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LAYOFF 11 FIREFIGHTERS

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ashkicker View Drop Down
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    Posted: Oct 21 2014 at 11:45pm
In September there were 17 runs in the city by mutual aid departments with NO assistance by Middletown units. How long would it take Monroe or Franklin to get to your house? The non-FEF (first emergency first) model would cover the majority of those runs will an engine company to begin treatment before the mutual aid medic would arrive.

I know 17 runs out of 1000 runs per month seems like a very small number until it's you doing the 15-20 minute wait.

ashkicker
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bumper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 3:14pm
public Safety dee-rector requirements for the city require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting and to walk, stand, or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations; to get snacks and lunch and to wait on quitting time...  
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Dean View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 1:11pm
Only partially correct acclaro. Nix took care of the Nenni's, not Adkins. Now they park their four cars, two inside garage, two in front of torn down house in area filled with physicians. Someone told me she worked entirely on her MBA at Miami while at work as treasurer. But they keep voting these same individuals back in office, while prosecutor tries to take out Carpenter with Rogers assistance. Politics at its worse.   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote over the hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 12:38pm
He wants to get that big bonus at the end of the year they promised him if he delivers. The jobs being created are all in city building.IMO
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote over the hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 12:34pm
Dougie is working so hard to appeal to everybody that he is kissing so many butts I think he has chapped lips. All these new jobs are for the people that were being paid by HUD funds and now are out because those funds are gone. He probably promised them they wouldn't lose their jobs. So it will be fun to watch him juggle all those balls without dropping them.IMO
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acclaro View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 10:53am
Friends .....with benefits.

Attend the right school, F, drink wine, and dine, and get a nice perk

FWB- Friends with Benefits....this is how it is done.
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Perplexed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 10:38am
Acclaro -

Thanks for sharing more information about Herr Dougmeister. I suppose that he wasted more HUD funds to tear out the swimming pool, etc.? And, now Dougie has even more money to devastate Ward 2 and part of Ward 1 through residential demolition!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 10:10am
I have stated many times the problem in the beast called public wages and benefits in Middletown, has been the infliction of the union mentality, the influence of Armco/ AK unions, and entitlement, at Donham Abbey. While city management talk about cuts, talk about new ideas, innovation, new paradigms, alterations, thinking out of the box, nothing changes, because these same members of workers benefit from the same benefits. Its all talk, never action.

Hence, the double, triple dip, is the norm, and expected. Its a right of passage associated with retirement. It isn't going to change in Middletown, and it isn;t in corrupt Butler Cty. Its politics and cronyism at the norm. As it is, as it always be. But.....Middletown doesn;t need a Public Safety Officer. It needs revenue, which it is not receiving to keep up with expenses. Simple.

I had a friend who recently shared some insight about the land bank in Butler Cty and how it is working to reward friends. Evidently, the county bought Todd Bell's parents house, which is next door to the Nenni younger brother. He said he got West Niles virus from the old house Neil Barielle owned with a stagnant swimming pool in ground. The city with Mr. Adkins support, went in and tore out the swimming pool. Since the equipment was there, they moved down the street to the Bell's and tore down their house, vacated for a few years, and by faking it needed a new roof and all sorts of expensive repair so no one would bid on it. It was bought by the county for 63,000. in a neighborhood of $200,000 + houses, so the Nenni's would have the land for $500.

That;s how the county and city work, using state money, to do favors for friends.  House is destroyed for a parking spot for a family. Surreal.

Middletown will not change, and the leadership is not the same as it has been. Same people running the town into the ground, taking money for wasted use, new jobs for second and third dippers, and most just yawn.

Ground Hog daily, in the town falling deeper into despair while shouting we are on the road to recovery, we are marvelous. As the Burger King commercial used to say, "have it your way". Watch it become Detroit, and wonder why. There is no change, business as usual.    

