| Author |
Message |
    
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 127
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 3:10 pm: | 
|
According to a story on News 12 that is running today the response time has been slowed due to the firefighters having to live in trailers next to the firehouse while the rehabilitation drags on.
Bill Calabrese says on camera that maybe there will be money in next years budget to finish the inside of the building.
I have heard over and over that SOPAC and SOPA are separate entities but with a 13 million dollar art center project underway and consideration being given to a new parking deck maybe it is time to find money for public safety.
|
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1833
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 11:17 pm: |
|
Funny how there was no problem finding money for the Trustees to PAY THEMSELVES. |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 937
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 11:47 pm: |
|
We saw the NJN spot during lunch at the Blue Moon, but the sound was muted. I tivo'd the six p.m. broadcast in hopes they'd rerun the segment, but they did not. Can you please summarize what was discussed, especially the "man-on-the-street" comments that were made?
I can't believe Bill had the guts to say "maybe next year" when the SOFD trailer park is headed into its 3rd year of operation in April. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1619
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
|
The fire chief has stated (more than once) that there is no delay in the response time. The delays in the firehouse construction have been due to mistakes made by the architectual firm (and I hold them fully responsible for the delay).
The BOT already voted on the funds and they have been available. The fire chief has been working on the project and most if not all BOT members have met with him to make sure the firehouse renovations are done to his satisfaction.
Any person who has reviewed the budget knows that public safety gets the lion's share of our muncipal tax dollars. |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 938
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:29 am: |
|
Thanks Mark. A few questions: Has the village held the architectural firm responsible for the mistakes? How are they compensating the village for the long delay? What safeguards against such mistakes were included in the contract?
I'd still like to hear what the union president had to say, as well as the citizens that were interviewed. |
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 128
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:34 am: |
|
I guess the rank and file disagrees with the Chief and the Village President does not realize that the funds are available.
As for holding someone fully responsible, I am glad we have identified the culpable parties.
|
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 3705
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:39 am: |
|
[edited by the poster in the spirit of the new year]
HAPPY NEW YEAR |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1620
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:41 am: |
|
The fire chief is fully aware of the financial situation.
We will have to discuss exactly what we can do regarding the architectual firm but at this point I can't say anything else regarding that.
|
Josh M.
Citizen
Username: Jmaxlaw
Post Number: 199
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 11:07 am: |
|
Mark--
I would recommend outside counsel to investigate a malpractice action against the architectrual firm. In the meantime, the Village through Mr. Matthews should send notice that all payments may cease pending the results of the investigation-- and that until then it is expected that the firm will uphold all tenants of the contract. |
Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 505
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 11:10 am: |
|
The rank and file are the ones responding from (and to) the firehouse, not the chief. He has his big, unmarked truck to respond in. To dismiss their views out of hand shows that the issue isn't about safety at all. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1621
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 12:20 pm: |
|
Brett: I was not dismissing their views and have told them they could come to me or the public safety committee anytime they felt a need to discuss or if there is/was a problem.
Somehow, knowing that the media was bought into the picture before coming to the BOT gives me the feeling there is some other agenda. No firegighter has said to a BOT member that there is a problem with response time. |
mary032
Citizen
Username: Mary032
Post Number: 116
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 12:40 pm: |
|
Funny. I, as a private citizen, have heard first hand from our firefighters that the trailer situation contributes to considerable delay in response time, and Mr. Rosner, a trustee, hasn't. Perhaps, after three years, our firefighters have given up communicating with a non-responsive government. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1622
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 2:46 pm: |
|
Mary032: We meet with the fire chief every month. Wouldn't you think he would be aware and that he would indicate if there was a problem? He was specifically asked and he said there is no delay in repsonding because of the trailers.
In fact, the fire chief has been intricately involved with the renovations and has had major input throughout every step of the process and he has been fully aware of any delay in the renovation.
I have been on the BOT six years and never heard one complaint from a firefighter about us not being repsonsive or not being willing to discuss any issues they might have.
Why some would try to make it appear that there is a problem between the BOT and the firefighters is beyond me. |
e roberts
Citizen
Username: Wnwd00
Post Number: 273
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 3:54 pm: |
|
mrosner,
while i do believe chief markey that there is no delay due to the firefighters being housed in trailers i find it almost to the point or irresponsible to say that because you or the BOT has not personally heard from any firefighter complaints that there arent any regarding the situation and the response times.
i think you should strongly consider the fact that do to a variety of reasons including contact negotations, potential promotions and other factors the rank and file firefighters and line supervisors do not feel comfortable coming to the BOT or to a public safety meeting to voicing concerns especially one that could be embarrassing to the town such as ignoring a respose time issue.
also to just completely put this issue to rest why dont we compare the response times to similar address in similar weather conditions from before and firefighters and then after and then at least we will have a definitive answer. |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 941
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 4:20 pm: |
|
quote:I have been on the BOT six years and never heard one complaint from a firefighter about us not being repsonsive or not being willing to discuss any issues they might have.
That's a pretty disingenuous statement if you have not been directly involved in the contract negotiations, which, in the past 6 years, were never settled amicably (while the town has settled with the police, aren't the firefighters still waiting - again! - for a contract?). I can't believe you were unaware of tension between the union and the town.
Since you can't answer questions relating to ongoing negotiations, can you at least tell us:
1. How long the firefighters have been without a contract? and
2. Do you foresee this going to arbitration, as did the 1999 negotiations?
I also have heard that the village bought outright the trailers in the SOFD trailer park. Is this true, and why?
