Cushman report has council divided

Former councilman asks if debt will suffocate city’s ability to meet future needs

John Howell
Posted 11/13/14

Robert Cushman hasn’t held public office for six years, but Ward 9 Councilman Steve Merolla has asked him to return to the council floor to share his analysis of where the city is heading …

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Cushman report has council divided

Former councilman asks if debt will suffocate city’s ability to meet future needs

Posted

Robert Cushman hasn’t held public office for six years, but Ward 9 Councilman Steve Merolla has asked him to return to the council floor to share his analysis of where the city is heading financially.

Merolla’s resolution was to have been considered by the council last night but, at the request of Council President Donna Travis, who was unable to be present for the meeting, will come before the council next Monday.

Giving Cushman the floor to outline his views, that escalating legacy costs threaten to stifle the city’s ability to address issues like road repairs and building new schools, is being meet with some skepticism. Council members interviewed Tuesday offered differing opinions on whether Cushman should be granted the time to outline his conclusions.

“I’m not asking anyone to take a vote on anything,” Merolla said, “but to look at everything combined.”

Unlike the city’s actuarial report, the administration’s analysis or reviews done by bond rating agencies, Merolla argues that Cushman has taken a comprehensive view of city operations and obligations to come up with a “complete financial picture.”

Merolla requested Cushman make a council presentation after receiving a memo from council auditor Catherine King Avila. At Merolla’s request, Avila reviewed Cushman’s analysis and concluded the numbers Cushman used were accurate. But she didn’t offer an opinion on his conclusions.

Merolla isn’t pushing a Cushman appearance, although he believes it would be helpful.

“I thought it was very informative,” he said of the charts and graphs Cushman prepared and became politicized during the Republican primary for mayor by Stacia Petri. She referred to what she called the billion-dollar debt faced by the city in her primary contest with Mayor Scott Avedisian. Cushman’s report surfaced again in the general election.

Merolla said Cushman has pulled together numbers “that are scattered around and nobody has put in one place.” He said pension liabilities, as well as retiree health care benefits, “which wasn’t on the radar a few years ago,” are especially significant as the administration is in the process of negotiating contracts with all three municipal unions.

When told of reservations fellow council members have with Cushman speaking, Merolla says, “If you don’t want to look in the mirror, don’t look in the mirror.”

In a telephone interview, Cushman said he has taken a long view of city operations so as to show trends. He emphasized that, while the data he has compiled has been used politicized, he is not a member of any group and the information is available for anyone to use.

Cushman went back to 2004 to establish spending trends, which he said differs from city actuarial studies based on a couple of years and the budget that is just for the upcoming year.

“This is not a political statement,” he says. “It’s about the data.”

In performing his analysis, Cushman said he has looked at the city’s past and the current operations. The final step, he said, is to forecast for the future.

While two numbers – $800 million and $1 billion in unfunded liabilities – were referenced during the mayoral campaign, Cushman steers away from using them.

“This is not about $1 billion,” he said.

Rather, what he is seeking is to have officials understand how a greater and greater percentage of the city’s budget is spent to pay pensions, health care and debt carrying costs. Although growth in the tax base with new development and tax increases can help, Cushman points out that the administration has reduced programs such as road repairs and level funded schools in order to make ends meet. He sees the cycle only getting worse unless systemic changes, such as retiree co-pays for health insurance, are made.

“We have to look at the growth in health care and pensions. Can we afford it? When I look at this I think we’re going from bad to worse,” he added.

Some members of the council, Ward 2 Councilman Thomas Chadronet being one of them, are willing to hear Cushman out.

“He’s going to say the same thing he said before. Let him talk,” he said Tuesday.

Travis questions the value of a presentation.

“I have difficulty with it,” she said Tuesday. “I don’t see that he’s an expert. He’s a self-appointed expert.”

Travis also reasons that allowing Cushman to speak could open “a Pandora’s box” that would set a precedent for others looking to address the council.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson is comfortable having Cushman address the council for the 15-minute open microphone segment provided residents once a month, but no more than that.

“That’s the appropriate time,” she said.

Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci said Cushman “has a lot of information” but, from Gallucci’s perspective, when compared to other Rhode Island cities, Warwick is better off.

“We’re not in all that bad shape,” he said.

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur would like to hear what Cushman has to say. He said, “This is not about going back, it’s about going forward.”

Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon, who takes pride in getting into the numbers, said, “I know how to read the report myself.” He said Warwick is not unique and the key to addressing the city’s issues is to be proactive rather than reactive.

With a master’s degree in business administration from Bryant and working as a business analyst for CVS Health, Cushman estimated the work he has performed would have cost the city tens of thousands of dollars.

“Why wouldn’t you at least want to hear it?” he asks.

Answering his own question, he said his conclusions require tough decisions and, he added, “Nobody wants to touch the pensions. They’re afraid of starting a war with the unions.”

Comments

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  • RoyDempsey

    The comments above prove there is truth to the saying, ignorance is bliss. What better way to not face a problem when you can just not acknowledge that there is one. It is interesting though that the person that should be pulling all these numbers together, that being Avedisian, appears to be more interested in photo-opts then making sure that Warwick's finances are sound.

    Bob Cushman should not be the one that has to spend his time accumulating and presenting this data, but no one, up to this time, has come forward, especially the people in charge. And did you really say that Ms.Travis, that Mr. Cushman is a "self-appointed expert"? In fact, neither in this article or in prior comments by Mr. Cushman has he ever proclaimed himself to be an expert. As stated above, all he wanted to do was present the math. Now, whether some people have the background or ability to understand the math as presented is something else. Maybe that is where the problem is.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Get ready folks, two more years of listening to Roy cry and complain about every article that gets printed. Long enough for all the Petri supporters to get sick of her AGAIN....

