Real Kings of Logistics
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
When Good Management Is a Matter of Life and Death
Interesting article about being "productively paranoid", insuring that information is shared and not missing things because of information overload.
Allan
From: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/the_leadership_mistakes_that_l.html?awid=4678865509342592577-3271
by Morten T. Hansen
9:23 AM August 14, 2012
Recall the terrorist attack in Oslo, Norway, a year ago, when a lone terrorist first bombed a government building (killing eight people), then drove to an island where he murdered 69 mostly young people on a summer camp. The newly released report analyzing that day slams the police and the government for ineptitude, much like the infamous 9/11 report in the U.S.
How do you lead in a world full of crises, shocks, terror and disruptions? This question is relevant for CEOs and government leaders alike.
Jim Collins and I studied this question in our book Great by Choice in which we analyzed CEOs and companies that led successfully in such a world. From this and other research we know a few things that ought to be in place for leaders to successfully anticipate and respond to crises, turbulence, and disruptive change.
1. Leaders need to be productively paranoid. The successful CEOs in our study displayed an odd behavior that we labeled "productive paranoia." Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines predicted eleven out of the last three recessions. As Bill Gates said, "Fear should guide you." The successful CEOs in our study were hyper-vigilant about threats around them (the paranoia part) and also took action to mitigate those threats, whether in the form of building buffers or hedging (the productive part).
Prior to the Oslo terrorist attack, we saw the exact opposite of productive paranoia — a leisurely attitude. The government was supposed to build a security perimeter around the building, but just didn't get around to it. It did have a fast-response helicopter stationed in case of a terrorist attack, but this could not be used, because the staff was on vacation in July, like most Norwegians. (Did they believe that terrorists too take vacation in July?) The key here is for leaders to be hyper-vigilant, and especially when things are calm — because it could be the calm before the storm.
2. The system must connect the dots horizontally. After the bomb went off in Oslo, at 3:26pm, the terrorist jumped into a van. At 3:35pm, someone called the police with a tip that a man in a (fake) police uniform had acted weirdly when he got into the car. The tipster even reported the license plate number, a possible break in the case! But alas, the junior person on the police phone line wrote down the tip on a note and took it to a senior officer, and then the note somehow got lost sitting on a desk. This mishandling of vital information is eerily similar to the findings in the 9/11 commission report.
As I write in my book Collaboration, several barriers get in the way of effective information sharing. In this case, hierarchy got in the way — a critical piece of information got lost in the handoff from a junior to a senior person. A system cannot respond effectively when information has to flow up and down hierarchical lines: it is slow, and superiors often suppress the information because they do not see its importance or relevance or don't have time to respond.
We have seen this happen before. At Pearl Harbor, at 7:02 am on December 7, 1941, two U.S. soldiers operating a radar station saw something that looked like an incoming airplane; they telephoned an officer, who told them to forget it (the attack occurred 53 minutes later). In the Columbia shuttle disaster, junior engineers knew that there was critical foam damage on the shuttle, but they did not dare to speak up to more senior managers in a meeting on January 24, 2003.
Two management tactics could resolve this: First, junior people ought to be able to pass on information horizontally across units (and not just to their immediate superiors). Second, they also need to be authorized to follow through to see that the information is really acted upon (vs. just passed on), and if not, to act themselves. This requires that hierarchy is flattened, that people build rich networks across units, and that information technology systems cascade data across units.
3. The system must be able to handle information overload. The senior officer in Oslo who received the note with the license plate number was busy in the chaos that followed the bombing, which explains how the note got lost on the desk. Similarly, at Pearl Harbor, recall Roberta Wohlstetter's famous line: "We failed to anticipate Pearl Harbor not for want of the relevant materials, but because of the plethora of irrelevant ones." 9/11, too, was not anticipated in part because critical information was lost in a sea of data.
When a crisis strikes, in business or in government, the flow and speed of information go way up, and now more than ever. The ratio of noise to helpful information goes way up too, making it difficult to interpret and manage. As Nobel Laureate Herbert Simon said, "a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention." This means leaders have to increase the attention capacity in an organization. Do we have enough managers who can interpret the information rapidly and collaborate to establish a common understanding? Do our CEO and senior leaders get the information quickly enough and it is sufficiently unfiltered so that they can really see what is going on? Sadly, in hard times, leaders cut they very resources — people and systems — that increase the attention capacity.
The implication for every leader in business and government: you are judged by how well you prepare in advance for a crisis, not just by what you do when it hits.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Vancouver's Fire Station 6, which was closed for most of 2011 for budget reasons, is facing another possible closure.
This is the negative side of the SAFER grants. Jurisdictions use the grants to hire firefighters then lay them off at the end of the grant. Jurisdictions should be ready to absorb the new hires at the end of the grant funding period.
Allan
From: http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/aug/13/fire-station-6-may-face-another-closure/
Vancouver's Fire Station 6, which was closed for most of 2011 for budget reasons, is facing another possible closure.
By Andrea Damewood
Columbian Staff Reporter
Monday, August 13, 2012
Vancouver leaders have decided against applying for a federal grant this year that, if awarded, would have ensured Fire Station 6 will stay open after its current grant runs out at the end of 2013.
The move means the station, on Northeast 112th Avenue, could close from the end of 2013 to as late as August 2014 — and that's if Vancouver is successful in getting a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant next year.
Fire Station 6 was shuttered for most of 2011 due to budget cuts, but reopened after the city got a $2.3 million SAFER grant to hire 13 new firefighters.
City Manager Eric Holmes told the city council in an email Friday — the deadline to apply — that Vancouver wasn't technically qualified for the grant, and that because it has a grant now, the department wasn't as competitive.
But supporters of the station said they felt blind-sided by the last minute change — the city council had approved going after the money in May.
"I'm highly disappointed," said Mary Elkin, who lives in the Image neighborhood and founded Friends of Fire Station 6. "I'm a little upset that no one even told the city council this was going to happen. It didn't give them time to ask questions."
Holmes said that after his office consulted with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which hands out SAFER grants, he found that Vancouver doesn't technically qualify. The city council would have to authorize a letter of intent to lay off those 13 firefighters — something Holmes said should happen as part of the larger talks about the city's budget, which will occur later this year.
"It is an issue of debate that deserves to be considered in context of the overall biennial budget," Holmes said Monday. Holmes' budget is subject to council approval, but it does not contain money for Fire Station 6 as it stands now.
"In addition, the fact that the city has almost a year left on the current SAFER grant makes us less competitive compared to other departments that are actively laying off staff from their 2010 SAFER awards," Holmes wrote the city council.
In an email, Fire Chief Joe Molina said he also felt that the city wouldn't be a good fit this time around.
"My recommendation was that we provide layoff notices prior to July 2013 with a layoff effective date by the grant deadline (most likely November 2013)," Molina wrote. "SAFER award timing is unpredictable but could come early enough to minimize the layoff period to a few months, or worst case, as late as August 2014."
Molina and Holmes also both expressed hope that a redesign of the department's fire and EMS service delivery model may help keep the same level of coverage in central Vancouver, even if Fire Station 6 closes again.
Elkin said she wasn't sold.
"I think it's wrong," she said. "I think our city needs to fully fund our police and fire departments."
Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542; http://twitter.com/col_cityhall; andrea.damewood@columbian.com.
Allan
From: http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/aug/13/fire-station-6-may-face-another-closure/
Vancouver's Fire Station 6, which was closed for most of 2011 for budget reasons, is facing another possible closure.
By Andrea Damewood
Columbian Staff Reporter
Monday, August 13, 2012
Vancouver leaders have decided against applying for a federal grant this year that, if awarded, would have ensured Fire Station 6 will stay open after its current grant runs out at the end of 2013.
The move means the station, on Northeast 112th Avenue, could close from the end of 2013 to as late as August 2014 — and that's if Vancouver is successful in getting a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant next year.
Fire Station 6 was shuttered for most of 2011 due to budget cuts, but reopened after the city got a $2.3 million SAFER grant to hire 13 new firefighters.
City Manager Eric Holmes told the city council in an email Friday — the deadline to apply — that Vancouver wasn't technically qualified for the grant, and that because it has a grant now, the department wasn't as competitive.
But supporters of the station said they felt blind-sided by the last minute change — the city council had approved going after the money in May.
"I'm highly disappointed," said Mary Elkin, who lives in the Image neighborhood and founded Friends of Fire Station 6. "I'm a little upset that no one even told the city council this was going to happen. It didn't give them time to ask questions."
Holmes said that after his office consulted with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which hands out SAFER grants, he found that Vancouver doesn't technically qualify. The city council would have to authorize a letter of intent to lay off those 13 firefighters — something Holmes said should happen as part of the larger talks about the city's budget, which will occur later this year.
"It is an issue of debate that deserves to be considered in context of the overall biennial budget," Holmes said Monday. Holmes' budget is subject to council approval, but it does not contain money for Fire Station 6 as it stands now.
"In addition, the fact that the city has almost a year left on the current SAFER grant makes us less competitive compared to other departments that are actively laying off staff from their 2010 SAFER awards," Holmes wrote the city council.
In an email, Fire Chief Joe Molina said he also felt that the city wouldn't be a good fit this time around.
"My recommendation was that we provide layoff notices prior to July 2013 with a layoff effective date by the grant deadline (most likely November 2013)," Molina wrote. "SAFER award timing is unpredictable but could come early enough to minimize the layoff period to a few months, or worst case, as late as August 2014."
Molina and Holmes also both expressed hope that a redesign of the department's fire and EMS service delivery model may help keep the same level of coverage in central Vancouver, even if Fire Station 6 closes again.
Elkin said she wasn't sold.
"I think it's wrong," she said. "I think our city needs to fully fund our police and fire departments."
Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542; http://twitter.com/col_cityhall; andrea.damewood@columbian.com.
Unions approve fire pact (in Stockton)
Stockton fire union agrees to a one-year contract with increased pension contribution (9+%).
Allan
From: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120814/A_NEWS/208140323/-1/rss02
Deal leaves police as lone holdout
By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
August 14, 2012 12:00 AMSTOCKTON - The city's two firefighter unions approved new contracts Monday, which has them contributing more to their pensions, saving Stockton money amid its financial restructuring.
Firefighter Bryan Carr, executive secretary of the Stockton Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 456, declined to reveal more of the contracts' fine print before the City Council votes on them later this month.
The Stockton Police Officers' Association now becomes the lone holdout among the city's nine labor groups asked to agree to new deals as Stockton wends it way through its Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
"I'm happy that fire has a contract," said Sgt. Kathryn Nance, the police union's president. "We're just at the point where we're working out a contract, something to carry us through bankruptcy."
A sticking point for police is retaining additional pay for senior officers. Without that, those with experience on Stockton's streets will continue leaving, she said.
"We're down so many officers that it's just not safe," Nance said. "The crime rate's out of control."
The city staffers and the police union don't meet weekly, but they are in regular communication. Nance said she hoped that with the other labor groups securing new deals the city can focus on working with police.
For fire, the major change to the current agreement, adopted less than one year ago, raises the percentage each firefighter will contribute to his or her pension. They also raised it last year to the current 9 percent contribution, Carr said.
Monday's vote passed by 70 percent of members agreeing, but it only required more than 50 percent. The contract has a one-year lifespan, opening again when the city is either out of bankruptcy or further along in its Chapter 9 proceedings, he said.
"We're obviously going to come back to the table and figure it out then," Carr said.
Councilwoman Susan Eggman praised firefighters for their leadership by approving the tough contract, which asks them to take a hit to their paychecks so Stockton can maintain its service levels. She viewed the vote count as a good thing.
"It could have gone the other way just as easily," Eggman said. "To their credit, they want to do their part to help. I think its admirable."
Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.
Allan
From: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120814/A_NEWS/208140323/-1/rss02
Deal leaves police as lone holdout
By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
August 14, 2012 12:00 AMSTOCKTON - The city's two firefighter unions approved new contracts Monday, which has them contributing more to their pensions, saving Stockton money amid its financial restructuring.
Firefighter Bryan Carr, executive secretary of the Stockton Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 456, declined to reveal more of the contracts' fine print before the City Council votes on them later this month.
The Stockton Police Officers' Association now becomes the lone holdout among the city's nine labor groups asked to agree to new deals as Stockton wends it way through its Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
"I'm happy that fire has a contract," said Sgt. Kathryn Nance, the police union's president. "We're just at the point where we're working out a contract, something to carry us through bankruptcy."
A sticking point for police is retaining additional pay for senior officers. Without that, those with experience on Stockton's streets will continue leaving, she said.
"We're down so many officers that it's just not safe," Nance said. "The crime rate's out of control."
The city staffers and the police union don't meet weekly, but they are in regular communication. Nance said she hoped that with the other labor groups securing new deals the city can focus on working with police.
For fire, the major change to the current agreement, adopted less than one year ago, raises the percentage each firefighter will contribute to his or her pension. They also raised it last year to the current 9 percent contribution, Carr said.
Monday's vote passed by 70 percent of members agreeing, but it only required more than 50 percent. The contract has a one-year lifespan, opening again when the city is either out of bankruptcy or further along in its Chapter 9 proceedings, he said.
"We're obviously going to come back to the table and figure it out then," Carr said.
Councilwoman Susan Eggman praised firefighters for their leadership by approving the tough contract, which asks them to take a hit to their paychecks so Stockton can maintain its service levels. She viewed the vote count as a good thing.
"It could have gone the other way just as easily," Eggman said. "To their credit, they want to do their part to help. I think its admirable."
Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.
Ambulance fee to stay in Montgomery County
If the volunteer association's opposition was that the fee would stop people from calling 911, they should explain how that position has changed. It appears that they were convinced by receiving 15% of the collected fee.
Allan
From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/ambulance-fee-to-stay-in-montgomery-county/2012/08/13/ba8516d0-e583-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_story.html
The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association announced Monday that it is dropping its opposition to a controversial ambulance fee, meaning that patients could be charged for a ride to the hospital as early as January.
The fee, which would range between $300 to $800, was initially opposed by the volunteer firefighters because of fears that it would deter some residents from calling 911.
As they did two years ago, when they helped kill a similar proposal, the volunteer firefighters mounted a campaign recently to collect signatures to put the measure to a vote in November. But at a news conference on Monday, the fire-rescue association said it had struck a deal with the county, that would give the volunteers 15 percent of the revenue generated by the fee, which is estimated at $18 million a year and would likely grow over time.
