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Mr. Creta,

What you and many others don't seem to understand is that it is all about contract specifications and the city charter. What you don't understand is that under the city charter, the mayor has NO AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER to enter into any type of verbal policy. PERIOD. Any activity that effects a line item in the budget must be voted on by the city council during presentation of the city budget. If you don't agree with that, try to change it, but currently, thats the rule under the city charter, and it makes sense.

There are many reasons for that. Lets take a look at the verbal "borrowing policy" that was prevalent at the DPW. The result was rampant theft and abuse which culminated in an arrest, firing, union litigation, and the re-hiring of a convicted thief that we still pay to this day. The fact of the matter is that the firefighters complain, moan and groan, threaten union grievance, and constantly invoke the words, "its not in our contract". As I said to mr Howell, if instead of hanging around at the station during down time the mayor exercised a verbal policy that they were to take the truck to Warwick Ave, and begin sweeping the sidewalks, all hell would break loose and the WFD would bury the mayor in litigation. Thats just the way they are.

So at the end of the day, negotiate it into the contract, vote on the contract, and make it legal. Presently it is just another avenue for abuse. Speaking of abuse, I have also stood up publicly and stated that too many city workers have access to house credit accounts at the local vendors, (Salks, FW Webb, Lowes, Grainger, etc...) and I explained how that logic could be abused and turned into an organized theft ring. I was castigated by the school department and DPW.

HMMMM, what do you think the results of the firing of Mr. Laplante will be? Why is there an investigation into purchases and the whereabouts of products? What pisses me off is the fact that the mayor and the department heads stated in front of an audience several years ago at budget hearings that the city is operating as efficiently as possible. That doesn't seem to be the case now does it. The fire chief, correction, both ex chief Sullivan, and current chief Armstrong both stated at budget hearings that if we hire more fire fighters and bring the department to a full compliment of 230, that we would eliminate overtime. Well, that didn't happen either did it. Full compliment , 1.8 million in overtime, STILL.

So maybe you are the type of individual that cant separate emotion from finance, however, I can. Although I have much admiration for what they do, and appreciate their contribution, (and by the way never aspired to be a firefighter ever), the fact of the matter is that they whine louder than a nursery full of newborns. They have complete kitchens in every station filled with the best of appliances including refrigerators, so shop on your own time, put the food in the fridge, and cook when the work load allows you to do so. Remember, no one dragged them kicking and screaming to the job, but historically, in every community, the fire services are ALL way over budget, and something has to be done to reduce costs. Lets try efficiency in operations first.

Regards