First of all thanks again to Capt Andes for a great speech and bringing these issues to the committee.
Fire Chief Spoke
- Phase 1 purchased of trucks to the tune of 5.1 million for 7 trucks
- Phase 2 is on order to bring 2 105' Quints and 1 pumper
- Two trucks have completely broken down since last meeting and would have cost 30,000 dollars to repair. There was a concern that firefighters would come to work and not have a truck to ride on since the fleet is in such bad shape
- Phase 3 of truck ordering will start next budget year
Chief: Stated the model was hotly debated when the quints came and still is debated to this day. Most cities use Quints as Ladder trucks
Councilman Jewell: Are we winning or losing the debate on the quint concept?
Chief: After phase 3 we can being to modify deployment model based on the Fitch and Associates recommendations. We wouldn't have gone to far down the road of ordering new pieces to change our deployment model. We needed to get new trucks on the road to replace old ones and stop spending so much on repairs
Councilwoman Graziano: Asked if the study would show that we don't need Quints
Chief: Very possible because the data and economics may drive that decision. Considered having just a reserve fleet but the question would be how many to keep in reserves
Councilwoman Graziano: Will the study show what truck works best in what part of the city?
Chief: Yes and the smaller 75 Quints will help relieve driving issues
Chief also stated the issues of food planning for long term incidents and the honor guard have been addressed.
Councilwoman Trammell stated again that if there was ever another time when firefighters or police don't have the food they need she would get it for them and to call her with any issue
Capt Andes spoke on Quint concept and Zoll camera systems and vacancies.
Councilwoman Graziano: Talked to chief about budget issues and how to save money.
Chief: Found a savings of 741,000 dollars in fire department budget
Committee wanted him to go deeper and ask Capt Andes to provide them with the cost comparisions of a Quint vs an Engine.
It's genius don't you see. He will never admit the quint concept has failed. He will use the Fitch study to tell him that. As a leader you must stand up and make decisions. Some will be good and some will be bad but you have to make decisions. Relying on an outside agency who's primary experience is in ems to tell you how to run a 150 year old fire department is embarrassing. Not to mention a giant waste of money. A lot of money!!! When you take a top role it comes with responsibility and as they say the buck stops there. We will wait on your study sir and we will suffer whatever consequences come, but know that the only reason you have a job is because we put those fires out and we save those lives. It was said to the recruits( as embarrassing as it is) and I believe it applies here, " YOU CAN LEARN AS MUCH FROM A BAD OFFICER AS YOU CAN A GOOD ONE". The words of our leader
ReplyDeleteThese words have never rang truer. Look how much is now being learned by us because of our current chief.
ReplyDeleteOk so I agree that the current fleet has gone to you know where. Why can't we or shouldn't we be buying all engine's the first 3 rounds to get more rigs for the same money knowing that no matter what they will be reqired for either the Quint concept or a traditional type system. It is ammazing what kool adie does to our brains! Has anyone from administration driven either the 75' or 105' quints to see that the USS Nimitz turns better.
ReplyDeleteThe new Quints are on a different chassis than the ones bought in 1997. There are some differences in the turning, but driving shouldn't be that much difference.
DeleteThe older quints may have a lot of play in the steering over the years, where the news quints steering is tight as once the older ones were.
Yes they are on different chassis but turning radius doesn't magically appear after years of wear. Bottom line is, the turning radius on the trucks is diminished and we wont be able to make turns that we do now. That is a fact. You should have said "driving in a straight line shouldn't be that much difference.
DeleteThe reason we didn't buy more engines is because the chief knew that if he didn't slide in as many quints now, before somebody figured out what he was doing, he wouldn't be able to get them. The chief was told a few years ago by city finance that there would not be enough money to buy a dual fleet. He had the apparatus committee make suggestions on new response models based on a "single rig per house" system. In fact, I think the phrase was "think out of the box". Several models were discussed including traditional systems, and hybrid systems. They were all rejected.
ReplyDeleteThe apparatus committee asked the chief MULTIPLE times what kind of system RFD would have so they could design rigs that would efficiently work in it. They were told to "just design one of each, we'll decide later". To my knowledge, they never were told what type of system we might have.
The apparatus committee told the chief the very first 3 pieces of apparatus that needed replacement were the rescues, and buy as many engines as possible to run first out in the houses with the worst shape quints. Those quints could then only be run as a truck company, which hopefully would extend life a ittle longer until a definitive response model could be developed.
The apparatus committee was against the rescue engine. Not because they thought it was a bad idea, but because the chief had no idea where it would fit into the current system, let alone how it would fit into the yet undetermined future system. The committee felt is was a bad idea to spend that much money on another "bastard truck" that might not work in the system.
SO, the way it is now, if the money isn't available for a dual fleet, he can say "atleast we still have quints". And you see where the rest of the suggestions went. Afterall, he knows more about what suppression needs than the people actually doing the job and making it work.
You have to kidding me ,found $741,000.00 in the budget? but yet we can not pay Ahmad and his company for services rendered and we still have 3 air packs out of service and can not even be picked up....... due to get this "search for a lower priced vendor" not the company that moved into the city to do business with the city.