 
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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jag123 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jag123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 10:02am
Ash: I hear the the same thing. Along with a Public Safety director, a whole change on how fire admin. will be set up. This will be interesting. By the way, the city did have a Public Safety director several years ago.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 17 2014 at 8:26am
Public Safety Director?
Over police fire? though they have chiefs and unions--what power/control would he have?
Maybe assimilate the Health Dept.? Safety Council? Neighborhood Watch?
Housing?

Seems like a new home for higher wage double dippers?
If running our city gets considerably more expensive(with more layers/bodies of bureaucracy), how do we pay for it?
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ashkicker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ashkicker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 16 2014 at 9:10pm
Heard a rumor today that Chief Van Arsdale was going to retire as Police Chief and become the NEW Public Safety Director.

Anybody else hear that?

If that's true, how many fire fighters had to be laid off to fund a new position?

Could this be Dougie's way to insulate himself even more to a catastrophic event?

Maybe I've fallen victim to the conspiracy theory syndrome!

Ashkicker
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bumper View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bumper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 10 2014 at 7:25am
heck might as well get rid of some more fire fighters so Adkins can fill city hall with just more BS!! he could hire like 10 more of these communications intern's to focus on improving the city’s image in the region and never put a dent on that image.. Confused and adding  two assistant economic development directors and setting concrete goals for the department."how many more of these do you need to screw in a light bulb??
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ashkicker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 09 2014 at 10:44pm
From the Middletown Journal:

"Adkins also announced the city’s 2015 initiatives that include the hiring of a communications intern to focus on improving the city’s image in the region; additional police task forces to reduce crime; using a new grant to demolish abandoned houses; creating career development opportunities for employees; increased code enforcement city-wide and an expanded economic development department by adding two assistant economic development directors and setting concrete goals for the department."

I'll have to check with those laid-off fire fighters and see if they are qualified to be either a "communications intern" or an "assistant economic development director".

I can only image what those jobs will pay!

All the while the SAFER grant is available to the city at no cost to retain fire fighters, Adkins wants to make up new jobs that will directly drain the city's budget.

Still haven't seen Adkins address his misinformation concerning fire fighters making overtime when they work their normal 51 hour work week.

ashkicker
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote spiderjohn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 07 2014 at 4:22pm
Didn't I read where Franklin was hesitant about the coalition deal due to Middletowen capping their expense @ $150,000?

How much has the bike path cost us so far?
And where are the local stops where a rider/walker can enjoy any business amenities?

Not laming/accusing--just wondering about bang for the buck(as usual)..
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 07 2014 at 2:15pm
Originally posted by ashkicker ashkicker wrote:

SAFER grant for fire fighters - $0

Bike path - $134k

Adequate Fire/EMS service - Priceless


That's right ashkicker. This council, in all of it's wisdom , has decided to spend money to continue a dam bike path into Franklin rather than to remedy the fire dept. downgrading of manpower. Ridiculous. Do any of them have a clue as to the right thing to do for this city? Given the track record of this inept group of people, could we expect any different in their priorities?

Let's see.....I've got $134 thou in my hand. Do I spend it on a bike path that benefits < 3% of the community, or do I spend it where it would benefit the MOST in the community? Just flat out too difficult for this council to provide the obvious choice time after time. We continue to be doomed by the epidemic stupidity of the city leadership.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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ashkicker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ashkicker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Oct 07 2014 at 11:44am
SAFER grant for fire fighters - $0

Bike path - $134k

Adequate Fire/EMS service - Priceless
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote over the hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 16 2014 at 4:05pm
Our city leaders do not know what "do the right thing" means. If they did past and present members would have acted accordingly.IMO
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tbrew85 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 16 2014 at 3:03pm
It pains me to hear (read) comments from people that really just don't have a clue. I used to work at Atrium Medical Center in the ER. I now work in a different ER in Dayton. I saw medics from Middletown, and all of the surrounding departments on a many times daily basis. I currently see medics from Dayton and surrounding areas on a daily basis. Most of the citizens in this town are clueless as to the quality of fire department we are blessed with. No Dean, you most certainly don't speak for many in this town when you speak disparagingly about them. If you did, the safety levies would not pass each time they are on the ballot.