Eric N. Bernard, the association’s executive director, said he will monitor ambulance calls to make sure they don’t drop because of the fee.
Bernard said the association had collected more than 11,000 signatures but stopped gathering them about two weeks ago. He said the volunteers were “getting fatigued.”
“Our concentration is on fire and rescue, not on collecting signatures,” he said.
The fee, which was expected to be one of three controversial issues in the November ballot, will help pay for fire and rescue equipment and personnel costs. County officials said that in nearly all cases, private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid would cover the cost of ambulance service, which would vary depending on the distance and urgency of the trip. County officials have said they would ensure that residents don’t pay out-of-pocket costs, but there were still some out-of-county patients who would pay.
At the news conference, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said he would try to prevent even those patients from having to pay. But there are legal obstacles, and it remains unclear whether they will be able to do so, county officials said.
Bernard said that if the county doesn’t overcome the legal hurdles, his group may work with hospitals and nonprofit organizations to create a fund to reimburse those patients.
The fee has had a rocky path. It was initially approved by the county council in 2010 as a way to generate additional revenue. The firefighters were able to put it to a vote, and residents knocked down the measure that same year. Undeterred, the council passed an amended version of fee again in May.
Meanwhile, longtime Republican activist Robin Ficker submitted 14,500 signatures for a referendum on the controversial county energy tax. An unpopular increase to the levy was set to expire this year, but in May the county council voted to extend the vast majority of the hike.
On Monday, Ficker visited Leggett’s office with two boxes containing 3,000 pages of petition documents. If approved by the County Board of Elections, the petition would allow voters to make the energy tax harder to increase.
Ficker’s measure would require a unanimous vote by the county council to increase the tax above the rate of inflation.
“They broke their promise to voters,” said Ficker, who in 2008 got a similar measure approved involving the county property tax.
Also, the county police union is trying to repeal a law that curtails its collective bargaining rights. Enacted this summer, the law prevents the union from negotiating on day-to-day duties, such as checking e-mail.
The union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, has hired outside consultants to collect signatures to challenge the law. County elections officials certified the petition in November, but the county quickly sued to block it. In June, a county judge struck down the petition, saying it contained inaccurate information.
On Thursday, union lawyers will argue before the Maryland Court of Appeals to reinstate the petition.
The legal action has been costly. County spokeswoman Donna Bigler said in an e-mail that Montgomery has spent $201,000 in legal fees.
Monday, August 13, 2012
City files motion to dismiss unions’ lawsuit
August 10, 2012 6:19 am
The city of Racine has filed a motion asking that a lawsuit three unions filed against the municipality last month be dismissed.
On July 19 the City Council voted to rescind prospective 2013-2014 contracts affecting 524 of the city’s 670 employees. City staff told aldermen that wage and benefits provisions in those contracts, which were passed by the council in December 2010 and January and February of 2011, will create a $2 million deficit in the 2013 budget and the city can’t raise taxes to pay for the provisions because of property taxing restrictions imposed by the Legislature.
Two days later three of the unions affected by the vote — AFSCME Local 67, the Racine Police Association and Racine Firefighters Local 321 of the International Association of Firefighters — filed a lawsuit in Racine County Circuit Court asking that the contracts be upheld.
In the summons and complaint the unions argue that council’s actions constituted a “breach of contract.”
In its motion to dismiss, which was filed Wednesday, the city states that the unions failed to follow state statue when they filed a lawsuit without first waiting for the city to respond to the unions’ “notice of claim.”
“Any time there is a lawsuit or claim against a municipality or governmental agency there is a statutory requirement that whoever is filing the claim file a notice of circumstances,” Deputy City Attorney Scott Letteney said. “That has to be filed within a 120 days of the event giving rise to the claim.
“Within a 120 days of the notice of claim being filed, the municipality has to file a response to the claim, and the (city) council has to do that,” Letteney continued. “It is only after the municipality has responded to the claim, that the complainant is permitted to file a lawsuit.”
The unions did file a “notice of claim” with the Racine City Clerk, Letteney confirms, but they did not wait the required 120 days and find out the city council’s response before filing their lawsuit.
In their summons and complaint filed on July 19, the unions address the “notice of claim” issue, writing: “Although plaintiffs do not believe they are required to file a notice of claim...under the circumstances of this case, particularly given the urgent need for swift judicial action in response to the city’s actions, they have presented such a notice...”
“We believe that we have followed the proper procedure,” David Dorn, a staff representative for AFSCME Local 67, said Thursday of the city’s motion to dismiss. “I would say that unfortunately the city’s decision to wait six months before these contracts were to become effective doesn’t afford us the opportunity to wait 120 days.
“City employees need to know their future and they need to know it soon.”
The city’s motion to dismiss is slated to be heard at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 7 in Judge Gerald Ptacek’s courtroom.
Unpopular shift changes could take 'a huge toll' on firefighters
Interesting schedule called "Day Crewing Plus" in which members work for day shifts attached to 4 nights on-call then get 4 days off. This schedule requires members to be away from home for 4 days straight.
Allan
From: http://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2012/08/13/61757-unpopular-shift-changes-could-take-a-huge-toll-on-firefighters/
Hannah Shroot • Published 13 Aug 2012 06:30 0 Comments
AN UNPOPULAR system that changes the way fire stations operate could prove to be 'a huge toll' on firefighters if it is implemented.
An action plan released by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority - the body responsible for deciding how Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is run - has indicated a 'Day Crewing Plus' system is being considered for the region, which incorporates Slough, Langley, Windsor and Maidenhead stations.
Under the system, which could be introduced in 2013, separate rest areas are provided for crew so they can work four duty shift days and four nights on call at a time followed by four days off, instead of the current 42 hours a week.
The system halves the number of firefighters on a single fire-engine station, reducing the number of watches to two instead of four.
Michael Rowley, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union at Windsor fire station, said: "The system would be a huge toll on employees and their families if they have to be away from home four days at a time."
Switching to this system, which is already used in some places across the country including Lancashire and Merseyside, would allow savings of about £330,000 for each fire station where it is introduced. Crews would receive an enhanced salary for the additional hours on call but Mr Rowley said there was a distinct possibility redundancies would have to be made if stations opted for the new system.
Andy Mancey, RBFRS's area manager for response, said the proposals are for a selected number of fire stations only. He added: "A project team has recently been appointed to look at Day Crewing Plus in more detail and this work is still in its very early stages. The outcome of this work will be reported to the Fire Authority when it is completed."
Members of the public are invited to take part in the consultation programme, which runs until October 22, 2012.
The Action Plan can be downloaded from www.rbfrs.co.uk/irmp_options.asp. Email comments to irmp@rbfrs.co.uk, call 0118 938 4331, fax 0118 959 0510 or write to IRMP Consultation, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, FREEPOST (RG2 669), 103 Dee Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 1BR.
Resident sues to oust fire official
Specification writing for the purchase of items for the fire department is an important step. Often there is only one item that meets your requirements. If this is the case, be prepared to defend your reasons i.e. specialized training, compatibility with existing equipment, there is only one that does "x", etc. Insure that all stakeholders are aware of and support the selection of a single vendor. Using restrictive specifications that cannot be justified will expose you to critizism and potentially lawsuits.
