South St. Louis County is a nice place to live. It'll be a better place when Call Newspapers no longer exist. Do what you can to make that happen. Don't read it, advertise in it or support those that do.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Mehlville Fire Department Chooses to Spend More Money on Litigation
As I'm sure most of you know by now, the firefighters wrongfully fired by the Mehlville Fire Protection District have filed their lawsuit. Our district will be wasting valuable resources on this indefensible lawsuit.
34 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I agree Mike. It makes me wonder if its ever going to get any better. They keep doing as they please with no reguard for the law and some how get away with it every time with not so much as even a slap on the wrist. I hope when those two win the law suit it opens some eyes and we can get that board out of there and get back the fire department that we in south county deserve to have.
Wake up and smell the coffee! It's not a waste of taxpayer money to defend the MFPD against frivolous lawsuits.
Mehlville's insurance carrier has retained an attorney to defend the district against the IAFF's Washington D.C. legal team and Rick Barry. When the Federal jury in St. Louis hears the testimony of the victims of the "wrongfully terminated" ex-employees, they will understand who is the aggrieved party really is.
It doesn't matter anyway, Bob Strinni's union brothers turned down his appeal to serve 6 more months as president. He is finished. A new union chief will be elected in December. I hear the board would like to work with whoever that is.
I’m not sure where the MFPD board of directors gets their ideas or their information from? They seem to not care about the public or their own employees. If they were doing a good job they wouldn’t have so much litigation to deal with. It seems they have convinced themselves they can do no wrong. I have never seen any leadership besides the Bush administration act this way. These people don’t care about public opinion; it’s all about their self pride.
After reading the so called Truthspot's article on the Unions use of a PR firm I have to say that they should change the name to the "Untruthspot"! How about the 'Liespot'! Maybe 'Halftruthspot'!
Somebody didn't tell them of the new hiring requirements at Mehlville Fire! There's No Paramedic Degree needed and no Fire Academy Cert as well.
Whoops!
Maybe Bonnie and Arron should have talked to Stoney before the article went up!
Next hiring will be "Just show up and your hired!"
I dout if the present employees could pass either the written exam or physical agility text, so quit your complaining. I think all employees should go through both test to stayed employed. WOW talk about some new job openings.
I am shocked at how the truthspot calls reports that a African American firefighter at Mehlville Fire has experienced raciscm and then will post racist articles on our president-elect!
I think the Fire board should be commended for taking these greedy individuals to court and protecting our pocket books. As a tax payer my hat is off to reform and that is what the board is doing. Keeping the greedy under control.
If lies and half-truths equal reform then what a shame.
I don't think that anyone would want a ambulance showing up with 2 medics that the week before worked at Taco Bell. If your so hell bent on saving the tax dollar then why not go to a all volunteer department! My god the money that can be saved would be millions!
Of course the tax bill for the citizen would triple but hey--- we're reformers!!!!! Also---- why does the Truthspot think that only a rich, old white man is the only one capable of running this country? Fear perhaps?
The South County DOOF Spot editors maybe uneducated but not stupid. Educated people listen to both sides of the argument and try to find a fair common ground. That is why there isn’t a public comment area on their blog. Instead, they want to teach you and not listen to you. Surely most people can see through this, including themselves. So, they must realize the great threat from the Fire Fighters new web site, exposing the corruption of their friends that run the MFPD.
8:19: Is anyone who opposes Obama's socialist agenda a racist? Obama himself has inserted race as an issue with his own negative remarks against white people. It doesn't help that he has friends like Rev. Wright (a racist) and Louis Farrakhan (a racist and anti-semite).
To paint someone as a racist over the lawful exercise of their constitutionally protected right to free political speech is fascism. Is this the true nature of the Obama agenda?
