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• Justanidiot

  You want some snicky snacks, fine. Buy them on your own time and don't use the company car (or ladder truck) to do your grocery run. That is specialized equipment to be used to fight fires. Want to go to the market? Borrow your wife's mini-van.

  Thursday, December 10, 2015 Report this

• richardcorrente

  Dear Stephen Creta,

  I have done a fair amount of research about this issue. Here's what I have learned. After meeting on several occasions with Fire Chief Ed Armstrong and Firefighters Union President Bill Lloyd I have learned that half of the supermarket visits are on the way to work by Firefighters that have not yet "punched in". The other half is from Firefighters that are on duty but working extended hours making it necessary to take a mid-shift grocery run. Lloyd pointed out that there are many other grocery trips made that go unnoticed because the Firefighters are not in uniform and therefore not "on duty" or performed by family and friends. As far as the Warwick Firefighters vehicles being used, there seems to be agreement with Mr. Cote that there should be and will be less of that.

  You are right to point out that no matter what, they are "on-call" 24/7/365. We have one of the best fire departments in the country. Look at the Four Seasons 2:20 A.M. fire. Dozens of residents. Pitch black night. No electricity. And also no injuries and no casualties!!! It's hard to find fault with their record. But maybe they could use the city vehicles a little less often.

  Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  Richard Corrente

  Democrat for Mayor - 2016

  Thursday, December 10, 2015 Report this

• Warwick Man

  Justanidiot,

  Then please also tell police and DPW that they can't use theirs also. Richard, the trucks are used only if necessary. Rob Côte for some reason feels the need to complain about minor issues. He is a joke really. Last week this debate was on the Community of Warwick Facebook page and in an hour there were well over 200 comments in support of the practice. The Captain is clearly in the minority. ever wonder what the actual number is for the amount of money the members spend on stores in Warwick. Stop by any of those stores they all appreciate the way we represent ourselves while in their stores. Why this is an issue I'll never understand.

  Thursday, December 10, 2015 Report this

• adogsmom

  This is the age where there's no respect ,only complaining and whining about those who serve them . Our WFD truly are the finest. We're lucky to have the department we do. Do I think they're special? You bet I do. They've seen and had to do things we can't imagine. Going to the store in the truck? Really??? When there s a fire, car accident ,drowning or anything in between, these selfless people are there doing what none of us can,without question and for the duration however long in extreme heat and frigid cold. Yup, its their job but it takes very special people to do it.Appreciate the dedicated people we have. Stop with the whining!

  Thursday, December 10, 2015 Report this

• Thecaptain

  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

  Thursday, December 10, 2015 Report this

• Charlie66

  Yes, the manpower is being paid but that's not the issue is it? The issue is the use of the trucks (with additional wear & tear and wasted gas) to go shopping and that absolutely shouldn't be happening as there is NO NEED for it. They need to buy their own food on their own time and on the own dime...not mine!

  Have to wonder about those "supporters" on that FB page. Firefighters? Friends/family of firefighters? City workers that also abuse the system and think it's right? The Captain isn't in the minority. There are many people who aren't on FB or don't attend all the meetings, that feel as he does.

  Firefighters have a schedule just like everyone else. Yes, they may have to work extended hours but that doesn't happen EVERY shift and there can be meal planning done when not on duty. Those "mid shift" trips to the market are NOT necessary! I have personally seen the SAME people, in the SAME trucks (including Special Hazards) days in a row! They go in and buy enough for ONE meal. You know, where they hit the deli and order 4 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese and grab a single roll to make a sandwich. Then get a bag of chips or something else but it's never more than ONE meal. Then they're back the next day shopping again for ONE meal. They know there is an issue with this, they just don't care.

  Go shopping on your day off....buy a package of rolls, a pound of deli meats & cheeses, other snacks and bring it to work with you. There are PLENTY of things that can be purchased for the "unexpected extended hours" where you might starve ya know? If you think you'll need something, you can always stop at Stop & Shop or Dave's on your way into work. Chances are with one or the other being close to the stations you're going to pass by one on your way in. Work with your co-workers to buy and share your food. If you're all supposed to be "brothers and sisters" can't you trust that one of them won't eat all your food if you're off shift?

  As for the comment about how they're appreciated at the local stores....LMAO, you do realize the employees are paid to be nice to EVERYONE. You're not that special....you just think you are.

  Friday, December 11, 2015 Report this

• Warwick Man

  Charlie66... I mean Stacia how are you doing? It's been a while since you changed screen names. Stacia, Sabrina, now Charlle66... Sounds about right.

  Friday, December 11, 2015 Report this

• Charlie66

  WFDmember....you are sooooo wrong! But, that's par for the course when people can't accept that someone doesn't agree and assume someone can't have an opinion that is different than their own.

  Friday, December 11, 2015 Report this

• Warwick Man

  Thanks for the advice Stacia

  Saturday, December 12, 2015 Report this

• therock147

  Hey Rob and Stacia, Warwick is hiring, wanna apply?? Come on in, the waters warm!!!!

  Sunday, December 13, 2015 Report this

• patientman

  Silly thing to be elevated to this level. It doesn't seem like a big deal. It also could easily be diffused by the chief or mayor stopping the practice. I wonder if shopping on duty is the norm in other departments? If they are going to shop on duty it makes sense that they have their equipment with them.

  Monday, December 14, 2015 Report this

• FASTFREDWARD4

  Just like the car taxes. when Rob went down to the state house and sat in the with joey S at finc there was no one there. Don't you think everbody in that room knows before what was going to happen. So much for your car taxes that dead. This crap about going shopping is dead look at the federal law. MS staci ret warwick fighter who got lock up because of ward 3 told her on the WW page its in there black and white. Can,t do nothing about it. What going be next to cry for. warwick is still cheaper then Cranston and Johnston to live, BUt who am I .good luck

  Tuesday, December 22, 2015 Report this

• Scott58

  Dear Mr. Corrente:

  Please let me and others know where you found the data showing that the WFD is one of the best in the country!

  Warm Regards,

  Scott A

  Thursday, January 7, 2016 Report this