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • markyc

    Bob Cushman is entitled to present his analysis to the City Council during the public comment period(& make copies available to the Council). As with most municipal budgets, wages/health care costs/pension costs for both current employees & retirees are the largest cost of a budget. As far as Warwick being "not in all that bad shape", a red flag exists in that the current fiscal year budget required a draw down on reserves to balance it. It's not only the pensions, the Warwick School system/Warwick School Committee & the other municipal departments haven't been able to make the difficult decisions on closing schools when the City has declining enrollment & expects that decline to continue & holding the line on other municipal spending(schools are level funded but dept. heads need to be informed that there will be no new spending/funding). Warwick shouldn't be looking at building new schools when it doesn't fill the present ones. Fire code upgrades to schools/buildings that may be closed; that doesn't make sense. With a declining population & a limited commercial & residential tax base to obtain new/additional tax revenue from, Warwick needs to looking to get the most for it's tax dollars.

    The Mayor, the City Council, & the School Committee need to communicate with one another to address their issues/problems: road repairs/legacy costs/school costs/other municipal service areas need to be viewed together & how they are interrelated; especially with the likelihood that the State of RI has its own budget issues & will likely hold down aid to municipalities in the near future.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Reality

    Aren't Travis and Vella-Wilkinson always castigating the school dept for not controlling costs in their budget ? Ironic though that these 2 City Councilors don't want explore ways to control costs in their budget.

    At next year's budget hearing they will be playing the same old game of blaming the school dept for Warwick's budget woes but let's hope the taxpayers will see past Travis and Vella-Wilkinson's charade.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Stacia Huyler

    Robert Cushman's analysis deserves the respect of at least an hour that would include his presentation and then a question and answer discussion. If the data opens up a '"Pandora's Box" of questioning then wonderful, it should----the numbers should be questioned, the public should know what's happening with their tax dollars and the union workers should have a very clear understanding of what's happening with their pensions. Promises were made to union workers and they can't be kept. We've seen that with Central falls, Coventry, and the domino affect will continue. Its unfair to the union workers and its unfair to the public and a middle ground must be found.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Stacia Huyler

    @SteveD---it's actually US that is sick of YOU trolling all of these posts. Do you work? Don't you have anything better to do? We're not going away. Get a life and do something good for the people, like we are... and will continue to do.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Fact 1 - Travis is not intelligent enough to comprehend any of the analysis.

    Fact 2 - Gallucci has always condoned poor fiscal behavior by citing examples of worse fiscal behavior with his famous quote " The bills arent all due tomorrow".

    Fact 3 - Wilkinson as the finance chair has more to loose than anyone, because when Cushman presents the facts, Wilkinson will look like a fool and a fraud for not spearheading the investigation to establish exactly what the debt in the city is. No one wants to face the facts of the death spiral that we are in.

    Fact 4 - Steve D is the next genetic chief of the Coventry Fire Dept. "Most Definitely".

    Conclusion - Why would you not want to hear what he has to say? What happened to transparency? By the way, the 15 minute open forum is a joke, non productive, and one way conversations never lead to any resolutions. Thats the way Wilkinson would rather have it.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    I have a life stacia. I actually like you not the junkies you hang around with.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    I can promise you I've done more good for people in my career this you ever will. I am not putting my self in n your shoes but I sure as hell know what I've done in mine....

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Stacia Huyler

    Steve, these "junkies" are smart, caring, intelligent men that are sick and tired of the corruption and the spineless leadership. Take the time to get to know them & myself vs judging from the keyboard. They do what they do because they CARE & I'm grateful to know them. We are sick and tired of being taken advantage of--unlike most of the politically uneducated and apathetic majority that surrounds us that just passively allows the -taking advantage of- to continue. Its wrong, and it needs to stop.

    Thursday, November 13, 2014 Report this

  • Pmaloneyjr

    I believe the 1500 people who owe taxes to the city have a right to hear Cushman's presentation before they leave their houses for failing to pay taxes. It is right to hear both sides of the story. If Cushman is given the time to present his findings then the city and council has the right to review them for facts. If what he is saying is right, and I believe he has already proven he is right, then we can go forward.

    I want to hear what he has to say. I believe he should give a copy to each member of the city council prior to the meeting so they can ask relevent questions. To all Warwick residents, please attend this meeting. Thank you.

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • davebarry109

    If Cushman thinks retirees are going to agree to co-pays for health benefits he's crazy. They went out with contracts and there is no need to open them up or set a precedent for caving in. The city needs to stop giving overly generous benefits and require NEW HIRES to receive less. You cannot bargain with retirees who are all individuals, not represented by a union. I for one will not agree to any reduction in my retired pay or benefits. The city needs to get its house in order by starting with new employees, not on the backs of those already retired.

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    You all crack me up! Do you think it will be easy to cut current retired city employees pensions? Do any of you understand how long and costly the legal battles are?

    Just so you all know in Rhode Island pensions are considered a contract and to change without a vote by the unions will result in a whole bunch of breach of contract law suits, Meaning in RI pensions are Contractually-protected.

    There have also as of late been a series of law suits stating that pension reform is a violation of the 5th amendment of the constitution which (prohibits a governmental “taking” of property without just compensation. Thus, once a property interest in a public employee pension is found to exist, any changes to a public pension plan must comply with due process and, where property has been “taken,” the property owner must be justly compensated. Where a challenge is brought under the takings clause, the court will consider three factors: (1) the economic impact of the change; (2) the extent to which the change interferes with investment-backed expectations; and (3) the character of the government action.)

    As for Mr. Cushman being allowed to speak in front of city council (he is not qualified at all) other than the “open to the public” time spot if the answer is yes why only him on this topic? Where do you draw the line?

    Let’s be honest here pension reform is nothing new to any City, Town, or State in the USA and nothing is hidden here Mr. Cushman was able to find the data so anyone who wants to look can find it and apply it to how they see fit.

    As for Ms. Stacia and Mr. Dempsey go AWAY you lost and will never get elected you want to run a city but will argue your points with a writer of a local new paper in the comments section. If any of you want to do some useful work come up with a solution that fits within the law don’t point out what is wrong. Anyone can point out what is wrong what we need from politician’s is a plan to fix what is wrong which neither of you did….

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    @Norm88. "we need from politician's a plan to fix what is wrong"??? I take it from your insinuation that Avedisian is not the one to fix the problem. That is probably true since, what 14 years as Mayor and another 6 on the council??? This mess has not happened over night for sure, but it has progressed to this point under Avedisian. The current leader of this city should be proposing solutions to this mess. Have you heard anything? I haven't. And do you really believe that just anyone can point out what is wrong? Avedisian avoided even acknowledging the numbers presented during the campaign, never mind debating or getting into an exchange of ideas that could have lead to some kind of solution or way forward.