What do we need more, Police or Fire? Not even close. If I'm having a heart attack, or I've been in an accident, the police aren't going to do me much good are they? If I've got a police emergency, Ill call them to clean up the mess. They can take their time. Firefighters and Medics save lives every day. EVERY day. Police, not so much. Police are needed, without a doubt, but FF/Medics are far more urgently needed. This is not even debatable.

Providing adequate Fire and Police protection should be the very first priority. I am not generally a union fan, but I do believe this union has gone above and beyond in attempting to reach agreements with the city. I don't believe in this case, that the city leaders have any interest in doing "the right thing".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote over the hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 16 2014 at 10:05am
Well I guess we'll lose our fire chief to Mason. I guess he doesn't like dealing with Dougie as much as he did Judy.IMO
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ashkicker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 14 2014 at 8:43pm
Should the city manager know how the fire department works before he tries to change it? In today's Journal, Adkins is quoted as saying:

"He said since firefighters work 24 consecutive hours, and are off work the next 48 hours, they work about 51 hours a week, some of those hours at overtime pay."

There is NO overtime pay when a fire fighter works his 24/48 hour schedule. So does Dougie think fire fighters cost too much because he thinks we get overtime every week?

And we were supposed to trust him to give us bonuses if revenues go up. Or that his grand scheme didn't include getting rid of all full time fire fighters after two years.

Dougie said we can't staff the department for the one fire a week. What about when there are 5 other runs in the city? Bingo! Mutual aid.

How are those mutual aid contracts coming? Rumor has it that Monroe will only send automatic mutual aid when they not at minimum. I didn't see any percentages for when Monroe will be able to send help.

More to follow!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote over the hill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 11 2014 at 3:29pm
I read it but I'm not able to be objective because I'm not able to believe or have faith in any thing Mulligan has to say when it comes to city financesI have trouble having any respect for this man that has a responsible job at a bank and yet has helped to devastate our city finanances. IMO
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John Beagle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 11 2014 at 1:11pm
Can someone post the mayors editorial from today's newspaper? I would love to hear your opinions. 

Seems there is no middle ground on this issue. Does the average firefighter make over $100K/yr? That's what I recall reading. Although I might have it wrong. Hence the request to have it posted or linked here. 

Thanks to anyone who can help.
John Beagle

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News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio.
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ashkicker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ashkicker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 09 2014 at 8:54am
rngrmed,

I'm afraid that information will only be distributed through the interaction between the squads and the doctor's offices.

Bocephus,

While the MOU would have saved 11 jobs, it would have decimated the department. To save 11 jobs, the union would have had to agree to part time employees. A recent article in the Journal cited area departments that were having problems running a full/part time department. Part time employees work in departments that are smaller and make fewer runs. The city hung these 11 jobs over the union's head so the city would apply for a grant to save those jobs. A grant that cost the city no money. (Note that I said the city, not taxpayers) Initially the city wanted 10% part timers then switched to 30%. I believe in the beginning the MOU stated part timers would be 240 hour certified fire fighters and certified paramedics. The next time around it changed to meet the requirements of the city. This MOU would eventually lead to no full time fire fighters. Nobody wants to agree to something that would phase out their job. The union was told even if the MOU were to be ratified, daily minimum staffing would still go down to 13. Basically, it was a raw deal for all fire fighters, not just the 11 that were layed off. The city says it has no money to pay fire fighters and would go broke without the agreement. So if the agreement were to be signed, how was the city going to keep from going broke? Before the layoff, the city wasn't paying for 4 positions that were open, with the agreement they were going to fill those positions. Again, how was that agreement going to save money. That's right. they were going to hire part time works to save the needed money the city doesn't have. But wait, the mayor said once the "cheaper" fire fighters were hired, saving money the city doesn't have, they were going to start paving streets with the money they didn't have to pay fire fighters. Bottom line, 2 levies overwhelmingly supported by the citizens that resulted in cuts to the department. If the city could lie to the public about "no cuts to your services", why should fire fighters trust them?