8:29 As a way to attempt to get rid of some of the older employees everyone must not take many yearly tests and physicials. No employee failed and yet every year there is an added cost of taking more expensive tests. They are a joke and have nothing to do with weather or not someone can do this job. But yes if it makes you feel better it is the same test as the new people take. As for a written test most new people cant pass it so it shouldnt mean that anyone already employeed should have to. But let me get this straight you would like for the current employees to be unemployeed. With all the unemployment in this country you would like to create more? For what reason? Hate? So co should be ashamed at how they treat people around here! I cant believe some people. The Men and women at mfpd would put their lives on the line every day to save you and you would like them to be fired and for that 8:29 I would like you to give me one reason why any one person should be fired!
9:20 Even though I'm sure the district's insurance will pay for the bulk of the defense, their new insurance bills will reflect their claims experience and they are going be huge. Also, the district's regular attorney Matt Hoffman will be wanting a piece of this action. I also understand the district will be paying directly to defend Chief Silvernail. I predict this alone will cost the district $75,000.
How fast the disgruntal employees are to act on any comment made either to support the board or cutting cost at the fire department. I still believe that a watch dog group needs to look over the greed in the Mehlville fire department. I you older employees can't take the heat, RETIRE
5;58: You are deluding yourselves if you think that Mehlville's BOD gives two shits about Local 1889's amazing new website. It's just same unprovable BS these guys have nattering on for years with better english and nicer graphics.
Rumor is that MFPD is updating their site with some REAL interesting stuff for the taxpayers to read.
I was reading the south county truth spot and it seems that MFPD broad directors may have already endorsed one of Local 1889 Presidential candidates. They are excited of the old president leaving his post and looking forward to dealing with the new one. As if all the Local 1889 members never voted to fight, but were forced by the old president to fight for their future. One would think their membership wasn’t forced, but would do it to have a future. This seems kind smelly to me. Perhaps one of the president candidates running for this union office has already cut a deal with the board? It has happened before. Check back, this may really get good!
They are retireing and QUITING in droves! Typical republican responce to older,loyal employees! They see them as a liability or a expense. If they fire them or force there retirement they can get cheaper labor in. Who cares if they are not experienced or use the employment as a stepping stone to go somewhere that appriciates and cares for there employees!
Some will retire and some will move on to even marginal better fire departments. But there are those that have many years invested at the fire department that are to old to go elswhere and to young to retire. There the ones who have to put up with the hate the board shows its employees! I'm sure it shows in the moral at the place!
5:58 you sound really smart and seem to know alot about what is going to happen before it happens. You should go get your own blog and let us all know whats in the future. Or do you already have one? Could you tell me what it is. And yes we already know that the call would print anything that the bod gives them thats why we are where we are. If the public reads nothing but bad news all the time then eventually they believe it and its all they know. It is america and there is always two sides to every story, so why do you think that it is so bad that the employees that are actaully there dealing with the poor working conditions should not be able to tell their side of the story. Rumor has it that ed ryan wanted to cut air bags out of the new pumper to save money but what the firefighters should be able to be upset with stuff like that? Your right who cares if someone hits them at an intersection and kills one. Its ok right there are six more that can come rescue you if you need them who cares about 3 employees they can probally get that many new applications in the next couple of months. Wake up the firefighters are not being greedy they just want to keep mehlville as a good department.
Hilmer doesn't understand the concept of loyalty. It's not that he merely disagrees with the idea of treating experienced and faithful employees with respect and loyalty...I mean his brain literally isn't wired to understand what loyalty is and why one might apply it to life. If you've ever seen him in person, especially in a BOD meeting, you know there's something missing. Some element of conscience or humanity is just not there.
The firefighters are all about loyalty. They HAVE to be, along with military personnel, law enforcement and select other professions where one is expected to risk one's life at a moment's notice. If you count on someone else to have your back, and vow to have theirs in return, then you take things like loyalty very seriously. It is not a job they go to. It is something they carry with them 24/7.
People who see everything in terms of dollars; people who believe in dumping experience because it costs a bit more do not/cannot understand. A department of poorly qualified, temporary, revolving door firefighters and medics is not only devastating for morale, but it is dangerous. It is dangerous for the employees who cannot depend on one another. And it is dangerous for the community because for them to serve us well they must know the territory and must be able to function as a team. They no longer do.