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    @RoyDempsey.Never in 14 years have I voted for Mr. Avedisian. That said so your saying the mayor and city council and all involved with leading the city including the Standard and Poor’s audit are all lies? If that is the case you really should get the AG's office involved...

    Oh and some career advise when your trying to get a person elected you might not want to insult so many of the voters... Just a thought..

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    @Norm88. My last comment. No idea where the "insulting" is coming from. The campaign was focused on numbers and the financial health of Warwick. Over a thousand residents were contacted personally, and numerous forums were held. I usually attend council meetings, say hello, and I would be willing to listen to what you have to say. Also, since the city has not attempted to issue bonds in a number of years, the S&P rating is of little to no consequence. However, considering the deterioration in finances as shown in the current budget, rating agencies now looking to add health care liabilities to the city's balance sheet, and the decline in the tax base from 2013 to 2014, the ratings good conceivably change. Residents, I have talked to are more concerned about increasing property and auto taxes - S&P? No relevance to a number of people.

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • falina

    Let the citizen speak. Clearly he cares a great deal about the city and its well being. More than most. Isn't that the point of out type of government?

    Friday, November 14, 2014 Report this

  • Norm88

    @RoyDempsey here is where the insulting comes from your candidates platform what to reduce taxes and "pure numbers" with the state of the pension and health care how can you reduce revenue and still cover the costs of running the city? It is also insulting to run a campaign "based on numbers" and not explain to the people of the city how you would replace that revenue after cutting taxes.

    It is also insulting that you think the people of this city don't know communities pay their pension liabilities year to year, based on how many retirees there actually are, and increase or decrease those payments as that number of retirees’ changes. As for The “unfunded” part of the pension liability which is why actuaries are needed to figure out how much the city might have to pay which would be based on average age of retires, how long they are "expected" to live and so on.

    So the "numbers" your campaign used especially the unfunded proton of the pension were vetted by an actual actuary? who signed off on your "reports"...

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    To SteveD,

    I am going to have a trophy made in commemoration of you, the man who continually claims his hero status. The trophy will be a statute of a man wearing a fire fighter hat, patting himself on the back.

    Now lets talk about finances, wasting money, fraud, and how to control unnecessary spending.

    Example 1. For several years we heard 2 chiefs at 3 budget hearings testify that we needed more firefighters (20 to be exact) to put on the job to eliminate the overtime. So in fact, in 2012 we did just that. @ years of funding from the feds of 3.1 million dollars. Now those funds are gone and this year we have to find the 3.1 million. So the logic was that the future monies would come from the elimination of overtime, hence the savings. Lets take a close look at what we saved and the elimination of overtime this year.

    2014 Fire Dept. overtime ( by access to public records)

    39,412.5 hours

    Heres the breakdown in overtime hours

    day shift - 22,984.5 hrs

    nite shift - 16428 hrs

    Sunday - 4911 hrs

    Monday - 5303 hrs

    Tuesday - 5555.5 hrs

    Wednesday - 5049 hrs

    Thursday - 5924.5 hrs

    Friday - 6802.5 hrs ( this is the day thy fake the sick out to take an extended weekend)

    Saturday - 5867 hrs

    Who got the OT?

    Asst. Fire marshall - 49.5 hrs

    Battalion chief - 2003 hrs (did we have a lot of high rise fires this year?)

    Capt. - 2848.5 hrs

    Dept. Chief - 106.5 hrs

    F/A support - 44 hrs

    FAO - 2509.5 hrs

    Fire Marshall - 39.5 hrs

    Inspector - 22 hrs

    Lineman - 78 hrs

    Lt. - 9238 - hrs

    Pvt. 16079.5 - hrs

    Pvt.3 384 - hrs

    R. Captain - 510 hrs

    R driver - 191 hrs

    R. lt. - 3409.5 hrs

    Where are all the savings from hiring 20 more men whose sole purpose was to eliminate the overtime. Also, there have been numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT.

    Those are the facts.

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Fenceman... Please explain this one to me "Also, there have been numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT"... I have no idea what that is you are trying to explain. What are the numerous issues. I have in my many years never heard of one issue. If you knew our schedule and knew how we work you would know that that statement is an outright lie. But go ahead try to explain it to me. If you can please provide exact times and dates....

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Battalion chief - 2003 hrs (did we have a lot of high rise fires this year?)... What does that even mean. I'm glad I don't have to make you look dumb, your doing it in your own.

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Looks like we woke up SteveD. Notice he says nothing about the thirty nine thousand four hundred and twelve hours of overtime. Fact of the matter is the fire department is bleeding the city dry. Not only Warwick, but every city and town in RI. Highest paid in the country. All firefighters should be salaried employees, and you would see the nonsense end. Ridiculous benefits, insane paid holidays (14), sick pay bonuses, and the vast majority have other full time jobs.

    There should be a clause in the contract that states that if the individual has other employment that he either waives his healthcare, or pays a higher co-pay. Nowhere else in private industry do these types of benefits exist. The other ridiculous thing is this BS of "suspended with pay". Notice that no firefighter has come out in public condemning the actions of Chief pot smoker Labbadia. Where is the outcry? Suspended with pay, what a punishment.

    SteveD, make a legitimate argument on the abusive overtime. Here is some simple math. The argument from the department was that the addition of 20 men would ELIMINATE" THE OVERTIME. It didn't happen. So follow me now. A 40 hour work week for one man, 52 weeks in the year = 2080 hours of work.

    Divide 39,412 by 2080 = 19 men. So we added 20 to eliminate the overtime, yet the overtime equals the salary of 19 full time men. Where are the savings. SteveD, now its your turn to make a legitimate mathematical argument. Are you capable?

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Rob, plenty have come out against Chief Labaddia. fire him on the spot. OK, guess what he isn't in the union, not protected by them. But he did have a contract with the city. You have to follow the process. In any job, private or public you need to follow the law. I'm not a chief or in the administration take up any OT issues with them. And we work 48 hrs a week.

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Why don't you lay out what you think we should be paid rob? Salary, health and retirement? Let's see what you come up with.