The temptation to use specification templates supplied by a vendor or personnel with a relationship with the vendor should also be avoided. Well meaning offers to help you with the specification writing may be looked upon as unfair access that eliminates competition.
Allan
From: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Resident-sues-to-oust-fire-official-3782971.php
She wants him removed after he wrote specs for truck his company sells
Times Union Copyright 2012 Times Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Tim O'Brien
Updated 8:31 p.m., Sunday, August 12, 2012
COLONIE — A town resident is suing to oust a fire commissioner over his involvement in writing specifications for a truck his company sells.
Kathryn Freenern filed the lawsuit in the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court. She seeks to have Philip D'Angelo removed as a commissioner for the Midway fire department.
D'Angelo wrote the specifications for a new firetruck for the department when he serves as a salesman for Rosenbauer America, a leading firetruck manufacturer. Several competing firms accused the department of rigging the bids to ensure Rosenbauer got the contract.
When the board voted, D'Angelo abstained and there were insufficient votes to approve the purchase. In May, he announced that his firm would not bid if the department renewed its effort to acquire a truck.
Freenern is being represented by attorney Michael Carota, who also represents Midway Fire Chief Robert Sammons.
Sammons was suspended by the department for reasons that have not been made public. A hearing officer has issued a report after hearing evidence in the case, but both Carota and Jack Clark, the district's attorney, have declined to discuss the matter.
The board of commissioners is expected to take up the chief's future at its Aug. 20 meeting.
Carota said Freenern believes D'Angelo recusing himself from the vote does not change the fact he wrote specifications to benefit his company. In the lawsuit, Freenern says, the bid specifies "the use of steel in any portion of the body construction is not acceptable" when only Rosenbaur trucks have all-aluminum bodies.
"She feels that it was unethical and a conflict of interest for him to be involved as he was in that bid specification," Carota said. "The bid specification was based off their proprietary specifications."
D'Angelo said he could not yet comment because he is in the process of hiring an attorney. The case is due back in court Aug. 27.
"At the appropriate time, we will definitely have something to say about this," he said.
Back in May, D'Angelo said at a commissioners' meeting that he volunteered to write the specifications because he has 30 years of experience. He thought it would be less expensive than having specifications written from scratch, he told the commissioners then.
"Looking back on that now, I think that was a mistake," he said at the time. "We were trying to save the district $6,000."
The temptation to use specification templates supplied by a vendor or personnel with a relationship with the vendor should also be avoided. Well meaning offers to help you with the specification writing may be looked upon as unfair access that eliminates competition.
Allan
From: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Resident-sues-to-oust-fire-official-3782971.php
She wants him removed after he wrote specs for truck his company sells
Times Union Copyright 2012 Times Union. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Tim O'Brien
Updated 8:31 p.m., Sunday, August 12, 2012
COLONIE — A town resident is suing to oust a fire commissioner over his involvement in writing specifications for a truck his company sells.
Kathryn Freenern filed the lawsuit in the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court. She seeks to have Philip D'Angelo removed as a commissioner for the Midway fire department.
D'Angelo wrote the specifications for a new firetruck for the department when he serves as a salesman for Rosenbauer America, a leading firetruck manufacturer. Several competing firms accused the department of rigging the bids to ensure Rosenbauer got the contract.
When the board voted, D'Angelo abstained and there were insufficient votes to approve the purchase. In May, he announced that his firm would not bid if the department renewed its effort to acquire a truck.
Freenern is being represented by attorney Michael Carota, who also represents Midway Fire Chief Robert Sammons.
Sammons was suspended by the department for reasons that have not been made public. A hearing officer has issued a report after hearing evidence in the case, but both Carota and Jack Clark, the district's attorney, have declined to discuss the matter.
The board of commissioners is expected to take up the chief's future at its Aug. 20 meeting.
Carota said Freenern believes D'Angelo recusing himself from the vote does not change the fact he wrote specifications to benefit his company. In the lawsuit, Freenern says, the bid specifies "the use of steel in any portion of the body construction is not acceptable" when only Rosenbaur trucks have all-aluminum bodies.
"She feels that it was unethical and a conflict of interest for him to be involved as he was in that bid specification," Carota said. "The bid specification was based off their proprietary specifications."
D'Angelo said he could not yet comment because he is in the process of hiring an attorney. The case is due back in court Aug. 27.
"At the appropriate time, we will definitely have something to say about this," he said.
Back in May, D'Angelo said at a commissioners' meeting that he volunteered to write the specifications because he has 30 years of experience. He thought it would be less expensive than having specifications written from scratch, he told the commissioners then.
"Looking back on that now, I think that was a mistake," he said at the time. "We were trying to save the district $6,000."
Friday, August 10, 2012
Fire Service is Slammed over Botched Recruitment Process
Promotional process are a very important human resources function in the fire department. Maximum effort should be made to insure a fair process that chooses the best candidates for the position. Mistakes made degrade the process and reduces confidence in the system. Although the mistakes were corrected, the person first being told they passed the process then told they did not will not feel very well about their experience.
Allan
From:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/fire-service-is-slammed-over-botched-recruitment-process-16194815.html?r=RSS
By Brendan McDaid
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
The Fire Brigades Union has called for heads to roll following a botched internal recruitment drive.
Union bosses said frontline firefighters have been left frustrated and angry by errors made at headquarters.
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) has admitted that eight firefighters were wrongly told their bids to be considered for station commander posts were successful.
The admission comes just three years after another error during which an outsourced company employed by the service tallied candidate scores wrong.
The latest mistake has occurred at a time when NIFRS is already being investigated over recruitment practices.
Fire Brigades Union vice-president Jim Barbour said: “We have been waiting on this round of promotions for a considerable time and firefighters are frustrated as they see constant mistakes being made at headquarters — mistake after mistake.
“This is going back two, three, four years for firefighters. They are extremely frustrated and angry and there is a lack of confidence in the processes now. That is completely understandable.”
It is understood candidates for the station commander posts were put through tests before being informed of the decision by letter in the past few weeks. However, some letters wrongly told staff they had been successful and a second round of letters had to be issued after this was discovered.
“These people have been waiting on this for months, and for erroneous letters to be issued smacks of complete and utter incompetence,” Mr Barbour said.
The Fire & Rescue Service on Monday confirmed that at the request of Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, two independent reviews are being carried out by internal auditors at Department for Agriculture and Rural Development and by London Fire Brigade into NIFRS’s whole-time firefighter recruitment process.
Mr Barbour said: “We have lost confidence in internal procedures. Headquarters will be aware of the external investigations and to make another mistake at this time, quite frankly, heads should roll.”
A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service confirmed on Monday that “eight members of staff did recently receive a letter relating to the annual selection cycle for station commander posts”.
“Unfortunately due to an administrative error these eight members of staff were incorrectly identified as being successful for consideration for station commander posts,” she said.
“As soon as this mistake was detected, we issued a letter immediately to the eight members of staff sincerely apologising for this human error.”
The spokeswoman also confirmed that there was a previous issue in which an “administrative error” was made in 2009 by “an external provider of Assessment Development Centres (part of our recruitment and selection process) and not by NIFRS itself”.