Hilmer cannot understand. Some of these bloggers cannot or choose not to understand. They have totally misread this situation.
The issue isn't greed. The fight may be about broken pension and disability promises but simple greed is NOT what has motivated these men and women to dig in and fight this battle for 3 1/2 miserable years.
They have been lied to, called every despicable name in the book and otherwise been treated with incredible disrespect by this BOD and, even more sadly, members of this community.
They are bewildered by citizens who have bought into this politically driven hatred. They are frustrated by people who accept the slanted crap printed in the Call without questioning the motives of the publishers or the quality of the reporting. They feel betrayed. They are just plain damn mad.
6:48 who exctually should Hilmer fire? And what would the reason be? 6:13 Would you like to let us all know if you were going somewhere with that question? Ok now my question if there are any firefighters that read this blog would you please let me know why you put up with this abuse? Most of you make less an hour than a plumber with a whole lot more responsibility and hastle so what keeps you going in day after day risking your life when there are so many idiots out there that attack you. Im glad that you do. I couldnt put up with that. God bless you.
Mike i commend you ability to stay away from the south county lie spot but i do not always have the will power to keep my self away. I must admit I have found myself curious at times to see what he i mean they will come up with. Well the stories there must be drying up because they are back hitting on who attended the July 24 fundraiser for bob and jerry. I guess after so long even the smartest of men run out of fairy tale stories they are able to make up and they must revert to old ones they thought were good the first time even if they wernt. So mike heres to you mr. smart enough to stay away from the wet spot.
Mike: Sorry this is such a long post but I thought it appropriate that regular readers of your site should have an understanding of why the line personnel of Mehlville Fire are so concerned about the turnover they've been witnessing over the past 3+ years. This article comes from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The weblink is:
About 250 firefighters eligible in next few years; danger to public safety feared By ERIC STIRGUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday, October 31, 2008
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department is bracing for the possible retirement of about 250 firefighters over the next three years. Some say the departures could start as soon as next month. Department leaders and supporters worry the retirements from the 977-employee department will mean fewer firefighters and longer response times for emergencies. “That could have a tremendous impact on our services,” Atlanta Fire Rescue Chief Kelvin Cochran said in a recent interview. William Rhodes, a retired Atlanta Fire Department assistant chief, echoed the chief. “It’s going to be very stressful on the Atlanta Fire Department and the city of Atlanta to lose that many people and maintain a high standard of quality,” he said. Rhodes, now executive director of the Atlanta Fire Foundation, which raises money for the department’s public education efforts and equipment, said he didn’t want to sound like Chicken Little and suggest that the sky is falling. But he said, “If you can’t put enough people [on fire trucks] in a significant amount of time, we are compromising [firefighter] safety.” Atlanta can fill the vacancies, but Cochran noted it takes about a year to hire and train a recruit. The possible retirements come at a difficult time. The department was hit hard during budget cuts this year and 26 fire recruits were laid off. Fire Station 7, near the West End Mall, was closed. Cochran said the possible departures were one of his biggest concerns when Mayor Shirley Franklin nominated him to be fire chief in November. He has created a leadership training program for firefighters. The possible mass retirements would be the largest in recent memory, say Rhodes and Jim Daws, a department lieutenant and the head of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 134, the department’s union. These firefighters are approaching 30 years with the force and can retire with full pension benefits. Daws has suggested the department approve a deferred retirement plan by which the city could pay firefighters to stay on the force without the city paying more money toward their pension benefits. “That’s one way to keep them on the job,” he said. City Council President Lisa Borders said she, too, is concerned about the retirements, but she’d prefer a long-term strategy of training younger firefighters to replace the ones who are leaving. “The good news is [the retirements] will offer a