    Saturday, November 15, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Donna Travis should be embarrassed over her comments in this article. What are her qualifications? Obviously not much since shes been on the council for years and yet this all seems new to her. Perhaps she's embarrassed that somebody outside government knows more than she does. Ms Travis you were very lucky to run unopposed this election cycle, I promise you in 2 years that will not be the case. Your performance has been a joke and it's about time you were held accountable for your apparent contempt of taxpayers. The people of Warwick deserve better than a political hack.

    Sunday, November 16, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Fenceman, still waiting to explain your outright lies.....

    Sunday, November 16, 2014 Report this

  • Pmaloneyjr

    I would like to point out that this is an important topic to Warwick as evidenced by the number of people viewing, reading and commenting on the article. Most Warwick Online articles have anywhere from 25-100 views, this article has over 450 views. Most articles have comments numbering 1-10, this article now has 26 comments. It seems to me like this is a topic people are interested in.

    Sunday, November 16, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Fenceman must be trying to figure out more lies and Rob is doing the math for gallons of fuel dumped into the sewers.... Nice comments you had math was just off by a lot...

    Sunday, November 16, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Well SteveD, here is how I would start.

    1. Benefits are much too generous, they need to be cut. Currently WFD enjoys 14 paid holidays, thats 40% more than the federal government employees, so that needs to be cut to 10, ( and I would cut it to 8 if I was negotiating the contract)

    2. Health care copays and co-shares need to be adjusted. Active duty individuals should be paying 30%, furthermore, if any member has any other job, )for example lets say as a painting contractor who is bidding state work) the individual needs to be in a separate plan.

    3. No one takes the pension until age 65. Presently, last time I checked there were 142 WFD members that took regular pensions prior to the age of 45. The system was never designed to support that.

    4. The pension system needs to end as is. Immediate analysis of all contributions by each member, and a payout negotiated for their investment to date into a system that is failing. No more defined benefit program. The system needs to have some self responsibility, and the employees should be responsible to make their own investment decisions, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS PAYING FOR IT. Self managed 401k with a max 3 - 5 % match. Let the taxpayers off the hook. See how fast the rank and file members castigate the union leadership.

    5. Sick pay buy back bonuses immediately cease. Last year the cost was $338,000. Just another egregious perk.

    6. Sick days: presently the WFD gets 20 sick days. Who needs 20 sick days? As a sole proprietor I have taken 2 days out in 15 years. You guys are supposed to be the self proclaimed best physically fit specimens, why do you need 20 sick days? Sick time is cut to 7 annually, no rollover, no buy backs.

    7. The halloween joke ends immediately. According to the contract, (pg.19) in addition to the 14 paid holidays, if a member of WFD works on Halloween, civic or non civic duty, they get double time. Ridiculous rip off of the taxpayer.

    8. The "waiting for relief" clause (pg.18) needs to go. Waiting for 15 minutes for relief, while hanging around, the member gets overtime. Boy can we work that to our advantage cant we? No where in private industry are there such fiscal abuses. To wit: all personnel should be salaried.

    9. Clothing allowance and clothing maintenance allowance of $1450.00 per man is excessive and needs to be cut in half.

    10. In numerous states, the rescues are staffed with 3 men eliminating the need for an engine to accompany a rescue. Each time there is a rescue call an engine responds and the call is counted as 2 runs. The number of runs determines the number of battalion chiefs. More nonsense proliferated by the minimum manning NEGOTIATED BENEFIT. Minimum manning is not a law it is a negotiated clause which leads to the overtime abuses.

    11. Healthcare benefit structures and copay doctor visits and special service fees have not changed since July1 1989. A study of the costs associated indicates that there is plenty of room for improvement.

    12. Almost forgot, NO ONE GETS FREE LIFETIME HEALTH CARE UPON RETIREMENT!!!! Get it? No one!! All retirees need to pay 35%, that saves 3 million per year to the taxpayer.

    Thats just for starters, off the top of my head having read all of the contracts each cycle, and watching the WFD budget continue to explode every year.

    Now its your turn SteveD. Your chiefs stated in public that the addition of 20 men in 2012 would ELIMINATE the overtime. Why did we have 39,412 hours of overtime this year after adding the 20 men? Please give us an intelligent response focused on the question at hand. Be detailed, quote reports, contracts and studies.

    Ps we will all be at the meeting tonight so please come and introduce yourself. We cant wait to meet you at last.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    fenceman, what do you do for a living. I handle sick people all day. Occasionally I get sick. Instead of getting my co workers and elderly people sick I need to stay home. Can you tell me one other job in the world that penalizes you for working a second job. NONE... I'm gonna call BS on 142 people that retired before 45. Please tell me where I can check that out. again more lies. No one gets 4 hours waiting at the station. Lies. Keep going though. Again, I'm not a chief, I don't have the figures on long term illnesss and OT hours. Ask for your self... The waiting in relief clause maybe happens 5 times a year, for an hour. Keep bitching though even when you don't understand any of it...

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Also what would your salary be for me, what is my life worth to you.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Reality

    Steve D......kindly respond to overtime.....we're working

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    I think I did. I'm not in the administration. I don't have access to those records(long term illness, surgeries etc...). Again, ask the chief.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • informedtaxpayer

    Fenceman, I do not comment here often but I do read every day. Mostly I write the ranting adout and hate for firefighters off as sour grapes. Cushman because he was voted out. Cote becaues a firefighter at his marina has a bigger boat than he does. whatever. but I have read your above comment and has to right some wrong information. I dont know why you have some of it so wrong, lazy research, or just the slanted feeding from Bob and Rob it doesn't matter. So just a few corrections.

    1-As far as cutting benifits for a firefighter who has a second job. Do we do that to workers in the private sector who have to work 2 or 3 jobs? I think not!! So this is just silliness on your part.

    2-your health care copay argument. According to the bureau of labor statistics the average co insurance payment for private sector workers was 19.1% in 2012. FF's in warwick pay 20% so we are right in line with the private sector.

