunteers had providing transports with the increasing call volumes. The volunteers have full-time jobs themselves, they can't afford to take 2-3 hours for an ambulance run to the hospital down the hill. They can pop over to assist with a call for a short time, and often do, but full-time, paid staff are required to fill that increasing need. The number of ambulance runs has only increased, and will only do so as more visitors and residents come.
Not only are medical calls increasing, but so are wildfire and structure calls - ECFPD responds to over 1100 total calls/year (medical and fire). The number of people and adequate equipment are required to respond to these. As Travis Griffin said during the Community Meeting, it's critical for an initial attack on a wildland fire that the responding local departments have adequate equipment. There's no denying that this department has outdated equipment - 3 pieces are 24-25 years old - it's time to replace it. There comes a time that it's cost-prohibitive to replace water pumps, parts, and engines and pay the mechanic overtime to keep them maintained, because older vehicles require more care. It was brought up during the Public Affairs Meeting that they have been spending a lot on overtime for the mechanic.
• They've reduced the number of vehicles that they had in their fleet, trimming the fat and keeping the essentials, and are proposing to replace the ones needing to go with trucks that are less expensive AND better suited to our mountain roads and conditions, yet perform the necessary functions that engines and tankers provide. The newer equipment is more efficient and effective for our unique regional needs.
And yes, the Chief lives within 6 minutes of Station 1 (assuming that he drives like I do - a bat outta hell).
*Edit to add: and the "union" isn't really a union - it doesn't have bargaining rights, it doesn't have voting rights, and the Chief explained all that in the Public Affairs meeting.
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