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Fire department in the red
From this weekend's story:
The understaffed Coatesville Fire Department has exceeded its budgeted overtime expenses for the year in less than five months, according to city officials.
The department’s 2008 budget passed by City Council in January allotted the department $15,000 to pay for the extra shifts covered by the city’s full-time firefighters. On Thursday, city spokeswoman Kristin Geiger confirmed Coatesville had paid more than $24,100 so far this year.
Coatesville hopes alleviate the problem by hiring more full-time firefighters, and the city has begun advertising three openings in the department. Geiger said applications for those positions will be accepted through June 20.
From those applicants the city plans to administer a civil service test and hopes to compile an eligibility list.
The understaffed Coatesville Fire Department has exceeded its budgeted overtime expenses for the year in less than five months, according to city officials.
The department’s 2008 budget passed by City Council in January allotted the department $15,000 to pay for the extra shifts covered by the city’s full-time firefighters. On Thursday, city spokeswoman Kristin Geiger confirmed Coatesville had paid more than $24,100 so far this year.
Coatesville hopes alleviate the problem by hiring more full-time firefighters, and the city has begun advertising three openings in the department. Geiger said applications for those positions will be accepted through June 20.
From those applicants the city plans to administer a civil service test and hopes to compile an eligibility list.
No date has been set for the test yet, and it looks like it could be the middle of the summer before anyone is hired, at the earliest.
Labels: fire department, money
posted by Daily Local at
1:01 PM
10 Comments:
So now their books match their trucks? how nice
that would be true if their trucks were red
Call me naive but I just don't understand why there is no money in the budget for such things such as police and fire protection. The city has an obligation to make sure it's residents are safe. Where is the money going? The city doesn't haul trash anymore. City parks aren't maintained and usually the opening of pools is questionable. Most city streets look like downtown Beirut with trash dumped all over the place. The streets are anything but safe with shootings all over the place. Maybe it's time that all of these high salaried city officials were forced to take paycuts.
maybe it's time those city officials claimed coatesville city as their residence on their income taxes and paid the extra 1.5% like the rest of us.
It seems so easy to accuse city officials for everything and there is no accountability for anything. Has the thought ever occured to review the city's budget or even made an appointment with a city official to review the city's finances?
Sorry but I see no accusations here. City officials either live in the city or they don't. As far as everything listed by 12:40, he's right and again no accusations were made. Anybody living in the city experiences these things firsthand. What good will it do to make an appointment and discuss? They'll just tell you what they think you want to hear. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. It's time for action.
So after last year's firing's didn't go so well, we are hiring more full time firefighters? Coatesville needs to figure out wether they are going to hire, or fire our fire department personel. And this decision needs to come from people other than illegitimate chiefs/crooks. I hope they continue on the right path, with their hirings, but please keep Coatesville, and its departments safe. Good luck to our Coatesville city fire department.
The "Chief" is in over his head. I remember what a Sister once told, "A fish always stinks from it's head". This guy is just on an ego trip.
Why don't we start asking the real questions? Why is there a push to build a building for paid personnel? Why is there a push to get rid of dedicated volunteers and have a paid department? Why do these ideas continued to be pushed when it will increase the budget almost 200%? Why is it people don't want to work?
4:57 AM
Just follow the yellow brick road. You will eventually find the wizard of OZ and he will make all of your imaginary issues dissappear. The professionals will no longer push for adequate staffing and competant supervision and we can then begin to re-build your playground. Eventually you will wake up from your induced nap just outside the emerald forest, ( that i am sure was induced by the paid guys) and hell, maybe you can buy enough beer and be the next fiure chief. Actually. if you get drunk and take a few shots at the cops it may help your resume.
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