Important FYI-Montgomery County, Maryland

[NJFFSA16]

Updates from members in the area would be appreciated...

Montgomery seeks to streamline fire system

(Rockville-AP) -- Volunteer firefighters have maintained
significant political clout in Montgomery County over the years --
even as many urban fire departments have shifted most
responsibilities to paid professionals.
Now, county lawmakers are trying to change things. The
Washington Post reports the County Council is expected to vote
today on legislation that would establish a single paid fire chief
-- and reduce the authority of volunteer firefighters.
The county's fire services are currently divided among a career
fire chief and 19 volunteer chiefs. There's also a civilian fire
administrator and a seven-member Fire and Rescue Commission.
Proponents of the bill say the fragmented organization now in
place hinders countywide efforts at disaster preparedness.
Opponents say that if the county creates a single-chief system,
volunteers will become demoralized and drop out.


(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[TillerMan25]

In reality, the active number of Volunteers in the county is not as abundant as they make it seem. Most of the Stations have 24 hour career crews. There are some houses there that haven't seen a volunteer in ages, Chiefs that have take home cars that never run calls and apparatus that is probably 70% owned by the county and not the individual VFD's.

It's a power grab. PG County did the same thing in 1970 and we still have our Volunteer Autonomy and independence. The County Fire Chief has little to do with day to day Volunteer or Career Operations and we have an integrated chain of command. It's time to give the taxpayers of Montgomery County the service they deserve.

What get's me is why aren't all the Volunteers from PG and other places that work in Montgomery County as Career Firefighters out there supporting their Volunteer Brethren from Montgomery?

[NJFFSA16]

Council approves plans to restructure fire department
wdcm-bw
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - Montgomery County lawmakers approved plans
on Tuesday to restructure the county's firefighting services.
The new plan unites the county's paid and volunteer firefighters
under a single, paid chief. The county's fire services are
currently divided among a career fire chief and 19 volunteer
chiefs. There is also a civilian fire administrator and a
seven-member Fire and Rescue Commission.
The new chief will have the authority to administer and direct
fire and rescue operations. The commission will be retained to
review service policies and regulations. The volunteer chiefs will
speak through a single representative.
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan praised the legislation and
indicated he would sign it.
"The legislation passed by the Council today improves a
complicated and disjointed fire and rescue system," he said.
Fire Administrator Gordon Aoyagi, who stands to lose his job
under the new structure, said it's a good thing for the county
nonetheless.
"Most people will say that this is a significant step
forward," Aoyagi said. "Even though we're an excellent service
and we get the gob done, are we optimal? Probably not and I think
some of that is attributable to our existing structure."
Other provisions of the bill include giving the chief of
Volunteer services a clear role in the administration and
recruitment of volunteers and their equipment. Local fire and
rescue departments will establish a representative body that would
take on the role of negotiations with the chief on volunteer
issues.
There are new incentives for volunteers, including a Length of
Service Awards program and increased benefits. Volunteer fire
departments will also have full authority over their equipment, and
it could not be transferred to other fire and rescue departments
without approval.
The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association
lobbied against the measure, saying it would diminish the role of
volunteers. A representative could not be immediately reached by
phone for comment.
---
On the Net:
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc...tent/FireRescu
e/index. asp
Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association:
http://www.webradium.com/MCVFRA.ORG/index.htm

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[TillerMan25]

The problem with this is the fact that we constantly inflate our numbers, but consistently fail to provide services, especially in combination systems.

The Volunteer service, by and large is a weak entity when it comes to fighting unions or local governments. We say "We have 1500 members and we don't need anymore career people," but when it comes time to step up to the plate, we will be the first ones to say "I gotta go, I got other plans tonight..." or, "Sorry, son has baseball this week, can't help ya.." or whatever other millions of excuses we come up with. This time the County and the Career FF's in Montgomery are right. You can have all the Community Volunteer Associations you want, but until the Silver Spring VFD or the Takoma Park VFD can consistently deliver volunteer service, you are talking to a brick wall. People deserve better and the Willy Nilly way Crap runs up there needs to be done away with. It's not your Grandaddy's Social Club anymore. It's time to progress.

[APROMISEKEPT]

Websearch under killthebill takes you to various sites that give the
Volunteer's Position as lobbied to the County residents.

[MikeWard]

While at FDIC meet a volunteer chief from Montgomery. He has a new SUV with all the wu-wu lights you need and uses county fuel. He has ZERO active volunteer members in his department.

Hate to be cruel, but what value does this elderly gentleman provide to his community . . . where he no longer lives . . . .

Mike

[TillerMan25]

"Chief 6-1 Montgomery"