She said: “Deloitte, the external provider, acknowledged full responsibility and regret for the administrative error in the sorting of the final scores in a Assessment Development Centre held in May/ June 2009 and which was then used for two tranches of internal promotion within NIFRS in January 2010 and September 2010.
“We sought legal advice and this issue, which affected a small number of operational staff, has been rectified and resolved with Deloitte. The NIFRS contract with Deloitte for the provision of Assessment Development Centres ceased on June 30, 2009.”
Allan
From:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/fire-service-is-slammed-over-botched-recruitment-process-16194815.html?r=RSS
By Brendan McDaid
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
The Fire Brigades Union has called for heads to roll following a botched internal recruitment drive.
Union bosses said frontline firefighters have been left frustrated and angry by errors made at headquarters.
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) has admitted that eight firefighters were wrongly told their bids to be considered for station commander posts were successful.
The admission comes just three years after another error during which an outsourced company employed by the service tallied candidate scores wrong.
The latest mistake has occurred at a time when NIFRS is already being investigated over recruitment practices.
Fire Brigades Union vice-president Jim Barbour said: “We have been waiting on this round of promotions for a considerable time and firefighters are frustrated as they see constant mistakes being made at headquarters — mistake after mistake.
“This is going back two, three, four years for firefighters. They are extremely frustrated and angry and there is a lack of confidence in the processes now. That is completely understandable.”
It is understood candidates for the station commander posts were put through tests before being informed of the decision by letter in the past few weeks. However, some letters wrongly told staff they had been successful and a second round of letters had to be issued after this was discovered.
“These people have been waiting on this for months, and for erroneous letters to be issued smacks of complete and utter incompetence,” Mr Barbour said.
The Fire & Rescue Service on Monday confirmed that at the request of Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, two independent reviews are being carried out by internal auditors at Department for Agriculture and Rural Development and by London Fire Brigade into NIFRS’s whole-time firefighter recruitment process.
Mr Barbour said: “We have lost confidence in internal procedures. Headquarters will be aware of the external investigations and to make another mistake at this time, quite frankly, heads should roll.”
A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service confirmed on Monday that “eight members of staff did recently receive a letter relating to the annual selection cycle for station commander posts”.
“Unfortunately due to an administrative error these eight members of staff were incorrectly identified as being successful for consideration for station commander posts,” she said.
“As soon as this mistake was detected, we issued a letter immediately to the eight members of staff sincerely apologising for this human error.”
The spokeswoman also confirmed that there was a previous issue in which an “administrative error” was made in 2009 by “an external provider of Assessment Development Centres (part of our recruitment and selection process) and not by NIFRS itself”.
She said: “Deloitte, the external provider, acknowledged full responsibility and regret for the administrative error in the sorting of the final scores in a Assessment Development Centre held in May/ June 2009 and which was then used for two tranches of internal promotion within NIFRS in January 2010 and September 2010.
“We sought legal advice and this issue, which affected a small number of operational staff, has been rectified and resolved with Deloitte. The NIFRS contract with Deloitte for the provision of Assessment Development Centres ceased on June 30, 2009.”
Communications Issues Endanger Firefighters.
This article highlights the importance of communications on the fireground for both the safety of firefighters and successful fire operations. Different agencies with different radio frequencies on the same fireground is the recipe for disaster. Since this issue can be anticipated, solutions need to be implemented. Having all on the same system is ideal and should be worked toward. Having the technology to patch the frequencies together would also work. Even providing home team radios to the visiting departments can also work. It should be unacceptable for fire departments to be working on the same incident without the ability to readily communicate with each other.
This situation also highlights the need for redundancy especially in safety systems. Firefighter in the IDLH who could not communicate by radio heard the air horns sounding the evacuation tone and exited the building. This low-tech system has great reliability. They should consider using a long blast for the signal. Multiple short blasts may sound like a responding vehicle.
Allan
From
http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20120809/NEWS01/208090301/Communications-issues-endanger-firefighters-Blackwater-Road-blaze?nclick_check=1
Written by
Jona Ison
Gazette Staff Writer
CHILLICOTHE -- Part of the communications problems that led to a close call for four firefighters at a Blackwater Road fire Tuesday night has been fixed.
Green Township Fire Chief Terry French said B&C Communications was at the station Wednesday and fixed programming issues with the rescue vehicle, but still needs to assess and fix the problem with the engine radios. However, he said neither fix will correct a cross-patch issue or address what he thinks is the root of the problem -- the fact there were three different radio systems in use by departments from three counties.
The situation began when a passerby alerted James D. Hamlet Jr. that the home at 2260 Blackwater Road was on fire about 8:20 p.m. Hamlet said his brother, Ray Hamlet, owns the home and had left about 10 minutes before to pick up a pizza in Circleville.
"I was in the TV room, and I heard the pop and crackles, but it didn't register it was fire," he said, adding he never smelled smoke.
Hamlet said he went back into the home several times, first to get a cellphone to call 911 and then to get shoes.
"I tried to go back in a fourth time. That's when I couldn't see anything, and I thought, 'I don't need my body here when I should be out there.'" Hamlet said.
French said the home's roof was engulfed when firefighters arrived at 8:31 p.m., nine minutes after being dispatched, according to Ross County Sheriff's Office records.
Crews from Colerain, Springfield, Pickaway, Laurelville and Tarlton responded, as did Box 65, a rehab team from the Circleville Fire Department, and the American Red Cross.
Because there were different radio communications systems being used from three counties, French said there were multiple issues with communication throughout the fire. Fire officials tried to use a cross patch from Ross County and another from Pickaway County, as well as two tactical channels, to keep firefighters talking to each other, but they were overloaded and kept failing, he added. Many times, they were left trying to use hand signals to communicate.
"We had four firefighters in the upstairs, and the fire rolled over and trapped them," French said. "We were fortunate to get them out."
The firefighters had been unable to hear any radio communications while in the home and only realized they were in trouble when they heard three short blasts from the fire truck, signaling that the structure was unsafe and needed to be abandoned, French said. Other firefighters helped guide them out, because the fire had blocked their intended exit.
French said one pair of firefighters included a husband and wife from Colerain Township's department, while the other two were from either Laurelville or Tarlton.
"This is my 14th year as chief, and I've never had anybody die in a fire, but I was close last night," French said.
French referenced the communications snafu as being similar to what happened at New York City's Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, when firefighters and police had problems talking to each other because they were on different radio systems.
The state has been encouraging agencies across the state to abandon their individual communications systems -- there are about 1,300 different systems across the state -- and join the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS).
Agencies on MARCS should be able to communicate with each other no matter where they are in the state. Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly recently allocated $90 million to upgrade MARCS so more agencies can subscribe.
The state has suggested now is a good time for agencies to look to switching to MARCS, since the Federal Communication Commission has required radio systems to be upgraded to a narrow-band transmission. Locally, townships have instead been spending money for new narrow-band transmission radios and pagers to comply with FCC's mandate.
Springfield Township Fire Chief Tim Karshner was frustrated Tuesday night because his new pager and radio -- his department recently spent about $15,000 on the new equipment -- never received the tones or the message for the fire. Luckily, enough volunteers did hear the call and were on scene within 17 minutes of being dispatched, according to the sheriff's office log.
