I hope none of the firefighters that responded to this garage fire was celebrating their birthday, if so that firefighter earns 48 dollars an hour. I hope the camera man wasn't filling in for someone that called in sic, that's another 48 dollars an hour. Rubbing the taxpayers nose right in it.

Tell you what, I'll improve on my spelling, Have your union give back DOUBLE PAY on birthdays and firefighter memorial day. Accept time and a half on federal holidays instead of DOUBLE TIME. And last but not least, when you retire as a private, retire at privates pay instead of LT just because you worked on a rescue for X amount of years, DEAL? Never mind, the receiver is coming to a town near you, stay tuned!!!

Hey veteran Have you walked in their shoes? Done the job that they do? You, I am sure, are one of the people that are running out of a burning building when they are running in. Just because you did not choose this profession is NO reason to come down on these guy's
Just remember that if you should ever need their services (fire or rescue) they are not going to say "Screw him, he doesn't like us." They will be there.

That's not a good defense of my suggestions. How about this, you give up what I mentioned in my previous post. And I'll do everything in my power to get firefighters 100.00 an hour from the time anyone of you run into a burning building to the time you come out? I"ll even have the same program for the camera man, DEAL. I'll sit down with Mr O'keefe immediately.

We've reached a sad state of affairs when some individuals are so willing to insult the men and women who work to protect us on a daily basis. Ignorance is no excuse. Sure we all have our differences and opinions about how to correct overtime issues for public employees, but I'd bet my last dollar if your house was on fire, maybe even with a family member inside, the very last thing you would be concerned about is whether or not the firefighter is on overtime. Sure they have chosen their profession, Thank God, because I couldn't risk my life, so often, for so many. I'm just not that brave. I hope and pray for their safe return to their families, and to be honest with you I hope they never have to run into a burning building unless its to rescue someone blocked inside. Just imagine "Veteran", you seem to get pretty worked up, I bet if you were having palpitations or chest pains, you'd think a little differently about depending on our firefighters. And I'm sure you wouldn't identify yourself as "Veteran"

I am a veteran and I am ashamed that another veteran (of what I wonder) can bash the people who serve their communities the way real veterans serve their nation. I do not care how much we pay the firefighters and police officers in East Providence. It is not enough for the risk they take and the stress their families go through each time they leave for work. Tell me "Veteran" does your family have to worry if you will be coming home at the end of your work day the way police and firefighter's families worry? By the way, I am not a fire fighter or police officer nor am I related to one. What I am is someone who appreciates what they do for me every day.

Those of you who "don't care what they pay police and firefighters" are related to the member in some way. This group of citizens, residence or not, have no concern over outrageous taxes because to cover their taxes all they do is pull some abusive overtime stunt on the taxpayers dime. There taxes are paid. I've been in the company of these people who brag about the games that are played with overtime. An entry level firefighter on his birthday working a 10 hour shift earns 480.00. If the firefighter works 10 hours and 16 minutes the bill on the taxpayer is exceeds 520.00. This is one ten hour day I'm talking about. This is causing the insolvency of City of Eas Providence and is an outrageous abuse of taxpayer money. Most people have to work 40 hours to bring home this type of wage. This example only covers the birthday of the firefighter. On firefighters memorial day every firefighter on the payroll receives Double pay. This policy doubles the payroll on this day. Another example of outrageous abuse of taxpayer money. The contract policy of retiring as a LT is the real bank buster. This policy in itself if eliminated would reduce city property taxes by 40 percent. The city is not even funding the pensions. The program in place is unsustainable in its current condition. Mark my words, the receiver is coming. There is no defense to its current state.

you sure do know a lot of information for someone on the outside, how about you post some solid information or links to these said numbers. i could just as easily say firefighters make minimum wage and have the same credibility as you. Not once in any article have you backed up your statements

"Reduce City taxes by 40%"? Having the whole fully staffed Dept costs $400 per street address on average. I pay approx. 4k per year in prop taxes. 40% of that would be $1600. Sounds like you need to sharpen that crayon of yours. If this was such an obvious abuse of taxpayer money, why was the council's healthcare eliminated and not firefighter pay? Again, you have no idea what you are talking about.

If a fully paid department cost 50 dollars per year per household and still had the abusive policies that it does, 50 dollars would be too much. No, wait a minute let's raise taxes and let all firefighters retire at the rank of LT even though they never reach that rank. This is in the contract and is unsustainable and must go. The city cannot afford to pay every firefighter as a LT after they retire. Those of you who don't believe this "Goggle It"

Google, not goggle, the residents paying this bill are goggling in it.

OK Chicken Little. Fortunately the State is overseeing matters and will leave no stone unturned in City Hall or cyber space. Where obviously you get your "facts".

Are you saying I'm wrong that privates retire as LT after serving X amount of years on a rescue?

Actually yes I am. Get the facts, word for word in the correct context and get back to us.

Can you explain word for word for us. Not sure what you 2 are talking about but would like to know the facts and sounds like a few out there know them. Let work on a solution.