    3-Your argument on pensions is to silly to be argued here. I'll need another page. but as far as the argument about unfunded liabilities in pensions. I agree that there are problems with pension 1. that was before my time. But the panic over "unfunded" liability is a little overblown. The fear mongering number of 1 BILLION DOLLARS is just that, fear mongering. That number is combining every penny of debt from every accound of the city that needs to be paid back over the next 30 YEARS or so and using it to scare the citizens and try to erode the benifits of city employees. Lets investigate the argument I hear alot about this. "I don't run my house like this" is the mantra of debt mongerers. I think they do run their house like this just like most people do, they just refuse to admit it. I have a mortgage (debt) a car payment (debt) and a few buck on my home depot card (debt). Now I do not have enough cash in my savings account to pay all of these debts TODAY. so I have an unfunded liability in my personal finances. I have to pay these debst over the next 4-30 YEARS. but according to the debt mongerers I should be running to the bankrupcy courts!! SILLINESS!!

    4-your sick day argument. 2 days in 15 years? Really? sounds like an exaggeration to me but if its true congratulations! but I am sure that while you are installing fences??? (fenceman??) or whatever you do, you do not come in close contact with ill people couging and throwing up on you, so yes we get sick, and if you investigate I believe you wil find that most firefighters use far fewer that their 20 days. As far as rollover of days, maybe you should investigate the cost to the city of TDI insurance premiums. We do not have TDI for when we are sick. I believe you will find the cost of TDI would be MUCH more expensive than any sick day rollover cost. Be careful what you wish for!!

    5-as far as your "halloween joke" , in my over 20 years on the job I have NEVER seen anyone get detail pay on Halloween. Did you research and find out if this has cost anything to the city?? No?? just because something is written in a contract does not mean is costs the city anything!

    6-your "waiting for releif" complaint. First- NO ONE gets 4 hours of overtime for getting relieved 15 minutes late. That is just flat out lazy research on your part!! Now I am sure that you investigated the number of times a year this late relief occurs?? RIght? Because before you accuse me of fraud and manipulating the system you would have all of the CORRECT facts right?? I mean because you are such a bastion of truth and knowledge and justice?? Right?? I didn't think so, the actual number of times this happens in a year could be counted on 2 hands. And if you bothered to look into this you would find that usually it is the rescue crews who are at the hospitals with patients well after their shift ends.

    7- Staffing rescues with 3 people?? I'M IN, ALL FOR IT!! lets start tomorrow!! As far as your statement about when 2 trucks respond to a call that is 2 run numbers. Another incorrect fact!! (poor research maybe?) If 1 truck responds to a call or 6, there is ONE incident number generated, that is it, no question and no exceptions!!

    8-No one gets free lifetime health care from the city. When a retiree is eligible for medicare they are shifted over.

    So just a little fact checking on your ranting. PLEASE, PLEASE!! if you are going to accuse us of fraud and waste, and degrade the work we do every day PLEASE at the very least have your facts correct!! Just take some time and do a little research from independent sources not just take the garbage from the debt mongerers!!

    Have a nice day.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Stacia Huyler

    @davebarry109- healthcare is not vested. Everyone pays for healthcare---it should include municipal retirees. Take a look at what lack of pension reform did to Detroit. When bankruptcy is filed, guess what---there won't be options. The bottom line is the mayor is deceiving the public about it and so is the retirement chairman Al Marciano.

    My campaign highlighted consolidation, zero based budgeting, oversight, accountability, stopping tax increases, WSA privatization, etc,etc...apparently you weren't paying attention.

    @norm88--- We are just getting started.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • bendover

    CHAPTER 9, end of story. The State can't file for Chapter 9 ( in perfect world, it should) but cities and towns can, i.e., Central Falls...coming to a community near you because just about every City and Town is a financial basket case. All of the people who "negotiated" these deals from the State level down to the cities and towns should be indicted by a federal grand jury for massive fraud. They all had advice from their own accountants and actuaries, they had access to audit reports from the Auditor General going back a decade. The testimony was also given before the House Finance committee during budget hearings. The warnings were clear, unambiguous, and to the point as to the direction of unfunded liabilities and healthcare benefits being unsustainable and financially reckless. They all went ahead anyway, throwing the public taxpayers and newly hired union workers under the same financially broken bus. It is a mute point anyway, people are voting with their feet as Warwick's population over the last 10+ years is a reflection of the trend throughout the State. The old bromide will become a RI truism, "You can't get blood out of a stone, or tax it either." You best listen to what this guy Cushman has to say. I'm told he has an MBA, which puts him light years ahead of some of the inane comments here and also light years ahead of this dullard, council President.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Reality

    It's amazing how uninformed " INFORMED TAXPAYER " IS.

    TDI is paid for by the employee not the employer so the City of Warwick would be charged a dime and it would cause the taxpayers nothing.

    At 65 city workers are rolled over to Medicare but Warwick does pay Medicare B and Blue Cross Plan 65 for both husband and wife.....it costs the city $6 k per yr. per couple.

    The banking meltdown in 2008 was caused by people getting too much debt.

    The firefighters just don't know the facts.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • informedtaxpayer

    Reality,

    yes the city does pay Medicare B and plan 65, but the impression is that the city pays full health insurance for life. and the book rate for plan 65 is $231 a month x 2 for spouce = $5500 a year at BOOK rate which the city does NOT pay.

    The banking meltdown has NOTHING to do with people getting in too much debt. It has to do with banks gambling with money and losing. it has to do with housing prices getting overly inflated. it had to do with the NATURAL CYCLE of the markets and business. please stop calling the past recession as "historic" or "unheard of" it is not if you study the business cycles of the past 120 years. What made it hurt more to the average "main street" citizen is the fact that business sold you a lie about 401 K's and how you should control your retirement security and control your own investments. Thats like saying you should do your own heart bypass procedure on your kitchen counter with a steak knife and sewing machine and you will be completely healthy!! Now business has made record profits after cutting loose of your retirement burden they are free to gamble with that extra money. Because people with 401 k plans are in the market on their own they "felt" this recession more. I am good with that. Im not buying the 401k lie. (you should google "401k lie" and watch the video it would enlighten you). and my suggestion to you is to organize and fight for your own just compensation from your corporate overlords and stop trying to strip others of their benifits.

    And I do admit when I am wrong. I was wrong about TDI it is paid for by employees but it is not available to us. (unemployment is paid for by the employer) my bad.