"There was a lot of experiences with radio problems. Whatever is going on needs to be fixed in a hurry," Karshner said. "We just can't have these kinds of problems with communications."
French thinks the fix would be for the townships to move onto MARCS like Chillicothe fire and police departments did with the help of grants last year.
"I think the commissioners need to appoint somebody to explore the possibility of upgrading to MARCS," French said.
Commissioner Doug Corcoran said the panel discussed possibly moving onto the MARCS system a few years ago, but didn't do an in-depth review of it.
"The cost to use it was going to be cost prohibitive," Corcoran recalled of the discussion.
While the townships have spent money for new radios and pagers -- an overall figure was not available Wednesday -- Corcoran said that was a one-time expense as opposed to recurring subscription fees for MARCS.
Agencies on MARCS purchase the radios and then pay $20 per month per radio on the system. Annual fees for Chillicothe fire and police combined total $28,800, according to Chillicothe Auditor Tom Spetnagel.
Ross County also has one of 11 special communications vehicles in Ohio that can patch communications for all frequencies in the area, said Sheriff George Lavender.
"All any agency has to do is ask for it, and we'll send it," Lavender said, adding it doesn't have to be a widespread emergency. "Any general fire scene, if they're having communications issues, we'll send it. We can marry up the systems."
French said he opted not to call for the vehicle.
"We did not call for them due to the fact they were tied up at the fairgrounds with their manpower (issue). I didn't feel the need to have it there," French said.
Lavender said the vehicle is stored at the fairgrounds and since the Ross County Fair is going on this week, they had personnel at the fairgrounds who could have responded quicker than usual with the vehicle. Even so, French said it's not something that should be relied upon.
"I don't think we want to get into a habit of relying on that all the time as a fire department," he said, adding he feels MARCS is the better answer. "I realize it's going to be a substantial cost, but there's several counties that have switched. We need to pursue that."
While the fire has left French focused on communications among departments, the State Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating a cause, which is believed to have begun in the upper part of the house above the kitchen, according to French.
"I had flashing lights in the kitchen, but it didn't happen every day," Ray Hamlet said, adding he wasn't sure if that contributed to the fire, but he made sure investigators were aware.
Fire marshal public information officer Shane Cartmill expects it will be a few days before a determination of the fire's cause is made.
French estimated the loss of the home and contents at between $450,000 and $500,000. Ray Hamlet said although he has insurance, he did not have his collectibles insured.
He and his wife plan to stay with his brother and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
This situation also highlights the need for redundancy especially in safety systems. Firefighter in the IDLH who could not communicate by radio heard the air horns sounding the evacuation tone and exited the building. This low-tech system has great reliability. They should consider using a long blast for the signal. Multiple short blasts may sound like a responding vehicle.
Allan
From
http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20120809/NEWS01/208090301/Communications-issues-endanger-firefighters-Blackwater-Road-blaze?nclick_check=1
Written by
Jona Ison
Gazette Staff Writer
CHILLICOTHE -- Part of the communications problems that led to a close call for four firefighters at a Blackwater Road fire Tuesday night has been fixed.
Green Township Fire Chief Terry French said B&C Communications was at the station Wednesday and fixed programming issues with the rescue vehicle, but still needs to assess and fix the problem with the engine radios. However, he said neither fix will correct a cross-patch issue or address what he thinks is the root of the problem -- the fact there were three different radio systems in use by departments from three counties.
The situation began when a passerby alerted James D. Hamlet Jr. that the home at 2260 Blackwater Road was on fire about 8:20 p.m. Hamlet said his brother, Ray Hamlet, owns the home and had left about 10 minutes before to pick up a pizza in Circleville.
"I was in the TV room, and I heard the pop and crackles, but it didn't register it was fire," he said, adding he never smelled smoke.
Hamlet said he went back into the home several times, first to get a cellphone to call 911 and then to get shoes.
"I tried to go back in a fourth time. That's when I couldn't see anything, and I thought, 'I don't need my body here when I should be out there.'" Hamlet said.
French said the home's roof was engulfed when firefighters arrived at 8:31 p.m., nine minutes after being dispatched, according to Ross County Sheriff's Office records.
Crews from Colerain, Springfield, Pickaway, Laurelville and Tarlton responded, as did Box 65, a rehab team from the Circleville Fire Department, and the American Red Cross.
Because there were different radio communications systems being used from three counties, French said there were multiple issues with communication throughout the fire. Fire officials tried to use a cross patch from Ross County and another from Pickaway County, as well as two tactical channels, to keep firefighters talking to each other, but they were overloaded and kept failing, he added. Many times, they were left trying to use hand signals to communicate.
"We had four firefighters in the upstairs, and the fire rolled over and trapped them," French said. "We were fortunate to get them out."
The firefighters had been unable to hear any radio communications while in the home and only realized they were in trouble when they heard three short blasts from the fire truck, signaling that the structure was unsafe and needed to be abandoned, French said. Other firefighters helped guide them out, because the fire had blocked their intended exit.
French said one pair of firefighters included a husband and wife from Colerain Township's department, while the other two were from either Laurelville or Tarlton.
"This is my 14th year as chief, and I've never had anybody die in a fire, but I was close last night," French said.
French referenced the communications snafu as being similar to what happened at New York City's Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, when firefighters and police had problems talking to each other because they were on different radio systems.
The state has been encouraging agencies across the state to abandon their individual communications systems -- there are about 1,300 different systems across the state -- and join the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS).
Agencies on MARCS should be able to communicate with each other no matter where they are in the state. Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly recently allocated $90 million to upgrade MARCS so more agencies can subscribe.
The state has suggested now is a good time for agencies to look to switching to MARCS, since the Federal Communication Commission has required radio systems to be upgraded to a narrow-band transmission. Locally, townships have instead been spending money for new narrow-band transmission radios and pagers to comply with FCC's mandate.
Springfield Township Fire Chief Tim Karshner was frustrated Tuesday night because his new pager and radio -- his department recently spent about $15,000 on the new equipment -- never received the tones or the message for the fire. Luckily, enough volunteers did hear the call and were on scene within 17 minutes of being dispatched, according to the sheriff's office log.
"There was a lot of experiences with radio problems. Whatever is going on needs to be fixed in a hurry," Karshner said. "We just can't have these kinds of problems with communications."
French thinks the fix would be for the townships to move onto MARCS like Chillicothe fire and police departments did with the help of grants last year.
"I think the commissioners need to appoint somebody to explore the possibility of upgrading to MARCS," French said.
Commissioner Doug Corcoran said the panel discussed possibly moving onto the MARCS system a few years ago, but didn't do an in-depth review of it.
"The cost to use it was going to be cost prohibitive," Corcoran recalled of the discussion.
While the townships have spent money for new radios and pagers -- an overall figure was not available Wednesday -- Corcoran said that was a one-time expense as opposed to recurring subscription fees for MARCS.
Agencies on MARCS purchase the radios and then pay $20 per month per radio on the system. Annual fees for Chillicothe fire and police combined total $28,800, according to Chillicothe Auditor Tom Spetnagel.
Ross County also has one of 11 special communications vehicles in Ohio that can patch communications for all frequencies in the area, said Sheriff George Lavender.
