Stamford Charter Revision Ballot Question #2: Fire Department Consolidation

Ballot Question #2: Revise the Charter to create a single combined Fire Department including the following:
1. Creating a single Fire Department composed of career and volunteer firefighters with a single Chief and a single Fire Marshal.
2. Creating the positions of Assistant Fire Chief for Career Services and Assistant Fire Chief for Volunteer Services.
3. Acknowledging that the Volunteer Departments are an important component of the new combined Department.

Background: Stamford’s fire protection services are provided by a combination of the City-controlled and operated Stamford Fire and Rescue Department staffed by paid firefighters and five volunteer departments, known as the “Big Five”.  When the charter was created in 1949, the jurisdictional boundaries of the city’s paid career fire department and volunteer fire departments
remain aligned with the old Town and City boundaries: Belltown, Glenbrook, Long Ridge, Springdale, Turn of River and downtown. 

Prior City administrations have explored consolidating
Stamford’s fire services and eliminating the volunteer management agreements/contracts with the city. Currently, the charter allows for jurisdictional boundaries to be changed; however, such a change requires a 2/3 vote of the Board of Representatives and the advice of the City Fire and Rescue Chief and Volunteer Chief(s). 

Result of Charter Change: Creation of a single Stamford Fire department inclusive of career and volunteer firefighters, with one Fire Chief who will appoint one Assistant Chief for Career Firefighters and one Assistant Chief for Volunteer Service Firefighters and one Fire Marshal for the City of Stamford. The Assistant Chief for Career Services shall be selected from the ranks of career firefighters. The Assistant Chief for Volunteer Services shall be selected from a pool of nominees nominated by the Chiefs of the volunteer fire companies. All nominees must have a minimum of ten years firefighter experience and at least five years of supervisory experience.

Charter Sections That Will be Amended: C5-40-3 and C6-90-1

source: www.lwvstamford.org

Stamford Charter Revision Ballot Question #1

Ballot Question #1: Revise the Charter to make certain technical, grammatical, administrative
and procedural changes and revisions

Background: The Charter Commission identified a number of instances where the Charter was
inconsistent with State statutes and recommended changes to bring the Charter in line with them.
The other types of changes include changing dates o extend parts of the budget and audit processes
by one month and to provide more flexibility to the Board of Representatives in changing meeting
dates when there is a conflict with Sundays or holidays. Some reporting relationships that are
now being followed in practice also are recognized in the proposed changes.
Result of Charter Change: In addition to the types of changes noted above, a number of more
significant changes are proposed.  They include: 

1. Establishing that appointees to Boards and Commissions shall not serve in office more than 6 months after expiration of their term. Currently, members serve until replaced even if their terms have expired.
2. Eliminating the Personnel Board of Appeals and transferring its duties to the Personnel
Commission

3. Requiring the Mayor to give written notice of intent to be out of the City more than 48 hours

4. Requiring a request for proposal (RFP) for internal auditors to be issued at least every 5
years

5. Mandating an internal audit and risk management function. Currently it is discretionary and
was eliminated by a previous mayor.

6. Eliminating an unused provision that abandoned, unclaimed, or stolen money in police or fire departments goes into Police or Fire Pension Trust.

7. Requiring that all Public Notices will be posted on the City website and by print, electronic or
broadcast media, rather than just print newspapers.

From www.lwvstamford.org

Stamford Charter Revision Question #2 - Consolidating Fire Companies

I would like to clarify my comments on Twitter and Facebook* last night about the volunteer fire chiefs I spoke with after the charter revision meeting.  First, I whole heartedly support volunteers, especially volunteer firefighters.  My father was a volunteer fire fighter in the Town of Binghamton so I have the utmost respect for those individuals that choose to support their community in this manner.  There is no doubt that anyone who volunteers for this role, is dedicated to their town and only wants what they believe is best for their town or city. 

The two gentlemen, who did not provide their names, other than being chiefs of different fire companies responded to some initial questions we had about a truck with a digital billboard displaying why voters should vote against Revision Question #2.  When my companion and I first spoke to them, we really wanted to support what they wanted, but their bullying demeanor and scare tactics left us feeling more confused about the facts, and honestly less interested in supporting these two individuals.  Honestly I have no idea if they speak for all volunteers or just themselves.

It is sad and scary that the safety of our community is in the hands of individuals that are unwilling to come together to discuss the greater safety of the city as a whole, which they all state is their goal, rather they spend time defending fiefdoms that don't matter to any resident who has moved to Stamford since 1990.

 

* Just met with 2 chiefs from the volunteer fire companies. What a bunch of assholes. Spewing conjecture around safety & cost to spread fear