Historic House Guy,

Do you have any idea how EMS runs? Try to imagine you are in the back of a squad doing chest compressions, rescue breathing, administering drugs and using a cardiac monitor all at the same time. All that while bouncing around in the back of a squad. If dispatch deems the run could be life threatening, they send an engine company to assist. The two extra sets of hands come in very helpful. Medics are fire fighters and fire fighters are medics. If the engine happened to be closer, those fire fighters (medics) could begin treatment. If the engine personnel were not needed, the medics released them back in service to await the next emergency.

Acclaro,

The only perks fire fighters were going to lose were eventually their jobs when the city tried to go all part time. There was a second fire in the city that again taxed not only Middletown's resources but the surrounding departments as well. Ask the city building how automatic mutual aid response agreements are going. I hear Monroe and Franklin won't sign off on them. Did you hear about the shooting on 10th Avenue? I believe it took 10 minutes to get a squad on scene. Is that "disheartened employees throwing out baseless claims."

Under the old plan, the city had 6 companies to respond to emergencies, now they have 4.

ashkicker
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trotwood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 08 2014 at 3:29pm
Originally posted by acclaro acclaro wrote:

Nonetheless, the cuts need to be made.

I have difficulty is accepting the greater than $100 Mm in expense for road pavement, when the city could have remedied that decades ago, indeed, in 1988-1989, by simply putting back in place the dedicated funds that were set aside for road maintenance. No on in city hall nor council can honestly sit with a straight face and use road maintenance as an issue in lending support for reducing the budget for fire/ police.

Good points. Veering slightly off topic, does anyone know what Middletown's road budget is?

That seems like the easiest way to cut costs. There are so many stupidly large boulevards all over the place, like Barnitz, University and its giant useless interchanges, Briel south of Roosevelt.... and I'm sure there are many more roads that are way too big for the number of cars they actually handle in a day. 

Why doesn't the city just maintain one side of the road and vacate the other? Turn it over to the Butler Co. park service to maintain bike lanes in the stretch if you guys want. That way everybody in Butler Co. will be reducing your city's road maintenance bill.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote acclaro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Sep 08 2014 at 10:59am
Miiddletown has created a problem of numbing proportion over decades of waste, lack of fiduciary oversight, and entitlement. I read the presentation, and while I do not support the need for the vast number of full-time fire fighters, as the statistics illuminate the fact Middletown is greatly skewed off balance in payroll % compared to other cities going to payroll, the reality is the entitlement and fiscal mismanagement has been so apparent over so many years, its difficult to accept and comprehend the cuts if one were a fire fighter, compared to the other departments. Nonetheless, the cuts need to be made.

I have difficulty is accepting the greater than $100 Mm in expense for road pavement, when the city could have remedied that decades ago, indeed, in 1988-1989, by simply putting back in place the dedicated funds that were set aside for road maintenance. No on in city hall nor council can honestly sit with a straight face and use road maintenance as an issue in lending support for reducing the budget for fire/ police.

At the end of the day, just like the striking AKS union workers, these guys/ gals, don't want to give up their perks. The outcome will be disheartened employees throwing out baseless claims. The numbers clearly show the city action was justified. However, the bigger issue is the chronic inability Middletown has to bring in new businesses. That will always be a problem when Liberty Township/ Mason, don't tax on income. Employers go there to bring in talent, not high tax areas that cannot provide basic amenities at very steep tax rates presently. The cycle that Middletown remains, and continue to be spun in the downward fall.        
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill
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