Flynn
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Often imitated; Never Duplicated
Posts: 45
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Post by Flynn on Oct 24, 2003 21:36:44 GMT -5
In a recent Daily Review article on the county commisioners and the up coming elections, one of the canidates remarked that "libraries shouldn't have to hold carnivals" to make their money. I take offense to this remark. Why should we (the fire service) be any different? Just because tradition figures into the "firemans carnival" doesn't mean we should have to have them as a primary means of finance.
Why is it that when it comes to the backing of the county level government, we as a whole are always at the end of the line? Even our services that the county provides are under financed. How many times per year do we see help ads in the local newspaper for dispatchers? Why has our facility, although better than it was 10, even 15 years ago, still behind the times in technology?
I am not bashing any one individual commisioner here, and our three are following suit of there predecessors before them. We are only considered in time of need. Of course this basically stands true to the public in general.
Being a commonwealth, the state was smart in remaining so. Give the power to the locals and let them have the headaches. They give us the election year grants, the locals pound their chests, and we all remain happy. I personally welcome the idea of a county department complete with career personnel (even if just drivers) in the suburban or populous areas. At least we will be getting some "bang" for the "buck"
Just my thoughts, any comments?
Tim
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911Mom
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Welcome to the real world!
Posts: 60
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Post by 911Mom on Oct 25, 2003 7:30:47 GMT -5
Define suburban or populous areas. To me that just means 8 or 9 of the 25 departments that now exist in Bradford County. Also how could 1 department cover areas like Warren or Wilmot in a timely manner?
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Flynn
Full Member
Often imitated; Never Duplicated
Posts: 45
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Post by Flynn on Oct 25, 2003 8:32:56 GMT -5
Sue,
You are about right withthe 8/9 of 25. Considering Bradford doesn't have a true metropolis area, our greatest concentration of population appears North, Middle and Western.
Protecting the outlying regions, ie. Warren and Wilmont, would could possibly be done w/ a combination department. Let the county finance a career/volunteer department, under the control of a Chief Fire Officer. There are counties similar to Bradford that have this type of system and it works. The vollie and career personnel have the same mandated training, equipment, SOP's. Everything is standardized. No more chicken barbeque's, bingo, fairs, dances to make ends meet.
Sooner or later Big Brother is going to have to accept full responsibility for the decline in volunteers. And we all know that they will give a trickle down effect to the consumer, you know our citizens through taxation.
Tim
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