significant number of jobs,” Borders said. “The bad news is you lose a significant amount of institutional knowledge.” The large group is eligible for retirement over a relatively short time span because the firefighters were hired during a relatively short period around 1980. Atlanta was prohibited by court order from hiring firefighters during much of the 1970s because of racial discrimination lawsuits filed by black firefighters and counter-suits filed by white firefighters. The lawsuits were settled in 1979 and the city began to fill the 268 vacancies that then existed. Many of today’s potential retirees were hired shortly afterward. The firefighters — most of whom are captains, lieutenants and senior leaders — are “the ones the younger firefighters look to for guidance,” Rhodes said. Meanwhile, the fire department lags behind one national agency’s standard to respond to fire and medical emergencies. The National Fire Protection Association calls on fire departments to respond within six minutes to a fire or medical emergency call at least 90 percent of the time. The standard allows a minute for a 911 dispatcher to take the call, another minute for firefighters to suit up and four minutes for the first unit to arrive. The Atlanta department met that standard 70.5 percent of the time in 2007 for all fire calls, according to the city. And as of July 1, the department has met the standard 70.3 percent of the time for 2008. In a recent interview, the chief said it is difficult to come up with a plan to deal with the potential personnel changes because officials don’t know how many firefighters will retire. “Some of these decisions cannot be made until we know how many people are going to leave,” he said. “We have to forecast as best we can.” Daws feels certain most of the eligible firefighters want to retire. “They’re leaving,” he said. “They’re eligible for retirement. They’ve maxed out their pensions. They’re going to go.” — Researcher Richard Hallman contributed to this article.
Thank You, Thank You 2:37 for bringing the Atlanta situation to the attention of this blog. Mehlville residents do not have a clue, not a damn clue, what kind of damage has been done by Hilmer and his fellow fools.
If these idiots were purged from office tomorrow, it would take a decade or more to begin to remedy the mess, assuming their successors fully understood the crisis and could responsibly address it.
Mehlville has been hemorrhaging "institutional knowledge" for three years. What remains is Swiss cheese. And cheap cheese at that.
Cheap-ass stragegies and a politically driven agenda is already biting this community in the butt. Average citizens don't think about this stuff. They just assume if they dial 911 someone will show up and save them. We are all at risk individually and collectively.
If you're a firefighter and a dangerous fire breaks out at some industrial location, pray the weak links on your crew don't get you killed.
Wreck your car or keel over from a heart attack and you'd best pray you get the right truck rolling from the right firehouse during the right shift. If not, you're shit-outta-luck.
Lord help us all if a community catastrophe (earthquake, tornado)strikes, especially if it affects surrounding communities. They will be taking care of themselves and won't be available to back Mehlville up.
In the past, Mehlville would have been one of the departments looked to for leadership in a regional crisis. Now? Forget about it.
8:58, you're right on. I work for a neighboring Department from Mehlville. 6,7 or 8 years ago we looked at Mehlville for guidance on what they would do. For instance with fire rescue or EMS equipment, different strategies for responces, or even PR. We looked at Mehlville as sort of a big brother. We lost some great personnel to Mehlville. Some with years of experience. Now we look at Mehlville on NOT what to do, and how to keep this from happening to us. What Hilmer and Co have done is a total shame. They ruined probably the best District (as far as equipment and personnel knowledge). If we had a heavy rescue we requested the squad (1756)on several occasions. Now? well lets just say we'll do with out. My hats off to the ones who are sticking around. Hoping things will change for the better. You have a long fight on your hands my brothers and sisters. Hilmer is not mentally right. You can't change someones mind if they are not all there.
34 comments:
I agree Mike. It makes me wonder if its ever going to get any better. They keep doing as they please with no reguard for the law and some how get away with it every time with not so much as even a slap on the wrist. I hope when those two win the law suit it opens some eyes and we can get that board out of there and get back the fire department that we in south county deserve to have.
Wake up and smell the coffee! It's not a waste of taxpayer money to defend the MFPD against frivolous lawsuits.