    You should try to be a little more civilized. I just go to work everyday just like you and do not like being blamed for all of the worlds ills. I am just waiting for you to come up with a way to blame me for earthquakes, famine, cancer, ebola etc.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Let's all hope fenceman doesn't get Ebola he might need his 3rd sick day in 15 years. Or maybe he will just go to work and infect everyone else.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Reality

    INFORMED TAXPAYER......you failed to mention that Warwick pays for Medicare B for husband and wife to the tune of $104 per person or $ 208 per mo. per couple or $2500 per year plus $5500 for Blue Cross plan 65. So instead of $6000 per couple per year that I thought it is really $ 8000 per couple.

    You also didn't mention that TDI costs the employee at $50k over $700 per yr. That's why the fire dept doesn't want it..............it would be good for the taxpayers............perish the thought.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Informed taxpayer, Just look at the contract at the pages that I cited you will see the stipulation on Halloween and also on the waiting time. Right there in black and white. For both you and SteveD, the sick time is outrageous. You are correct in one aspect. That is that most firefighters historically don't take sick time. They bank it and cash it in. Just check the budget numbers if you are capable and you will see that only $16,000 was paid in sick time, yet $338,000 was paid in buy back bonuses. in 2012, it was $550,000. Hence, deductive reasoning would indicate that it is an unnecessary amount of sick time and that it should not be cumulative.

    Again, I haven't heard you or Braniac SteveD address the fundamentals of the issue which is the documented Overtime. Why, if we have access to the numbers, why don't you? Why cant either of you make an argument based on fiscal facts and substantiate your argument with numbers. You cant , you wont, your heads are buried in the sand.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Rob how many screen names do you have on here, So you are The captain, Fenceman, and Reality. Nice. Makes sense. All 3 are D-Bags.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Again SteveD, you are wrong. By the way, you failed to show and introduce yourself, AGAIN!

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Sorry I had to work one of my many jobs. You haven't answerd any of my question. What should I be paid? Pretty simple question.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Just to clarify, you signed in as "the captain" and then stated "just look at the contract at the pages I cited". But that was signed in as Fenceman. I'm just confused as to how many screen names you use.

    Monday, November 17, 2014 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    The city council passed the resolution agreeing to allow me to conduct a 45 minute presentation on my ten analysis of the Warwick Budget with a 15 minute follow up question period from the council members at the Monday, December 15 council meeting. My sincere thanks to those council members who supported this resolution and I welcome all to attend.

    Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Report this

  • stinkeone

    why can't the public read this document in the beacon is it available if this is so important making it available would be my priority as for the rest of you who have participated in the previous post funny reading you would think it was rehearsed if it wasn't so sad

    Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Report this

  • TheDeal

    Of all the blatant lies I've seen told by commenters here NONE have been so outrageous as Rob Cote saying we hang around for 15 mins to collect 4hrs of OT. We infact do the exact opposite!!! We come into work 1 hr before the end of the shifts. Examples, the night shift ends at 0800. We come in for 0700. The day shift ends at 1800. We come in at 1700. This serves two purposes. One, guys are less likely to get stuck working lately catching a late run. This is to ours and our families benefit. Second, because technically we go home an hour early, if the company does catch a run within the last hour of the shift, the guy working that next night or day shift is already on the truck THUS SAVING THE CITY FROM HAVING TO PAY OVERTIME!!!!! We would have to "hang around" for 1 hr and 15 mins to collect OT for it. Even if we did, which we don't, it would only be ONE hr of OT, not four as Cote lies about. It's such a calculated bold face lie on his part. Zero credibility!!!

    Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Report this

  • falina

    I understand that this city, as are many, is under great financial stress, but it sickens me to read this abominable vilifying of the fire department! Of all of the many departments in the city government, why is the fire department, of all departments, under attack? Are you joking? These brave men and women selflessly deal with danger and put their lives on the line on a daily basis! They witness horrors that most people could not even begin to bear! They go into burning buildings, are exposed to dangerous chemicals, respond and clean up the mess from gory car crashes, broken bones, grievous injuries, drug overdoses, alcohol overdoses, and death. These brave workers witness and contend with drug addicts, drunks, the mentally ill, charred and burnt bodies... They respond to the elderly and children having health emergencies, allergies, cardiac arrest, people unable to breathe, murder, attempted murder,drownings, boating accidents,and the horrendous results of domestic violence. They enter burning buildings, they have to look at charred bodies and dead animals! In other words these heroic firefighters look at every "ugly" there is in this world on a regular basis, for years at a time, as a career, and you want to complain about the amount of sick time they are allowed? That's easy to say from a cushy office. These people are exposed to smoke, chemicals, blood, illness and disease, putting their lives at risk and the vitality and stability of their families! They are lifesavers and they keep our children safe. The few minutes of response time can be the difference between live and death for our loved ones! I cannot even imagine the stresses and trauma they endure! The members of the fire department are heroes and should be treated as such! Berating and antagonizing them and all the good work they do is unconscionable, and just plain disgusting! Find someone else to castigate! The fire department a poor choice and anyone hassling them is just plain vile, (although I have no doubt that even though certain people feel the need to continuously persecute their tireless efforts, the Warwick Fire Department and its members would respond quickly, professionally and selflessly to your emergencies without a second thought). Leave these hard workers alone and keep your complaints at City Hall where they belong! These trivial complaints about the WFD are just obnoxious and completely repugnant. A huge thank you to the Warwick Fire Department for keeping the city safe.

    Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    I agree that the personal attacks on the Warwick Fire Dept and its members have been over the top and off base. Mr. Cote continues to wonder why nobody takes him seriously. Until the people he latches onto distance themselves I'm afraid the message will once again be lost. Mr. Cushman should at least be heard. I don't understand what everyone would be so afraid of. The problem is people like Rob Cote come on here and throw bombs, and the perception becomes that all like minded people are just as political and ignorant as he is. There is a middle ground, there is just no one in this city that articulates it well.

    Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    I have ZERO problem with Cushman, Dempsey even Cote keeping an eye on financial info and the way the city is run, kudos it's not a bad thing. I have a huge problem with the way Cote and friends complain and degrade everyone over the issue. Almost every issue that is brought up at the meetings the stooges march up to the mike and comment. Do they ever think a chage in stategy might make people listen more. By the way Falina we do/have treated those people and family and nothing but 100% compassion and professionalism is always shown....

