Rhett, do you really believe that most firefighters are content with the department?
I can’t believe you said that. Whew, I’ll hold my thoughts on that.

So what are the big issues that need addressed?
You said, Pay and Benefits (are) (probably the most important).
They are certainly the MOST important issues!
How we are treated!!!!!!! We have been treated very badly for a long time.
I hope things will be better under the new city manager, but Grigs needs to go too.
Disability retirement policy, improved pay, cost of living raise, career development pay, instructor pay; yes yes yes!
Forget ICMA…find a 457 plan outside of ICMA. Why should we contribute to city managers when we have been hurt so bad by this one.

Invest in Seniority – Too little regard is given to seniority. Seniority should mean something!
Keep moves to a minimum – no it isn’t done for the good of the department, it’s just because I can!
Stop micro-managing.

YES!!! Get rid of the 1st Lieutenant rank

Promotions are pretty much a joke! HR should run an investigation and revamp the process. Our best people don’t get promoted. Suck ups do. (Yes, a few goods ones get through, thank God) Management manipulates the system to get their picks. No one was promoted from the last list. Then with the new list they very quickly promoted and over-promoted! What? They should have promoted from the other list and not tested again.
Doesn’t this strike you as suspicious, maybe even unethical?
And they knew the guys from ARFF would be coming back, and they are all officers.
What’s up? Somebody say it for me.

Lose the bdu’s!! Hell yes. Update Class-A uniforms? – Yes.
Develop identifiers on our Class-A uniforms for seniority.

Management is a big issue. Shall we address that? We already have.
The city is apparently broke! Care to comment on that, and how it got that way? Maybe we should hire some more consultants!

Okay, that’s enough for now.
Thanks for listening.
Wormwood

I understand your point about two sets of turnout gear. Obviously money would be an issue.

I also really like your comment about reactions. I have been focusing a lot on what is reaction and what is response. I am trying to implement changes in my life to be more responsive and less reaction.

Company Pride: I couldn’t agree more with your comment on transfers. As for the logos and such. I think they are mostly going along with all that now.

Rank: I have to disagree about the 1st Lts. I really believe that no good can come from having two captains in one station without a clear line of who is in charge. It was problematic before and I think it would be even worse today given the competitive nature of many of our current officers. I agree there are some issues with the 1st Lts. but I don’t think total elimination is it.

Operations: Agree with the leather boots comment. In fact, I would say 25% is over stated. I know leather boots cost more, but buying the rubber ones is really a waste of money. Perhaps if we choose to get leather boots we could forgo the rubber ones and get an allowance equal to the cost of the rubber ones.
I disagree on two sets ot turnout gear. I agree it is no fun to wear wet gear, but the cost of outfitting everyone with two sets would be huge. BTW most of us don’t wear turnout gear on EMS calls except wrecks anyway. Spend the money on something else.

Just one more comment having to do with brotherhood. I think we all will look out after our own best interest when it comes down to it as it should be. However, I think we should all try to consider the unintended consequences of our actions on others before we react. Many of us like to say firemen are their own worst enemy and often that is because we are overly reactionary.I guess fireman are often passionate people by nature, but I think we could all be served better by slowing down a bit to consider the effects of our actions.

That’s all I have. Once again, thanks for the post I think it will promote some good discussion.
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Thank you very much for informing us. He was a great man!