Mehlville's insurance carrier has retained an attorney to defend the district against the IAFF's Washington D.C. legal team and Rick Barry. When the Federal jury in St. Louis hears the testimony of the victims of the "wrongfully terminated" ex-employees, they will understand who is the aggrieved party really is.
It doesn't matter anyway, Bob Strinni's union brothers turned down his appeal to serve 6 more months as president. He is finished. A new union chief will be elected in December. I hear the board would like to work with whoever that is.
You dumb ass the litigation is to save the fine citizens from the union bullies and IDIOTS.
How do you know they were wrongfully fired?
Are you privy to everything that happed? If so, please relay the story.
I’m not sure where the MFPD board of directors gets their ideas or their information from? They seem to not care about the public or their own employees. If they were doing a good job they wouldn’t have so much litigation to deal with. It seems they have convinced themselves they can do no wrong. I have never seen any leadership besides the Bush administration act this way. These people don’t care about public opinion; it’s all about their self pride.
After reading the so called Truthspot's article on the Unions use of a PR firm I have to say that they should change the name to the "Untruthspot"!
How about the 'Liespot'! Maybe 'Halftruthspot'!
Somebody didn't tell them of the new hiring requirements at Mehlville Fire!
There's No Paramedic Degree needed and no Fire Academy Cert as well.
Whoops!
Maybe Bonnie and Arron should have talked to Stoney before the article went up!
Next hiring will be "Just show up and your hired!"
I dout if the present employees could pass either the written exam or physical agility text, so quit your complaining. I think all employees should go through both test to stayed employed. WOW talk about some new job openings.
I hear all that you need is a pulse!!!! Is that true I know that was ran the past the SoCo Wetspot...wasn't it?????
The best and the brightest aren't going to Smellville to further their career, they are only there for another line on their resume.
I am shocked at how the truthspot calls reports that a
African American firefighter at Mehlville Fire has experienced raciscm and then will post racist articles on our president-elect!
I think the Fire board should be commended for taking these greedy individuals to court and protecting our pocket books. As a tax payer my hat is off to reform and that is what the board is doing. Keeping the greedy under control.
If lies and half-truths equal reform then what a shame.
I don't think that anyone would want a ambulance showing up with 2 medics that the week before worked at Taco Bell.
If your so hell bent on saving the tax dollar then why not go to a all volunteer department! My god the money that can be saved would be millions!
Of course the tax bill for the citizen would triple but hey--- we're reformers!!!!!
Also---- why does the Truthspot think that only a rich, old white man is the only one capable of running this country?
Fear perhaps?
The South County DOOF Spot editors maybe uneducated but not stupid. Educated people listen to both sides of the argument and try to find a fair common ground. That is why there isn’t a public comment area on their blog. Instead, they want to teach you and not listen to you. Surely most people can see through this, including themselves. So, they must realize the great threat from the Fire Fighters new web site, exposing the corruption of their friends that run the MFPD.
Weren't those murders just a couple doors from the Mehlville Fire Deparatment?
Did the Truth Spot strike a nerve?
3:54: No regard to the Law? If that's true, why has the Board's actions been upheld in every legal action filed against them by Local 1889?
8:19: Is anyone who opposes Obama's socialist agenda a racist? Obama himself has inserted race as an issue with his own negative remarks against white people. It doesn't help that he has friends like Rev. Wright (a racist) and Louis Farrakhan (a racist and anti-semite).
To paint someone as a racist over the lawful exercise of their constitutionally protected right to free political speech is fascism. Is this the true nature of the Obama agenda?
8:29 As a way to attempt to get rid of some of the older employees everyone must not take many yearly tests and physicials. No employee failed and yet every year there is an added cost of taking more expensive tests. They are a joke and have nothing to do with weather or not someone can do this job. But yes if it makes you feel better it is the same test as the new people take. As for a written test most new people cant pass it so it shouldnt mean that anyone already employeed should have to. But let me get this straight you would like for the current employees to be unemployeed. With all the unemployment in this country you would like to create more? For what reason? Hate? So co should be ashamed at how they treat people around here! I cant believe some people. The Men and women at mfpd would put their lives on the line every day to save you and you would like them to be fired and for that 8:29 I would like you to give me one reason why any one person should be fired!