    Thursday, November 20, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    page 18 and 19 were cited in the contract. Read it for yourself.

    http://warwickri.gov/pdfs/personnel/FIRCON20122015.pdf

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Now here is an example of firefighters failing to be accurate.

    Here is what informed taxpayer said to the posting - "

    5-as far as your "halloween joke" , in my over 20 years on the job I have NEVER seen anyone get detail pay on Halloween. Did you research and find out if this has cost anything to the city?? No?? just because something is written in a contract does not mean is costs the city anything!

    6-your "waiting for releif" complaint. First- NO ONE gets 4 hours of overtime for getting relieved 15 minutes late. That is just flat out lazy research on your part!! Now I am sure that you investigated the number of times a year this late relief occurs?? RIght? Because before you accuse me of fraud and manipulating the system you would have all of the CORRECT facts right?? I mean because you are such a bastion of truth and knowledge and justice?? Right?? I didn't think so, the actual number of times this happens in a year could be counted on 2 hands. And if you bothered to look into this you would find that usually it is the rescue crews who are at the hospitals with patients well after their shift ends.

    To Thedeal, SteveD, Scall024, and informed taxpayer. Here is what was posted"

    7. The halloween joke ends immediately. According to the contract, (pg.19) in addition to the 14 paid holidays, if a member of WFD works on Halloween, civic or non civic duty, they get double time. Ridiculous rip off of the taxpayer.

    8. The "waiting for relief" clause (pg.18) needs to go. Waiting for 15 minutes for relief, while hanging around, the member gets overtime. Boy can we work that to our advantage cant we? No where in private industry are there such fiscal abuses. To wit: all personnel should be salaried.

    Where in the above post does it mention waiting for relief is "4 hours of overtime? it doesn't. That is your blatent twisting of black and white. It quotes the contract. So who is blowing things out of proportion?

    This is the misinformation that "informedtaxpayer attempts to put forth:

    6-your "waiting for releif" complaint. First- NO ONE gets 4 hours of overtime for getting relieved 15 minutes late. That is just flat out lazy research on your part!!

    No one mentioned 4 hrs in the post. You did!

    Here is what "TheDeal wrote:

    Of all the blatant lies I've seen told by commenters here NONE have been so outrageous as Rob Cote saying we hang around for 15 mins to collect 4hrs of OT.

    Again, inaccurate and not what was said.

    Here is what Scall024 posted:

    I agree that the personal attacks on the Warwick Fire Dept and its members have been over the top and off base. Mr. Cote continues to wonder why nobody takes him seriously.

    There where no personal attacks except on the part of the firefighters, as there always are. What was posted was text from the contract and nothing more.

    Still waiting for SteveD to address the first question. Please explain the 39,412 hrs of overtime after hiring 20 men. Looks like we got off track huh?

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Overtime eating into fire budget

    By MARK SILBERSTEIN

    With at least nine months left to go in the 2005-06 fiscal year ending June 30 the Warwick Fire Department has spent $463,932.94 on overtime from one of two accounts, or 66.3-percent of the $700,000 budget. In another account, firefighter overtime has drained $244,964.39, or 46.7 percent of $525,000 budgeted.

    Based on figures supplied by City Treasurer David Olsen, the amounts reflect two separate overtime accounts in the Fire Department budget — one known as Fire I (employees that were hired prior to 1992), and Fire II (employees hired since 1992).

    Overtime remains a serious issue for the department to address, their senior leadership attempting to hire and train recruits to fill open slots created by retirees as fast as veteran firefighters are leaving.

    According to city Personnel Director Oscar Shelton there are 218 positions budgeted for in the fire department's current fiscal year budget.

    Since July 1, eight firefighters have retired, four of those with 30 years on the job, now receiving 80-percent of their annual income once they left work thanks to a pension reimbursement deal Mayor Scott Avedisian penned with the union after reaching a tentative 3-year contract agreement in February. The City Council last week moved forward with a threat to sue the administration in court, seeking a temporary restraining order to keep Avedisian from allowing the 80-percent reimbursement to continue. The reason, argued the 8-to-1 majority in favor of the court action, is that the mayor had not submitted the obligatory ordinance requiring a city council vote before increasing the pension payment although prior administrations had also failed to gain council approval before a contract agreement.

    Next month, 14 members of the department's 2005 recruit class are expected to graduate from the latest training academy, and whether or not all of them are hired rests with a decision from Avedisian.

    In the 2004-05 fiscal year, the Fire Department had $600,000 in the Fire I overtime account, $100,000 less than this year, yet they spent $1,325,086.27 — 120.8-percent over their available funding, more than double what had been budgeted. And the Fire II overtime account had $400,000, $125,000 less than this year, but the department paid out $580,268.12 in expenses — 45.1-percent more than what was budgeted.

    "It doesn't come as a surprise to me," reacted City Council President Donald Torres (D-Ward 2), who voted in favor of the last two municipal budgets where the council trimmed line item funding to pay for fire department overtime.

    "It was inevitable this was going to happen," Torres said on Tuesday, explaining the council's position to cut departmental spending across city government in recent budgets, in part he said to support a consensus among his colleagues that the Republican-led administration needed to be more fiscally conservative in tough economic times, and also to reduce the rising tax burden on homeowners. But, Torres acknowledged, given current fire department union contractual obligations that require specific staffing levels be maintained at all times it's impossible for the council or any other authority to place restrictions on their overtime expenses.

    Before the council adopted the current budget earlier this summer, Torres said Fire Chief Jack Chartier originally submitted a request to the administration for $1,300,000 to cover anticipated costs in the Fire I account, and $750,000 for Fire II. Mayor Avedisian, Torres continued, didn't change Chartier's request for Fire I when the final budget package was sent to the council, but trimmed $150,000 from the line item for Fire II. When both items were reviewed by the council, Fire I was cut $600,000, and Fire II $75,000.

    In the 2004-05 fiscal year, covering a period from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005, the top five overtime earners for the Warwick Fire Department included the following — none of them rank and file:

    • Battalion Chief David DelVecchio, 741 hours of overtime, worth $37,937.85. DelVecchio's regular salary was $78,901.20, giving him a combined income with overtime for one year of $116,839.05.

