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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 8-29-12

I work fot the SFD and I thank the council for finally voting yes for the grant. No I am not a resident of the city. Yes I am a resident of the county and my taxes do fund the fire department. I also pay federal taxes and I am glad we are getting money returned to the area. Yes I would rather have the cash, but still glad to see it come back to us. I just have one question. Why do you the citizens dislike us so much. We put our lives on the line day in day out to serve you. I am sure we have come to serve you in some manner whether fire or ems. I am sure you were glad we were there and probably thanked us for coming. Then you come on here and talk so much hate toward us. I am proud to serve the city and hope you all can soon support our department. We will show that this grant was a positive step and a benefit to the city.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are not hated and the services you provide to the community are very much appreciated. You have a difficult job and people realize that you sometimes must put your life on the line. The negative attitudes likely emerge from the publics perception of a lot of money is wated on the SFD. The dispatch of large pieces of equipment at very small incidents and the ridiculous fireboat are just a couple of examples. The leadership seems to be questionable frequently in the public's mind. When the public looks at the needs of the SPD vs the SFD, it seems the SFD is taking more than they need. The situation is comparable on a county level to the BOE. Please keep doing your jobs the best you can and with some leadership changes the public perceptions will begin to change.

Anonymous said...

Its not that people dislike you all, it's just a useless way to spend much needed money. Was there a wild amount of fires that was just too much for you all to handle? Or the pretty much useless fireboat that will get used maybe once every 5 months for something. Its just another perfect example of wasting money that could be used for a greater good. I am sure you would like a raise, but so would everyone else.

Anonymous said...

They need someone to hate so they feel better about their own loser lives. Got to have someone to look down on.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Firemen,
I do appreciate you guys , I don't think that you put your lives on the line day in an day out. I was with a fire dept. for a while and my father-in-law was a paid fireman and retired. I do realize what you guys do , however , you chose this job. You were told of the hazards before you went to work , so suck it up.
I had people shooting at me in 1967 -1968 , but , that was my job.
People didn't like me when I got home because some didn't believe in the war, so I sucked it up.
Don't ever tell me that your a hero , it's your job to save lives , it was my job to help save a country.
Just do your best and be a productive part of this nation.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is the wasteful government spending that we hate. I also hate the fact that it appears as most in the FD do not understand the financial mess this country is in and most seem to have this attitude that money grows on trees.

Anonymous said...

No one hates the fire fighters at all-the intentions are to protect the ones currently employed. Money is tight. We need to protect the pay and benefits of current employees and only hire when absolutely necessary. Someone needs to protect you all from your frivolous spending.

Anonymous said...

No one hates the fire fighters or what they do, obviously it's a great civil service. But lack of leadership and poor decision making has made the SFD look like an organization that is only looking out for itself. Fire boat costing an unimaginable amount of money, nice fire station, and now 1.5M for 12 more employees? So each new employee will cost over 1M dollars? Sign me up for that. We all know and call this for what it is, upgrading the retirement package of those who will leave. Plenty of people would like to be paid more right now and SPD desperately needs money and applicants why would they worry about the SFD at this point when it operated fine(from the job perspective) this year?

Anonymous said...

Salisbury is a city that quit growing and, as a result, cannot afford to add new assets or staffing even if they are "free". If the city can't grow, it is limited to either reducing spending in other areas or raising taxes on its stagnant population. The current and past administrations have made it clear that they don't have a clue on how to change the pickle the city is in yet continue to spend more. It's coincidental that the FD and PD happen to be the departments that these grants are going to so all its members share the disdain of the taxpayer for making stupid business decisions. Should a Fireman have to understand the budget process? No. Should its management? Yes. If you were given the choice of receiving a free Prius or free Sherman tank to use for commuting with you being responsible for fuel and upkeep, which would you choose? If you're boss told you that you must select the tank, you'd call them stupid but all your neighbors would think that YOU were stupid. That's the situation with these Grants YOUR management has been accepting.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, well said. It's not the firefighter individually it's the management and poor decision making.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:31pm posted an accurate comment.

Anonymous said...

Rick Hoppes, John Tull, Lore Chambes, John Pick and Jim Ireton must go. This city is like a sinking ship!

Anonymous said...

Because you have a sence of "entitlement", and enough of that "put our lives on the line everyday". A firefighter doesn't even rank in the top 10 most dangerious jobs. Then you piss away money for every new toy in the world ................heck, why bother.

Anonymous said...

Never said we were heros. We do risk our lives. Yes it is the job I have chosen to do. Like any job you never realize what you are going to see and have to deal with until you are doing it. For years our department heads have not been able to ask for more people. True the city is not growing as much as it was, however the amount of calls continue to increase. Right now there are four frozen positions. To bring our staffing to what minimum staffing should be we need the twelve positions. As for running the equipment we do on calls there are reasons we use certain pieces. If you don't understand why things are done the way they are come ride or spend a day with is. It is your department come see how it works. Many come on here to put down the department without understanding how or why things are done.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Never said we were heros. We do risk our lives. Yes it is the job I have chosen to do. Like any job you never realize what you are going to see and have to deal with until you are doing it. For years our department heads have not been able to ask for more people. True the city is not growing as much as it was, however the amount of calls continue to increase. Right now there are four frozen positions. To bring our staffing to what minimum staffing should be we need the twelve positions. As for running the equipment we do on calls there are reasons we use certain pieces. If you don't understand why things are done the way they are come ride or spend a day with is. It is your department come see how it works. Many come on here to put down the department without understanding how or why things are done.


August 29, 2012 4:17 PM

How do you risk your lives every day? I risk my life every day I walk across any street. I risk my life living in the city. I risk my life driving through the city.

What is minimum staffing and who says Salisbury has to have minimum staffing? If you need 12 firefighters why aren't you recruiting more volunteers? Please do elaborate.

Anonymous said...

Okay 4:17 what I would like to know if the calls are actually increasing or if policy is dictating the increase in calls, meaning sending engines to incidences previously where they weren't required before and now the requirement is to have an engine respond?

Anonymous said...

Does the SFD even have an open house? Maybe, under a new administration, there could be a day where the taxpayers and their kids can come in and actually learn what you do (and why). Sure it would cost MORE money but, isn't it better spent on something like this than bottom paint for freaking MILLION DOLLAR fireboat that my never be needed for 100 years? I know. Please don't remind me. It was FREE! In a recent book, a former Seal provided one of the best descriptions of Joe Biden I have ever heard. "He shows up and tells jokes that nobody understands and reminds you of the drunk uncle at Christmas dinner. Isn't that what the SalisburyAdministration has become?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Okay 4:17 what I would like to know if the calls are actually increasing or if policy is dictating the increase in calls, meaning sending engines to incidences previously where they weren't required before and now the requirement is to have an engine respond?

August 29, 2012 5:31 PM

The public wants to know how you come up with that figure for personnel mandating "minimum staffing" for Salisbury.

Also, please tell us why you need 12 paid firemen and not volunteers.

Please tell us what you have done to recruit volunteers?

Anonymous said...

"Also, please tell us why you need 12 paid firemen and not volunteers."

I think we need to cut this guy a break rather than attack him. He didn't cause this. Only "management" knows (if they even bothered to collect metrics} how to answer your question. You are either OK with the current management or want to change it. The forthcoming elections are for that. Please do the right thing for you and your neighbors.

Anonymous said...

4:17

The "chief" told everybody that there are 3 frozen positions. Now there are four? Which one is it??

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 5:30.... When was the last time the street you were crossing was on fire?

Anonymous said...

Three frozen and the empty spot for the chief