9:20 Even though I'm sure the district's insurance will pay for the bulk of the defense, their new insurance bills will reflect their claims experience and they are going be huge. Also, the district's regular attorney Matt Hoffman will be wanting a piece of this action. I also understand the district will be paying directly to defend Chief Silvernail. I predict this alone will cost the district $75,000.
How fast the disgruntal employees are to act on any comment made either to support the board or cutting cost at the fire department. I still believe that a watch dog group needs to look over the greed in the Mehlville fire department. I you older employees can't take the heat, RETIRE
What did I hear that the employees lost 14 more suits. That should tell you something. GIVE UP, GIVE UP, GIVE UP OR SHUT UP.
5;58: You are deluding yourselves if you think that Mehlville's BOD gives two shits about Local 1889's amazing new website. It's just same unprovable BS these guys have nattering on for years with better english and nicer graphics.
Rumor is that MFPD is updating their site with some REAL interesting stuff for the taxpayers to read.
I'll bet the Call writes about it.
Hilmer should have fire a hell of lot more then he did:
I was reading the south county truth spot and it seems that MFPD broad directors may have already endorsed one of Local 1889 Presidential candidates. They are excited of the old president leaving his post and looking forward to dealing with the new one. As if all the Local 1889 members never voted to fight, but were forced by the old president to fight for their future. One would think their membership wasn’t forced, but would do it to have a future. This seems kind smelly to me. Perhaps one of the president candidates running for this union office has already cut a deal with the board? It has happened before. Check back, this may really get good!
They are retireing and QUITING in droves!
Typical republican responce to older,loyal employees!
They see them as a liability or a expense. If they fire them or force there retirement they can get cheaper labor in. Who cares if they are not experienced or use the employment as a stepping stone to go somewhere that appriciates and cares for there employees!
Some will retire and some will move on to even marginal better fire departments. But there are those that have many years invested at the fire department that are to old to go elswhere and to young to retire.
There the ones who have to put up with the hate the board shows its employees! I'm sure it shows in the moral at the place!
5:58 you sound really smart and seem to know alot about what is going to happen before it happens. You should go get your own blog and let us all know whats in the future. Or do you already have one? Could you tell me what it is. And yes we already know that the call would print anything that the bod gives them thats why we are where we are. If the public reads nothing but bad news all the time then eventually they believe it and its all they know. It is america and there is always two sides to every story, so why do you think that it is so bad that the employees that are actaully there dealing with the poor working conditions should not be able to tell their side of the story. Rumor has it that ed ryan wanted to cut air bags out of the new pumper to save money but what the firefighters should be able to be upset with stuff like that? Your right who cares if someone hits them at an intersection and kills one. Its ok right there are six more that can come rescue you if you need them who cares about 3 employees they can probally get that many new applications in the next couple of months. Wake up the firefighters are not being greedy they just want to keep mehlville as a good department.
Hilmer doesn't understand the concept of loyalty. It's not that he merely disagrees with the idea of treating experienced and faithful employees with respect and loyalty...I mean his brain literally isn't wired to understand what loyalty is and why one might apply it to life. If you've ever seen him in person, especially in a BOD meeting, you know there's something missing. Some element of conscience or humanity is just not there.
The firefighters are all about loyalty. They HAVE to be, along with military personnel, law enforcement and select other professions where one is expected to risk one's life at a moment's notice. If you count on someone else to have your back, and vow to have theirs in return, then you take things like loyalty very seriously. It is not a job they go to. It is something they carry with them 24/7.
