Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ashfire on February 4, 2011 at 7:50pm

I would check out what they have planned or want for your dept to do as part of the situation. I think I would bring more than one officer and a ff. I would bring as many people as possible to ask questions. I am a member of a volunteer dept part of a county system of combination of career and volunteer fire and EMS operations
We have a vol fire and rescue asso which any dept can bring as many members to a meeting they want if something involves their dept.
I know many times our vol depts have confronted the county fire chief in office about a issue they felt needed to be answered at these meetings. I know we drove a few of them out of office because some of them found jobs somewhere else or retired.

Permalink Reply by John Dobson on February 4, 2011 at 10:38pm

Most meetings of government can not be closed door. Meaning they are open to the public it is taxpayer funds and the taxpayer has the right to know how his government is spending his money. I would go find out what is going on for sure. I would have went from the begining. Sitting and waiting is never good in my book. Never wait for a invite if it involes your department then find out what is going on.

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive. And don't ever apologize for anything.
Harry S Truman

The words I live by it gets me in trouble at times but most avoid stiring me up again.

Permalink Reply by todaresqSL2 on February 4, 2011 at 11:51pm

I am a bit confused. You are a county fire department, and have the majority of stations in the county. You also have a membership of 119 including 9 paid and 110 volunteers. You are the largest department in the county

From looking at your link and the USFA info on your county, I have a feeling the districts with 1 to 3 stations are looking at ways to curb costs, join forces and provide a better response. They may not be including your department as you may not be having the fiscal issues they are as they do have more paid personnel to worry about.

Only two are listed as career... and one is the US Forest Service. The rest are combo departments.

Personally, I would go... listen to their plans... if they affect your operations, speak up. If not, don't stir anything up.

Permalink Reply by Chris Bandley on February 5, 2011 at 12:20am

Accualy we have no paid. the paid that you see are cal fire employees. there on contract with the county. and only work out of one station. as far as money my station has been waiting for a tic for over two years now andi know of 15 people that are on the phone tree because we cant buy pagers. I do see where your coming from. i would like to know what there true plan is and why we were never invited. we had one person sit in on the previous meetings but he was tolld not to comment as he was not "part of the group". Thanks for the advice

Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on February 5, 2011 at 8:53am

John is right. The entire process has to be open to the public in order to be legal. Attend, then wait and see what their plan is. Our ESD took 2 years to implement their plan, which included a new contract and new money. Hopefully the reason you haven't been contacted is because you ARE the plan. I hope that's true. Good communication is important when dealing with governmental bodies.