9.04 Rescue Personnel. STATES: (E) If a Fire Fighter retires from a permanent rescue position with both five (5) consecutive years of service immediately prior to his/her date of retirement and fifty (50) percent of his/her total years of service on a permanent rescue assignment regardless of other breaks in rescue service, he/she will be eligible to have his/her pension calculated at the rate of a Lieutenant.

This is outrageous abuse of taxpayer money

Good for you! Glad to see you're doing your homework. What is the diff between FF pay and officer pay? Have you found the portion of the contract where it states the FD has brought in close to 20mil in grants? Oh that's right, its not in there. You have men/woman doing work that's not their job not required by contract to benefit the City as a whole. And just what are you doing for your fellow taxpayer again?

Very good question, Someone Opinion. Do you happen to have those #'s Vet? Considering there are only 6 members per shift assigned to the Rescue, I don't think you're eliminating the National Debt. How many other City employees are paying 25% copay since you seem to have your finger on the pulse on the Rescue? No pun intended.

The truth seems to have struck a sore spot. Have a great day. Go play some cards and send me the bill.

Hey Veteran,
We are free to choose where we live. Why not find a nice rural community that offers little or no public services The residents of this city call their fire department over 11,000 times per year and expect and get the assistance and emergency help when and where they need it. Did you try to become a firefighter and couldn't pass the test?

Veteran,
It is really o'kay you to admit that you tried to be a firefighter many times and couldn't pass the wriiten and physcal examinations. I know that one time you were optimistic that you could do the job but now you are just a warped and frustrated old man. I know that you will probably try to deny the many attempts to join the fire department. It is really o'kay and you should let go of the past before it consumes every last ounce of your energies. Its O'kay!

Veteran,
The State Budget Commission may grant you your wish someday...and if they do and it calls for cutting manpower or apparatus and response times increase drastically, and they will, just remember this....
Once your heart stops beating, after 4 minutes your chance of survival deteriorate rapidly and if you don't die, you could end up being brain dead.
But then again, from your comments I've read, you're already brain dead!!!

I've already worked a full career in the armed forces of the United States of America. I now owe it to the taxpayers of this city to fix this mess. Resorting to personal attacks shows that what I've uncovered with regards to the working contract of the firefighters union is considered status quo. Apparently firefighters fell a sense of entitlement, making quick references to my heart stopping, my house burning down, running into burning buildings, responding to my home whether you like me or not cause of my position. 24 dollars an hour, 18 sick days (10 our shifts) 6 weeks vacation, retirement as a LT even when that rank was never achieved. Your answers to these abusive contract provisions are meet with once again personal attacks. I'm going to change your contract whether you like it or not, so be prepared. Don't say I didn't warn you!!!

Isn't it time for bingo in the community room?

When I make that change, I'll make a bingo joke so you know who I am.

To East Providence's Bravest,
These pictures speak for themselves! Please understand that "Veteran" tried many times to pass the fire test and was either a few too many questions wrong on the entrance test or a step too slow on the physical test. If he had tried the police test, he would be complaining about how much a police officer makes on a road detail on his or her birthday. "Veteran" always wanted to be one of the "Broadway's Best" but it never worked out the way he planned. His dream was to ride high on Engine #5!! For now and forever "Veteran" dreams of what could have been. Sad, but a true story.

Mavnjet,
Poor old "Veteran" is just a sad state of public affairs. No hope, just a frustrated old "veteran" dreaming about would "should" or could have been. None of the assistance we have tried to get "Veteran" has ever been successful. He just plays with his green army figures and pretends that he served the country for 20 years. So sad, Mavnjet to see him these days. I just hope that none of us end up like him!

Such a shame.......sigh....

It really is when you see how much disappointment has haunted "Veteran" due to all his failed attempts at the entrance level fire exam. On one hand he says that firefighters are nothing to be proud of, and then in his next sentence, he complains that the entrance test questions are hard. Next, is the complaints that years ago they would make candidates run through an obstacle course, lifting heavy rolls of hose, navigating over ladders, dragging a heavy mannequin, and then moving a hose line over a finished line. He says he could never understand why they would expect so much out of their firefighters?? Then we see the pictures of the real work firefighters do, and many of us have an appreciation of their difficult and thankless work. What if that garage fire had spread to the two houses that were next to it?? What if???

If only they would just eliminate the FD all together the "City would svae 40% in taxes". Well, according to his "fuzzy math"anyway. How long do you think he would last in full gear ascending stairs @ say..99 Goldsmith during a high rise fire? Or could he hold his lunch while doing chest compressions on a trauma code victim just pulled from a car wreck? I think we all know the answer. We do live in the greatest country in the world. Where all are afforded the right to express our opinions. Fortunantly some opinions happen to provide live entertainment @ the same time. And for this, we thank you "Veteran"!

Mavnjet,
You are correct. You really can't pay enough for the entertainment value that Veteran provides. Almost priceless! Veteran is like a gift that keeps on giving!!!

You guys are great firefighters I'm sure, your destroying families financially. Honest days work for an honest days pay. You guys rub the taxpayers noses in the bill and then try to justify it with mentioning work conditions that you signed up for. The taxpayers appreciate what you do, but the bill is foul.