ReplyDeleteIf saving money was the real issue then why didn't we keep the certifications up at station 24 and do our stuff in house ...(cause we are stupid and administration is great)
I was at the meeting and heard Creecy say that the savings was going to be from not filling vacancies in the field. What about making cuts to Admin.? I could fill 2 vacancies by making someone from prevention that has been there for how many years because she didn't want to work in the field, and the new addition to training return to the field. Is he going to explain those 2 in the report to the safety committee on those that can't work in the field or hide them in another catagory? I can guess which and I am sure you can too.
ReplyDeleteHe said this after Ms. Trammell said she didn't want vacancies in the field.
What other cuts to suppression is he going to do to make sure he has his "Magical Kingdom" safe and sound????
When will the Insanity stop???
Members of the Press and members of Council- Please Help Us!!!!!!!
Magical kingdom.....I love that..my name is zack and I approve of this post....and please ..lets be safe and play nice in the sand box.
ReplyDeleteI found another use for the extra money the admin found. I think I need to go back to school.
ReplyDeleteI looked up on the City website and found that the FD has a opening posted for a new hire. It is for:
Job Title: Systems Operations Administrator, 42M00000468
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
Salary: $28.16 - $46.25 Hourly
$2,252.58 - $3,699.92 Biweekly
$4,880.58 - $8,016.50 Monthly
$58,567.00 - $96,198.00 Annually
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Location: 201 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia
Department: Fire & Emergency
The City of Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Management seeks a Systems Operations Administrator to manage all aspects of the Fire Department’s information technology, communications, records management, and reporting systems. These systems include Fire Station Alerting, FDM, Records Management System, mobile data computers (MDC), computer aided dispatch (CAD), ArcGIS, MS SQL Server and Oracle based systems as well as third party systems owned by local state and federal agencies.
The position will provide software requirement analysis, architecture, design, development and modification of custom applications and will write detailed documentation for both current and future systems.
The position is responsible for maintaining fixed asset inventory to ensure that all equipment items purchased with City/State funds are accounted for and that it is utilized to its maximum potential and benefits for the City.
The successful applicant will have a good working knowledge of GIS systems.
The position will perform planning, designing and implementation of new automated systems to ensure those requirements are met and that any new systems are compatible with existing hardware and software if applicable.
The applicant will coordinate the planning, development, and conduct of training classes from a beginner to advanced level to ensure that staff is adequately trained in using the automation tools provided them.
The applicant will participates in the management of teams and committee meetings for the assistance of the development of policies, programs and etc.
Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses:
Requires Bachelor's degree or education and training equivalent to four years of college education in computer sciences, business, or any related field.
Requires four years of experience.
An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.
Isn't that what Jamie bohn does. So whats he going to do now. How come they can come up with money to pay new people but cant come up with money for the old people for raises or career development. 201 needs to get off there own agenda and look after there men. Down with the 201 dictator.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with the need for the above mentioned position, however RFD's personnel are overdue for some sort of increase by any means. What may be overlooked amongst all this debacle is the fact that the RFD has been underfunded for several years. Why? I don't honestly know. The assumed theory is that the head of administration is looking out for his position and generally leaders that can keep their department's numbers down fiscally, find themselves in favor of the mayor or city manager. Herein lies the question, though; which is more important- the benefit of the director/chief and his position or what serves the benefit of the citizens. The citizens seldom have choice in who leads their departments, instead the responsibility is awarded to the incumbent mayor/manager. As long as you the citizens do not exercise your voice, decisions will be made with the implication that you're approval is given. Take the previously mentioned information and educate yourselves. Talk with your local firefighters and realize this isn't just some rant about what the chief doesn't do for us- we have legitimate concerns and beliefs that service can be maintained if not improved in a manner that is consistent with the present economic crisis. Too often the joke goes around the dinner table about making sense, because it could get you in trouble. Well, the only way that can be reversed is if it came from you since right now it's only taken as a complaint and not a legitimate concern.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the citizens are happy with the current concept.
ReplyDeleteThey don't know what the concept is. We know this because the citizens have recently started coming around asking questions. This is due largely in part to this website. Get out and talk to your village. This is what Chief Creecy asked you to do. The sadest part of all of this and what shows his true character is his recent change of heart regarding some operational issues within this department. It took a website and the threat of public humiliation to get him to listen. It was not the wonderful town hall meetings nor was it the infamous open Mic nights that changed him. It was the people who said enough is enough. The people who are tired of being overrun by paycheck collecting slugs. The people who can no longer stand being forced to half ass stuff because of our crap equipment and joke of an operational procedure. This is why the man who told us we were crazy if we thought the tqc would go away is NOW openly questioning it. Unfortunately it was after he spent 5 million with no plan of his own. Get out and educate your citizens. They do care they just don't know it yet. Don't sit back and watch this department you love crumble. Stand up for yourself and your brothers. Tell your community about this site and let them see what's really going on. Enough is enough!!!!
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