atpd2
Full Member
Posts: 29
|
Post by atpd2 on Feb 5, 2004 13:21:51 GMT -5
For some time now, we have read alot on this forum about blue lights, red lights, radio chatter, who should respond, who shouldn't respond etc. Maybe I can get a real hornets nest stirred up.
The handwriting is on the wall (at least to me) that the days of the grants are done. The post 9-11 "honeymoon" (probably a poor choice of words, but I don't know how else to describe it) as far as grants go is rapidly drawing to a close and again the fire service in rural areas will be short changed. We know, or should know that any future FireAct type grants are going to "prime target locations" and the Bradford Co.'s of the country are going to go without. Billions will be spent for exotic equipment that will be stockpiled (hopefully never to be used) while areas such as ours struggle to provide routine fire protection/suppression and rescue. Where does the problem lie. As I see it, not in technology, the technology is there. It lies in FUNDING. Small local governments struggle to keep taxes down. When this happens, all government services suffer (ie Police, Fire, EMS, Highways). Costs of equipment continue to skyrocket, manpower resources dwindle, those that do join up can't devote enough time to become fully trained due to other commitments. Though there is no one solution to the problem, one solution is CONSOLIDATION (yes, the ugly "C" word")
Here in Bradford Co., three areas jump out at me as being naturals for consolidation. The Valley, Towanda, N. Towanda & Wysox, and Monroeton and Franklindale. If you check memberships in these Departments, you will find that many members are running for 2 or 3 departments. Why not just extend what we have now in the form of multiple memberships, box alarms and mutual aid just a little further and fully consolidate these departments. This is not to say that it would be easily done and it would take time to set up. A system for equitable funding would have to be established. How would the Relief Association's monies be affected? Who would oversee it? How would officers be chosen? Would there be any paid personnel? Would we close stations, move stations, or not change anything. Would we eliminate equipment and if so, through attrition or by outright selling it. Could we partner with EMS and draw on some of the administrative expertise they seen to be developing and use it to the fire services advantage. There is only so much fundraising you can do before it taints the real reason for a fire departments existance. By consolidating those departments where it is logical to do so, I'm sure that better use of manpower and equipment will result in better, more efficent service.
Just my thoughts!
|
|
Flynn
Full Member
Often imitated; Never Duplicated
Posts: 45
|
Post by Flynn on Feb 6, 2004 19:31:36 GMT -5
Consolidation. I welcome it, hell I would meet with any department that would be interested in establishing a dialogue.
My newest engine is 26 years old. My tanker is of the same vingtage. I receive less than $8000. to protect 2 municipalities. Being a manager, who wouldn't want someone else to pay for updates, assume your debt and allow you to continue operations, albeit under a new name.
My company owns it own facilities (2). It also has a substantial amount of equity in land (prime commercial). The rolling stock is owned by the company. Are those that we are consolidating with interested in purchasing all or part of these. I can safely say that the social bldg. and the land wouldn't be part of any consolidation.
Getting tough with my municipalities in financing more will result in one of the other "consolidated" efforts being approached for their service. I have already lost 3 municipalities because of this approach.
I am by no means anti-consolidation. But if real answers to real questions can't be answered from the get-go, how can one proceed.
Anyways... consider this my official olive branch. I would be willing, as the CEO for my "business", to sit down and talk. Now lets see if there are any takers.
Timothy Flynn; President Monroe Hose Company Monroeton Pa.
|
|
|
Post by firedude on Feb 6, 2004 21:29:40 GMT -5
well put tim ;D
|
|
devildancer22
Full Member
anything I may post is my opinion only and may not be the opionion of others.