I seem to remember the state granting the town with a $1/2 million grant; why can't that money be used to move forward?
|
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 130
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 4:26 pm: |
|
http://www.news12.com/NJ/topstories/article?id=126437#%22 |
pan
Citizen
Username: Pan
Post Number: 87
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 5:49 pm: |
|
Channel 12 news article: "The village says it just run out of money to finish the project this year."
Interesting. The village trustees, in their rush to show progress in the downtown redevelopment before the May elections, have gone through all kinds of creative financing acrobatics to find the money this year to begin the construction of the Village Arts Center (SOPAC); yet they haven't found a way to finish the environmental clean-up of the firehouse so that our firefighters can do a better job in protecting our lives, our children, our properties.
Are the priorities of our Trustees all screwed up, or what? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1623
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 10:06 pm: |
|
Bets: The trailers are still being rented. The grant money is part of the money being used towards the renovations, but was not nearly enough to finish the job.
Contract negotiations are about pay (that is always the main issue in any contract negotition). The issue raised on this thread is about public safety, not about their contract. Arbitration is meant to be a fair way to settle a contract and is a tool that can be used by aunion to force a settlement when they feel that there are at an impasse in negotiations. Cleary whatever tensions existed (and I don't think they were as bad as you imply) they clearly eased.
Pan: The environmental clean-up of the firehouse was completed a long time ago. The exterior was also completed. I have not read the article (and despite the link above, I cannot get to see it since I am not a cablevision subscriber), but the caption posted by Pan has nothing to do with the reality.
The money to renovate has been a moving target (and keeps going higher) and the BOT made it pretty clear that we wanted the firehouse renovations completed already. If the bids had been close to the estimates provided by the architects, the firehouse renovation would have been completed in a timely manner. Everytime the bids come is significantly higher (and I am talking hundreds of thousands of dollars) we have to review, discuss our options based on input from Chief Markey and the village administrator and then go back to bid (legally required).
The SOPAC financing took years to put in place and no matter when construction started it would always be prior to an election since there is one every two years and the estimated construction time is 18 months. The reality is that the BOT repeatedly delayed SOPAC until better financing was in place and ignored how long it was taking to get started. Based on your logic, it would have started years ago.
Pan and others should look at the budget and take a close look at where most of the money goes. Clearly, Public Safety has been and continues to be a major priority.
E roberts: Chief Markey was and has been involved in all decisions regarding the firehouse renovations and the trailers. I think the goal should be to get the firehouse renovation completed without compromising safety. The firefighters could not stay in the firehouse during the renovations and the trailers were considered the best option (including the opinion of the fire chief) in terms of comfort and safety.
I think if any firefighter thinks the public's safety is at risk, then they should have no problem coming to the BOT. I would think it would be better for everyone if those who think there is a problem would at least communicate with the BOT at some level.
|
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 942
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 3:32 am: |
|
quote:If the bids had been close to the estimates provided by the architects, the firehouse renovation would have been completed in a timely manner. Everytime the bids come is significantly higher (and I am talking hundreds of thousands of dollars) we have to review, discuss our options based on input from Chief Markey and the village administrator and then go back to bid (legally required).
Okay.
One more question, if you don't mind:
1. Who is in charge of the Firehouse renovation?
|
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 131
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 9:21 am: |
|
I think going on channel 12 is an attempt to "communicate with the BOT at some level".
I respectfully suggest that some member of the BoT pick up the phone and call a fireman and help communicate their message to the administration.
I also think that the firemen are asking for some sort of schedule on the completion of their house. "COMING as SOON as we can find the money" just dosen't seem like a good answer. I hope Bill's quotes were taken out of context.
Come on, these people put their lives on the line for us every day. Someone, pick up the phone, be a leader. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1624
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 10:08 am: |
|
Bets: The fire chief and the village administrator have been working together and both have discussed with the BOT. Ultimately the Village administrator is the responsible person.
Dan: The fire chief has given updates to the firefighters. I have no idea what Bill said or if it was out of context. I will speak with one of the firefighters during the next week.
|
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 132
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 10:22 am: |
|
Thanks Mark. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 598
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 10:53 am: |
|
Mrosner: I don't know you -- you may well be an axe murderer by night -- but just wanted to say I appreciate you coming on here and making yourself the target of all the angst people feel toward the town management. Most often what we see here are rumor-based tirades and half-truths. (Not that there isn't a lot to criticize when it comes to town government, of course.) Your posts consistently include facts, dates, phone #'s to call for more information. I, for one, appreciate it.
|
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1839
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 10:58 am: |
|
Mark was never CONVICTED of that axe incident. Don't go spreading rumors, cmonty. 
|
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1625
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:11 am: |
|
Cmonty, thanks..., |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 943
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 8:55 pm: |
|
Unbelievable.
While I appreciate your responding, Mark, I still believe you're wearing rose-colored glasses and trying to foist that view on us regular citizens. It's getting pretty deep and smelly in South Orange, and more and more people are noticing. Hopefully, this guarantees change this coming May.
I would like to see an official response to this situation, be it a resolution to finish the project by a certain date or to hire a project manager to ensure the firehouse is completed. Please don't make public safety another "coming soon!!!" parody. |
Rudy Huxtable
Citizen
Username: Rudy_huxtable
Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 12:19 am: |
|
I noticed that the Dancing Goat has been closed quite a bit lately. Anyone know why?
SOFD Rules.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page