    • Battalion Chief Edmund Armstrong, 736 hours of overtime, worth $37,633.25. Armstrong's regular salary was $79,649.86, giving him a combined income with overtime for one year of $117,283.11.

    • Battalion Chief Paul St. Jean, 616 hours of overtime, worth $31,558.22. St. Jean's regular salary was $79,649.86, giving him a combined income with overtime for one year of $111,208.08.

    • Battalion Chief Stephen Hay, 602 hours of overtime, worth $30,816.77. Hay's regular salary was $79,649.86, giving him a combined income with overtime for one year of $110,466.63, and,

    • Lt. Thomas Maymon, 721 hours of overtime, worth $30,040.98. Maymon's regular salary was $64,189.53, giving him a combined income with overtime for one year of $94,230.51.

    In the first 13 weeks of this fiscal year, spanning a period from July 1 to last Friday, Warwick Fire Department officers have already begun to rack up significant overtime, and earned extra pay as a result. They include:

    • Rescue Capt. Joseph Pfeifer, 262 hours of overtime, worth $12,099.96. Pfeifer's regular salary is $71,696.56.

    • Capt. David Morse, 254 hours of overtime, worth $11,622.99. Morse's regular salary is $72,376.72.

    • Lt. James Kenney, 250 hours of overtime, worth $10,653.18. Kenney's regular salary is $66,653.18.

    • Lt. Michael Clark, 250.5 hours of overtime, worth $10,782.69. Clark's regular salary is $65,175.24.

    • Capt. Steven Bonn, 244 hours of overtime, worth $11,256. Bonn's regular salary is $72,376.72.

    None of the calculations take into account the cost of city-paid medical and dental coverage, less applicable employee contributions based on the current, if only tentative union contract agreement.

    While Torres suggested it is a simple practice of good management to control overtime in non-emergency situations, he added that command staff at the fire department has little choice when personnel are sick or injured to find necessary replacements, charged with the task of preserving public safety.

    Still, Torres expressed continued frustration that year after year the department's overtime expenses ballooned past budgeted amounts, noting that towards the end of the fiscal period the administration would utilize a common practice of transferring funds from one account to another or from one department to another to make the ledgers balance.

    Chief Chartier did not return a phone call from the Beacon seeking comment on the matter.

    "There is an amount budgeted for overtime," Avedisian said in a statement, "there is no other money available for this use and I have no magical pot of money waiting to cover such costs."

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    In 2006, 5 men consume 1260.5 hours of overtime in 13 weeks. No abuse there is there.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    Captain/Fenceman. Here is your quote. " Also, there have been numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT."

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Unionthug

    For the record I used ZERO sick time last year....

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • TheDeal

    Rob this is your quote:

    "Where are all the savings from hiring 20 more men whose sole purpose was to eliminate the overtime. Also, there have been numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT."

    You spew so much BS you can't even remember what you've lied about. Here's a tip, if you always tell the truth, you'll never have to remember what you've said....

    The Halloween issue speaks to when FF's work a off duty detail. The city bills events coordinators more because it's a tough day to get guys to sign up for those details, just like all holidays. Firefighters working their regular shifts in firehouses receive no added pay on Halloween. This is what you do, you read things without a full understanding of them, draw wild conjectures and the spew your outrage by spreading your distortion of facts. What I can't figure out is, is this intentional or do you really just not comprehend the majority of things on which you speak?

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    To TheDeal,

    First, you fail to address the overtime issue and certainly, make other arguments to circumvent those answers.

    Second: As far as the quote "numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT." A request was made by a councilman, to the chief, to supply the pay role records of the men documented at the marina with the hazmat truck, as he was informed that they were paid 4 hours of overtime. As of this date, the department has refused to submit those pay role records. Why? Get the records, make them public, and prove the allegations with city documents. Simple, just do it instead of your rhetoric, and I will go away. But you know, ns I know, and we all know, that you cant do it. All you can do is distract from the mathematical point to make personal attacks.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    To TheDeal,

    First, you fail to address the overtime issue and certainly, make other arguments to circumvent those answers.

    Second: As far as the quote "numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT." A request was made by a councilman, to the chief, to supply the pay role records of the men documented at the marina with the hazmat truck, as he was informed that they were paid 4 hours of overtime. As of this date, the department has refused to submit those pay role records. Why? Get the records, make them public, and prove the allegations with city documents. Simple, just do it instead of your rhetoric, and I will go away. But you know, ns I know, and we all know, that you cant do it. All you can do is distract from the mathematical point to make personal attacks.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    To TheDeal,

    First, you fail to address the overtime issue and certainly, make other arguments to circumvent those answers.

    Second: As far as the quote "numerous issues with men going on a non emergency run and returning the vehicles back to the station 10 minutes after the duty shift ends and getting paid 4 hours OT." A request was made by a councilman, to the chief, to supply the pay role records of the men documented at the marina with the hazmat truck, as he was informed that they were paid 4 hours of overtime. As of this date, the department has refused to submit those pay role records. Why? Get the records, make them public, and prove the allegations with city documents. Simple, just do it instead of your rhetoric, and I will go away. But you know, ns I know, and we all know, that you cant do it. All you can do is distract from the mathematical point to make personal attacks.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    SteveD, for the record, you used ZERO sick time last year which is precisely the example of why 20 days sick time is outrageous, and furthermore, why the ability to accumulate that up to 140 days, is ludicrous. But you were paid for not being sick? That's the sickness of it all. You just don't get it because you have never worked in the private sector.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rob, you act like you have never attacked these guys personally. Just because its not in this section doesn't mean it didn't happen!

    Saturday, November 22, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Post the quote Scall

    Tuesday, November 25, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Under the headline about Warwick Firefighters asking for new equipment Mr. Cote you posted about all your wonderful diving experience that no one cares about. After rambling for a paragraph or two you start to question the experience of the WFD dive team. You then suggest that they contributed to the death of 5 Warwick residents. I don't need to read much else to know what a pathetic, lonely, sad fraud of a man you are. These people risk their lives to save scum like you. I would think that you would have a little more respect for them

    Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Report this