People who see everything in terms of dollars; people who believe in dumping experience because it costs a bit more do not/cannot understand. A department of poorly qualified, temporary, revolving door firefighters and medics is not only devastating for morale, but it is dangerous. It is dangerous for the employees who cannot depend on one another. And it is dangerous for the community because for them to serve us well they must know the territory and must be able to function as a team. They no longer do.
Hilmer cannot understand. Some of these bloggers cannot or choose not to understand.
They have totally misread this situation.
The issue isn't greed. The fight may be about broken pension and disability promises but simple greed is NOT what has motivated these men and women to dig in and fight this battle for 3 1/2 miserable years.
They have been lied to, called every despicable name in the book and otherwise been treated with incredible disrespect by this BOD and, even more sadly, members of this community.
They are bewildered by citizens who have bought into this politically driven hatred. They are frustrated by people who accept the slanted crap printed in the Call without questioning the motives of the publishers or the quality of the reporting. They feel betrayed. They are just plain damn mad.
6:48 who exctually should Hilmer fire? And what would the reason be? 6:13 Would you like to let us all know if you were going somewhere with that question? Ok now my question if there are any firefighters that read this blog would you please let me know why you put up with this abuse? Most of you make less an hour than a plumber with a whole lot more responsibility and hastle so what keeps you going in day after day risking your life when there are so many idiots out there that attack you. Im glad that you do. I couldnt put up with that. God bless you.
Mike i commend you ability to stay away from the south county lie spot but i do not always have the will power to keep my self away. I must admit I have found myself curious at times to see what he i mean they will come up with. Well the stories there must be drying up because they are back hitting on who attended the July 24 fundraiser for bob and jerry. I guess after so long even the smartest of men run out of fairy tale stories they are able to make up and they must revert to old ones they thought were good the first time even if they wernt. So mike heres to you mr. smart enough to stay away from the wet spot.
Mike: Sorry this is such a long post but I thought it appropriate that regular readers of your site should have an understanding of why the line personnel of Mehlville Fire are so concerned about the turnover they've been witnessing over the past 3+ years. This article comes from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The weblink is:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/10/31/atlanta_firefighter_retirement.html
Atlanta fire chief worried about mass retirements
About 250 firefighters eligible in next few years; danger to public safety feared
By ERIC STIRGUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department is bracing for the possible retirement of about 250 firefighters over the next three years. Some say the departures could start as soon as next month.
Department leaders and supporters worry the retirements from the 977-employee department will mean fewer firefighters and longer response times for emergencies.
“That could have a tremendous impact on our services,” Atlanta Fire Rescue Chief Kelvin Cochran said in a recent interview.
William Rhodes, a retired Atlanta Fire Department assistant chief, echoed the chief. “It’s going to be very stressful on the Atlanta Fire Department and the city of Atlanta to lose that many people and maintain a high standard of quality,” he said.
Rhodes, now executive director of the Atlanta Fire Foundation, which raises money for the department’s public education efforts and equipment, said he didn’t want to sound like Chicken Little and suggest that the sky is falling. But he said, “If you can’t put enough people [on fire trucks] in a significant amount of time, we are compromising [firefighter] safety.”
Atlanta can fill the vacancies, but Cochran noted it takes about a year to hire and train a recruit.
The possible retirements come at a difficult time. The department was hit hard during budget cuts this year and 26 fire recruits were laid off. Fire Station 7, near the West End Mall, was closed.
Cochran said the possible departures were one of his biggest concerns when Mayor Shirley Franklin nominated him to be fire chief in November. He has created a leadership training program for firefighters.
The possible mass retirements would be the largest in recent memory, say Rhodes and Jim Daws, a department lieutenant and the head of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 134, the department’s union. These firefighters are approaching 30 years with the force and can retire with full pension benefits.
Daws has suggested the department approve a deferred retirement plan by which the city could pay firefighters to stay on the force without the city paying more money toward their pension benefits.
“That’s one way to keep them on the job,” he said.
City Council President Lisa Borders said she, too, is concerned about the retirements, but she’d prefer a long-term strategy of training younger firefighters to replace the ones who are leaving.