"All any agency has to do is ask for it, and we'll send it," Lavender said, adding it doesn't have to be a widespread emergency. "Any general fire scene, if they're having communications issues, we'll send it. We can marry up the systems."
French said he opted not to call for the vehicle.
"We did not call for them due to the fact they were tied up at the fairgrounds with their manpower (issue). I didn't feel the need to have it there," French said.
Lavender said the vehicle is stored at the fairgrounds and since the Ross County Fair is going on this week, they had personnel at the fairgrounds who could have responded quicker than usual with the vehicle. Even so, French said it's not something that should be relied upon.
"I don't think we want to get into a habit of relying on that all the time as a fire department," he said, adding he feels MARCS is the better answer. "I realize it's going to be a substantial cost, but there's several counties that have switched. We need to pursue that."
While the fire has left French focused on communications among departments, the State Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating a cause, which is believed to have begun in the upper part of the house above the kitchen, according to French.
"I had flashing lights in the kitchen, but it didn't happen every day," Ray Hamlet said, adding he wasn't sure if that contributed to the fire, but he made sure investigators were aware.
Fire marshal public information officer Shane Cartmill expects it will be a few days before a determination of the fire's cause is made.
French estimated the loss of the home and contents at between $450,000 and $500,000. Ray Hamlet said although he has insurance, he did not have his collectibles insured.
He and his wife plan to stay with his brother and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
Nutter Proposes Potential Firefighter Budget Cuts to Fund Arbitration
Jurisdictions struggle to pay their employees. When binding arbitration forces them to pay beyond what they think they can afford, it pits one agency against another. Here libraries and health centers will be cut as well as layoffs in the fire department. During arbitration for wages and benefits should consider both the fairness any increase along with the employers ability to pay. It seems that in awards to fire departments while the arbitrator feels that employers has the ability to pay, the employer disputes it in the court of public opinion.
Allan
From
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20120810_Nutter_proposes_potential_firefighter_budget_cuts_to_fund_arbitration.html
By Troy Graham
Inquirer Staff Writer
Wallenda walk pumps up the crowds in A.C. The Nutter administration avoided a showdown with its financial overseer Thursday by adding a postscript to its five-year budget indicating how the city would pay for any salary and benefit increases for firefighters.
The addendum says drastic cuts would fund an arbitration award the firefighters won in June. Those cuts would include hundreds of layoffs, the slashing of library hours, and the closure of a health center, according to Finance Director Rob Dubow.
Mayor Nutter has appealed the firefighter award for a second time - the firefighters have not had a new contract since 2009 - and did not include money to cover the latest award in his required five-year forecast.
Board members of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), which must approve the city's annual five-year plans to keep state funding flowing to Philadelphia, balked at not having a way to pay the firefighters.
The PICA board was scheduled to vote on the plan at its meeting Thursday, but delayed action until the five members could consider the new information.
One member, Sam Hopkins, scoffed at the addendum.
"I am not impressed with this list of cuts as being responsive," he said. "I consider it a political scare technique that it would be a great disservice for PICA to accept in the five-year plan."
Board Chairman Sam Katz said he hoped such reductions would not be necessary.
"It would be draconian for the city to have to implement that level of cuts," he said. "I suspect there will be other options that we discuss over the next couple weeks."
Katz said he hoped to call another PICA meeting within two weeks.
The addendum was a document assembled this spring during the budget process, when city departments were asked how they would reduce their budgets by 2 percent, 4 percent, or 5 percent.
The city contends that the firefighters' contract would cost more than $200 million over five years, pushing the budget into the red. The 5 percent departmental cuts would free up $260 million.
"We don't want to implement anything," Dubow said. "This is what we think we would have to do."
The addendum shows the Fire Department losing as many as 108 positions, by far the most of any department. The Streets Department is next with 59 positions.
The addendum does not suggest any trims from the Police Department. Dubow said that's because the police force is understaffed while some crimes, including homicides, are increasing.
The Fire Department, Dubow said, "is one of the largest budgets, so it's one of the largest places of cuts."
Bill Gault, president of Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, called the proposed reductions "crazy" and said they would put firefighters' lives in peril.
"It seems to me this administration is very vindictive," Gault said. "What they've decided to do is keep stalling this and stalling this."
City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who this week called on PICA to vote down the five-year plan, said a list of cuts did not constitute a plan to fund the firefighters' contract.
"First of all, are they saying what they'll actually do?" he asked. "And, if they do, would it add up?"
He also noted that the administration had suggested the rolling closure of libraries and deactivating fire companies, proposals that "we know create public resentment."
The PICA meeting - normally a staid affair held in the authority's conference room - was packed Thursday with reporters, Council staffers, administration officials, and a large contingent from Local 22.
Also present were Herman "Pete" Matthews and Cathy Scott, the presidents of AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47, the city's blue- and white-collar municipal unions.
Both have been without new contracts since 2009. Unlike public-safety employees, who are barred from striking, their disputes are not settled in arbitration.
In addition to failing to show funding to the firefighters, the five-year plan anticipates $50 million in overall workforce savings.
Katz and others have questioned how reasonable that assumption could be. Katz said Thursday that he would sit down with Dubow and Nutter in the coming weeks and tell them that he hoped to see actual contracts in the next five-year budget.
"The more logical way to do financial planning is also to do collective bargaining and get it in place," Katz said. "We'll have a basis for looking at the next five years, not on assumptions but on actual agreements."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Troy Graham at 215-854-2730 or tgraham@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @troyjgraham.
Allan
From
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20120810_Nutter_proposes_potential_firefighter_budget_cuts_to_fund_arbitration.html
By Troy Graham
Inquirer Staff Writer
Wallenda walk pumps up the crowds in A.C. The Nutter administration avoided a showdown with its financial overseer Thursday by adding a postscript to its five-year budget indicating how the city would pay for any salary and benefit increases for firefighters.
The addendum says drastic cuts would fund an arbitration award the firefighters won in June. Those cuts would include hundreds of layoffs, the slashing of library hours, and the closure of a health center, according to Finance Director Rob Dubow.
Mayor Nutter has appealed the firefighter award for a second time - the firefighters have not had a new contract since 2009 - and did not include money to cover the latest award in his required five-year forecast.
Board members of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), which must approve the city's annual five-year plans to keep state funding flowing to Philadelphia, balked at not having a way to pay the firefighters.
The PICA board was scheduled to vote on the plan at its meeting Thursday, but delayed action until the five members could consider the new information.
One member, Sam Hopkins, scoffed at the addendum.
"I am not impressed with this list of cuts as being responsive," he said. "I consider it a political scare technique that it would be a great disservice for PICA to accept in the five-year plan."
Board Chairman Sam Katz said he hoped such reductions would not be necessary.
"It would be draconian for the city to have to implement that level of cuts," he said. "I suspect there will be other options that we discuss over the next couple weeks."
Katz said he hoped to call another PICA meeting within two weeks.
The addendum was a document assembled this spring during the budget process, when city departments were asked how they would reduce their budgets by 2 percent, 4 percent, or 5 percent.
The city contends that the firefighters' contract would cost more than $200 million over five years, pushing the budget into the red. The 5 percent departmental cuts would free up $260 million.
"We don't want to implement anything," Dubow said. "This is what we think we would have to do."