Posts: 32
|
Post by devildancer22 on Feb 6, 2004 22:16:01 GMT -5
hi all Franklindale 2 here as for the invite from Mr. Flynn thanks but no thanks we have come this far on our own we are not ready at this time to try to consolidate the two Depts. We have our own land that we hope to start generating funds from this year and in the future we hope to build our future station/social hall in that location as well hold community fun days and training area as well. It will take some time and money but we are ambitious and eager with our fundraising ideas to make this happen for the betterment of our fire dept and the community that we serve and protect . We hope that with our ambitions we can also serve our mutalaid depts. better we are slowly improving our equipment and trucks just as fast as our funds will let us and we will keep this offer in mind and if we do get to that point you will be the first to know. On all side note pick up date of the new truck is Feb 28 and will be designated 22TA1 . 22TA4 will be put out of service temporary to install a pump then will be put back in service and first out mutal-aid tanker 22TA1 new truck will become second out tanker if requested also after march our spreaders will be in service with qualified trained operators will also be available to you if needed the cribbing is being made as we speak
respectfully your ne9ighbors 5 miles west
|
|
|
Post by 2Truck on Feb 7, 2004 0:30:33 GMT -5
Duplication? Nah there isn't any in the fire service. Who am I to kid. Duplication is EVERYWHERE! Having witnessed the attempt to consolidate the 3 Central Bradfod Depts. I can tell you that talking about it and doing it are two different things. Like in most places there is a great sense of pride in the organizations that are currently established, as there should be, which makes it tough to convince some people that consolidation is the best thing for a given oraganization. Hell I even remember a few townships that didn't even want anything to do with the consolidation, one supervisor even had the guts to say that he didn't want to see anything come across the river into his township (*cough*cough brand new commissioner). If there are people and ideas like this then all we will be doing is banging our heads off walls trying to show them why the radical idea that we have is good. Eventually we will all be forced to consolidate one way or another due to the lack of volunteers and funding. At that time the local municipalities will realize how cheap they are getting off right now for the protection that they have. The state has already done studies about how many depts. are needed in the county and if my memory serves me correctly they stated that there would only need to be 6 stations in Bradford County which would have an operating budget of several million dollars. Granted they were paid stations, but to go from 20+ down to 6 is unreal. Hopefully it won't come down to that, but most likely it will. Until then let's continue to work together and provide the best services for the area that we can.
|
|
|
Post by Skip18810 on Feb 7, 2004 9:46:31 GMT -5
Hi Jamie,
Do you know where I can find the report you refered to? I've not heard of it before, and I'd be very interested in reading it.
|
|
|
Post by Chris VanDruff on Feb 7, 2004 18:55:57 GMT -5
wow good topic. the way I see it as long as people are as opposed to it as Franklindale 2 stated he was it will never work. Quite unfortunate however because it would probably work to benefit both the communities we serve and the fire company darn shame we cant get past our egos to see a good opportunity. Myabe someday we will all co exist as firefighters here to help the communities we proclaim to be here for. Good luck to all with this topic its interesting to see the differences.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Feb 7, 2004 23:03:46 GMT -5
The tuffest part of all is who will run it?
It's a tuff sell to a municipal body that has control over their own fire department, they most likely feel that they can provide a better service to their own people. I bet that your Chief officers would have a hard time swallowing it as well, they worked hard to get to the top and it's highly unlikely they will give up the position now for possibly an "outsider" running the show.
I think that Keith hit something with EMS, these agencies were FORCED to provide a "better" service through funding changes and regulations in most cases, coupled with a lack of Volunteers which becomes a double edge sword. EMS managers know that once you add paid staff that the volunteers will initially grow in numbers, then they slowly fall away until fewer and fewer participate. The GOOD side to this is that you can hire select people and mandate a standard of training, its tuff to mandate a volunteer and keep them interested as we all know. All of this has been met with at least some resistance, even though the end result is usually higher standards of care, better response times (even from fewer stations and greater distances) and responsability shared among people who have the time to deal with the every day problems and tasks.
Resist it now if you must, it will happen some day with or without your help, sooner or later.
Just ask yourself one thing before you voice an opinion, WHY do you volunteer?? If it were for the right reason, you will still be involved no matter what happens.
|
|
devildancer22
Full Member
anything I may post is my opinion only and may not be the opionion of others.
Posts: 32
|
Post by devildancer22 on Feb 8, 2004 1:55:52 GMT -5
I never said i was against consolidation i just stated it would not benefit the two depts mentioned being a member of both co's and knowing the situation that they are in especially financially and the communities to it would not be beneficial to the two depts or their communties that they serve. If i knew it would benefit the mentioned depts then i would be the first to push for it but sence most of us know that are involved with the mentioned depts it would not work at this time and its not a ego thing its a knowing it would destroy everything that the past and present members have build The reason i volunteer is because i was involved in an accident and a bunch of volunteers came to my call for help so this is my way of paying them back was by becoming a volunteer fireman in their depts.
|
|
|
Post by MonroetonTwo on Feb 8, 2004 9:17:56 GMT -5
Dale.............Dont think Tim was talking about the "2" departments. He was talking about our Tuck Hall and our Social hall. Both within Department 7.
|
|