“The good news is [the retirements] will offer a significant number of jobs,” Borders said. “The bad news is you lose a significant amount of institutional knowledge.”
The large group is eligible for retirement over a relatively short time span because the firefighters were hired during a relatively short period around 1980.
Atlanta was prohibited by court order from hiring firefighters during much of the 1970s because of racial discrimination lawsuits filed by black firefighters and counter-suits filed by white firefighters. The lawsuits were settled in 1979 and the city began to fill the 268 vacancies that then existed.
Many of today’s potential retirees were hired shortly afterward.
The firefighters — most of whom are captains, lieutenants and senior leaders — are “the ones the younger firefighters look to for guidance,” Rhodes said.
Meanwhile, the fire department lags behind one national agency’s standard to respond to fire and medical emergencies.
The National Fire Protection Association calls on fire departments to respond within six minutes to a fire or medical emergency call at least 90 percent of the time. The standard allows a minute for a 911 dispatcher to take the call, another minute for firefighters to suit up and four minutes for the first unit to arrive.
The Atlanta department met that standard 70.5 percent of the time in 2007 for all fire calls, according to the city. And as of July 1, the department has met the standard 70.3 percent of the time for 2008.
In a recent interview, the chief said it is difficult to come up with a plan to deal with the potential personnel changes because officials don’t know how many firefighters will retire.
“Some of these decisions cannot be made until we know how many people are going to leave,” he said. “We have to forecast as best we can.”
Daws feels certain most of the eligible firefighters want to retire.
“They’re leaving,” he said. “They’re eligible for retirement. They’ve maxed out their pensions. They’re going to go.”
— Researcher Richard Hallman contributed to this article.
Thank You, Thank You 2:37 for bringing the Atlanta situation to the attention of this blog.
Mehlville residents do not have a clue, not a damn clue, what kind of damage has been done by Hilmer and his fellow fools.
If these idiots were purged from office tomorrow, it would take a decade or more to begin to remedy the mess, assuming their successors fully understood the crisis and could responsibly address it.
Mehlville has been hemorrhaging "institutional knowledge" for three years. What remains is Swiss cheese. And cheap cheese at that.
Cheap-ass stragegies and a politically driven agenda is already biting this community in the butt. Average citizens don't think about this stuff. They just assume if they dial 911 someone will show up and save them. We are all at risk individually and collectively.
If you're a firefighter and a dangerous fire breaks out at some industrial location, pray the weak links on your crew don't get you killed.
Wreck your car or keel over from a heart attack and you'd best pray you get the right truck rolling from the right firehouse during the right shift. If not, you're shit-outta-luck.
Lord help us all if a community catastrophe (earthquake, tornado)strikes, especially if it affects surrounding communities. They will be taking care of themselves and won't be available to back Mehlville up.
In the past, Mehlville would have been one of the departments looked to for leadership in a regional crisis. Now? Forget about it.
8:58, you're right on. I work for a neighboring Department from Mehlville. 6,7 or 8 years ago we looked at Mehlville for guidance on what they would do. For instance with fire rescue or EMS equipment, different strategies for responces, or even PR. We looked at Mehlville as sort of a big brother. We lost some great personnel to Mehlville. Some with years of experience. Now we look at Mehlville on NOT what to do, and how to keep this from happening to us. What Hilmer and Co have done is a total shame. They ruined probably the best District (as far as equipment and personnel knowledge). If we had a heavy rescue we requested the squad (1756)on several occasions. Now? well lets just say we'll do with out.
My hats off to the ones who are sticking around. Hoping things will change for the better. You have a long fight on your hands my brothers and sisters. Hilmer is not mentally right. You can't change someones mind if they are not all there.
You don't know what the hell you are talking about, and other departments don't have problems. You are a dumb un informed stupid ass fool.
Calm down 5:20, the truth hurts doesn't it? Besides cussing on here doesn't hurt anyone.
Money well worth it for the District, keeps the tail from wagging the dog.
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