The addendum shows the Fire Department losing as many as 108 positions, by far the most of any department. The Streets Department is next with 59 positions.
The addendum does not suggest any trims from the Police Department. Dubow said that's because the police force is understaffed while some crimes, including homicides, are increasing.
The Fire Department, Dubow said, "is one of the largest budgets, so it's one of the largest places of cuts."
Bill Gault, president of Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, called the proposed reductions "crazy" and said they would put firefighters' lives in peril.
"It seems to me this administration is very vindictive," Gault said. "What they've decided to do is keep stalling this and stalling this."
City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who this week called on PICA to vote down the five-year plan, said a list of cuts did not constitute a plan to fund the firefighters' contract.
"First of all, are they saying what they'll actually do?" he asked. "And, if they do, would it add up?"
He also noted that the administration had suggested the rolling closure of libraries and deactivating fire companies, proposals that "we know create public resentment."
The PICA meeting - normally a staid affair held in the authority's conference room - was packed Thursday with reporters, Council staffers, administration officials, and a large contingent from Local 22.
Also present were Herman "Pete" Matthews and Cathy Scott, the presidents of AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47, the city's blue- and white-collar municipal unions.
Both have been without new contracts since 2009. Unlike public-safety employees, who are barred from striking, their disputes are not settled in arbitration.
In addition to failing to show funding to the firefighters, the five-year plan anticipates $50 million in overall workforce savings.
Katz and others have questioned how reasonable that assumption could be. Katz said Thursday that he would sit down with Dubow and Nutter in the coming weeks and tell them that he hoped to see actual contracts in the next five-year budget.
"The more logical way to do financial planning is also to do collective bargaining and get it in place," Katz said. "We'll have a basis for looking at the next five years, not on assumptions but on actual agreements."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Troy Graham at 215-854-2730 or tgraham@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @troyjgraham.
Diesel Prices Head Up for Fifth Consective Week
Fuel can greatly impact the cost of running your fire department fleet. We are fortunate here to have an inter-county system that purchases fuel under a long-term contract that keeps the cost level.
Allan
From
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/diesel_prices_head_up_for_fifth_consecutive_week/
By Jeff Berman, Group News Editor
August 07, 2012
Diesel prices increased for the fifth straight week, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The price per gallon saw a 5.4 cent gain to $3.85 per gallon, and prices have risen a cumulative 20.2 cents over the last five weeks.
Prior to these recent gains, diesel prices sank for 12 straight weeks, falling a cumulative 50 cents during that period.
In its recently updated short-term energy outlook, the EIA is calling for diesel prices to average $3.90 per gallon in 2012 and $3.87 in 2013 (down from previous estimates of $4.06 and $4.03, respectively), with oil expected to hit $96.80 in 2012 and $97.00 in 2013 (down from previous estimates of $104.12 and $103.75, respectively).
Even with low prices for diesel, shippers continue to keep a watchful eye on fuel prices and are taking steps to reduce mileage and cut down on empty miles. This was made clear at June’s eyefortransport 3PL Summit in Chicago. Many shippers told LM that they are constantly monitoring fuel prices, as they relate to freight rates and the overall costs of doing business.
And as previously reported by LM, shippers continue to take steps to minimize the impact of fluctuating fuel costs. Over the years, they have maintained that this is imperative as higher diesel prices have the potential to hinder growth and increase operating costs, which will, in turn, force them to raise rates and offset the increased prices to consumers.
An April conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus, which featured Tom O’Brien CEO, TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers and Mark Hazelwood Executive Vice President, Pilot Flying J Travel, noted that “diesel fuel price will trend higher, perhaps more quickly and with more volatility than oil prices, as diesel is in great demand around the world,” adding that [t]he demand for highway diesel fuel in the U.S. has dropped by 25%+ since 2007 due to a variety of factors.”
The price per barrel for oil was at $92.56 at press time, with the Associated Press reporting that analysts estimated that supplies of U.S. crude and gasoline likely dropped last week. The AP added that crude has hovered near $90 for the last few weeks as investors weigh weak global economic growth against possible monetary and fiscal stimulus measures.
About the Author
Jeff Berman
Group News Editor
Jeff Berman is Group News Editor for Logistics Management, Modern Materials Handling, and Supply Chain Management Review. Jeff joined the Supply Chain Group in 2005 and leads online and print news operations for these publications. In 2009, Jeff led Logistics Management to the Silver Medal of Folio’s Eddie Awards in the Best B2B Transportation/Travel Website category. Jeff works and lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he covers all aspects of the supply chain, logistics, freight transportation, and materials handling sectors on a daily basis. If you want to contact Jeff with a news tip or idea, please send an e-mail to jberman@ehpub.com.
Allan
From
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/diesel_prices_head_up_for_fifth_consecutive_week/
By Jeff Berman, Group News Editor
August 07, 2012
Diesel prices increased for the fifth straight week, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The price per gallon saw a 5.4 cent gain to $3.85 per gallon, and prices have risen a cumulative 20.2 cents over the last five weeks.
Prior to these recent gains, diesel prices sank for 12 straight weeks, falling a cumulative 50 cents during that period.
In its recently updated short-term energy outlook, the EIA is calling for diesel prices to average $3.90 per gallon in 2012 and $3.87 in 2013 (down from previous estimates of $4.06 and $4.03, respectively), with oil expected to hit $96.80 in 2012 and $97.00 in 2013 (down from previous estimates of $104.12 and $103.75, respectively).
Even with low prices for diesel, shippers continue to keep a watchful eye on fuel prices and are taking steps to reduce mileage and cut down on empty miles. This was made clear at June’s eyefortransport 3PL Summit in Chicago. Many shippers told LM that they are constantly monitoring fuel prices, as they relate to freight rates and the overall costs of doing business.
And as previously reported by LM, shippers continue to take steps to minimize the impact of fluctuating fuel costs. Over the years, they have maintained that this is imperative as higher diesel prices have the potential to hinder growth and increase operating costs, which will, in turn, force them to raise rates and offset the increased prices to consumers.
An April conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus, which featured Tom O’Brien CEO, TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers and Mark Hazelwood Executive Vice President, Pilot Flying J Travel, noted that “diesel fuel price will trend higher, perhaps more quickly and with more volatility than oil prices, as diesel is in great demand around the world,” adding that [t]he demand for highway diesel fuel in the U.S. has dropped by 25%+ since 2007 due to a variety of factors.”
The price per barrel for oil was at $92.56 at press time, with the Associated Press reporting that analysts estimated that supplies of U.S. crude and gasoline likely dropped last week. The AP added that crude has hovered near $90 for the last few weeks as investors weigh weak global economic growth against possible monetary and fiscal stimulus measures.
About the Author
Jeff Berman
Group News Editor
Jeff Berman is Group News Editor for Logistics Management, Modern Materials Handling, and Supply Chain Management Review. Jeff joined the Supply Chain Group in 2005 and leads online and print news operations for these publications. In 2009, Jeff led Logistics Management to the Silver Medal of Folio’s Eddie Awards in the Best B2B Transportation/Travel Website category. Jeff works and lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he covers all aspects of the supply chain, logistics, freight transportation, and materials handling sectors on a daily basis. If you want to contact Jeff with a news tip or idea, please send an e-mail to jberman@ehpub.com.
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