If you’ve taken part in any conversations about the City of Warwick’s financial situation, chances are you have heard at least some talk about “benefits.” But what exactly are these benefits?
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*Editor's note: It has been learned that the weekly cost of insurance for members of the fire department has increased since the most recent contract. IAFF members now pay around $90 a week for an individual health plan
If you’ve taken part in any conversations about the City of Warwick’s financial situation, chances are you have heard at least some talk about “benefits.” At the simplest level, “benefits” is a catch-all term referring to healthcare options provided to city employees and retirees, and lifetime pensions that are doled out to members following their retirement – much of which is paid for at the expense of the taxpayer, and all of which are subject to a litany of various qualifications and subcategories.
In the hopes of creating a more informed public on this complicated and important subject, this first in a series of three articles will delve into an objective analysis of these benefits that are given to the members of the city’s three collective bargaining units on the municipal side – both for active employees and once they retire.
The unions representing these city employees are the Local 2748 International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), The Warwick Lodge No. 7, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and the Council 94, AFSCME Local 1651 for Municipal Employees.
A follow-up piece will further examine the healthcare and pension benefits granted to the Warwick Teachers’ Union and Warwick Independent School Employees (WISE) Union, and compare those to the municipal unions. That piece will also examine the fiscal implications of these benefits, including the total membership of each union and costs associated with providing them healthcare and pensions going forward. A third and final article will seek opinions on the feasibility of these benefits and explore measures that could potentially curb costs for the city and its taxpayers.
Hopefully, by the end of this series in mid-November, readers will have a clearer picture of what benefits are enjoyed by workers in the city, what those benefits cost, and be able to make their own determinations about whether or not those benefits are lacking, fair, or excessive – and whether or not anything needs to be done by local governmental officials to address the costs created by these benefits.
Healthcare
The City of Warwick utilizes a self-insured method for its healthcare. The city council in June approved a contract with WB Community Health, which acts as the administrator of the health coverage to process claims. Utilizing this method means Warwick is responsible for paying the sum total of all insurance claims each year – in essence, the city insures itself with money from its budget rather than going through an insurance company to pay claims. If there are fewer claims than what was budgeted for, the city can get that money back. If there are more claims than anticipated, the city may be on the hook – depending on how other communities performed that also utilize WB.
All three municipal collective bargaining units are provided a choice of plans, either for individual or family coverage. This insurance can also be provided to a member’s spouse, provided they do not have comparable care of their own.
Members may choose between the primary coverage (equivalent to Healthmate Coast to Coast), or coverage equivalent to Blue Cross Classic Blue as a secondary insurance choice. Delta Dental is currently the negotiated dental benefit for all union employees in Warwick.
The city covers a majority of these healthcare costs, with members of the IAFF and FOP paying a 20 percent co-share for their healthcare, and Council 94 employees paying an 18 percent co-share. For the IAFF and FOP, this breaks down to a cost of about $65 a week for a family plan and $27 a week for an individual plan, or $260 a month and $108 a month respectively for coverage.
Healthcare plans in Rhode Island vary in cost, but the cheapest plan for an individual to purchase on their own, offered for comparison, on a monthly basis is the Neighborhood Health Economy plan, which costs about $200 a month for an individual. However, this plan also comes with a $6,000 deductible. Other variants of the Neighborhood have lower deductibles, but higher monthly premiums – with the lowest deductible being $500 for their Platinum plan, but that comes at the expense of a $446 average monthly premium for an individual.
For the sake of limited space and hopefully to maintain clarity on this complex topic, we will delve only into the city’s primary coverage option for this article. Under this plan, members have a $1,500 deductible for individual plans and $3,000 for family plans.
For the most part, co-pays for this plan are low. There is a $10 co-pay for in network doctor’s office visits, walk-in treatment and preventative services for pediatricians and general practice doctors. Employees also pay a $15 co-pay for all outpatient medical and surgical care, up to 20 visits per year. Things like lab tests, x-rays, physical and occupational therapy, home and hospice care and inpatient mental health care are 100 percent covered once the deductible is satisfied.
The healthcare plans also cover things like inpatient substance abuse treatment, for up to 30 days of rehab per year and 90 days throughout the lifetime of the policy. Outpatient substance abuse coverage comes with a $15 co-pay for individual and $10 for group care. A full list of covered services and applicable co-pays can be found at this link. (Note: This is from the IAFF collective bargaining agreement from 2015-18, which provides a full roster of health services that is not provided in either the FOP or Council 94 contracts)
It should be noted that a special provision provided solely to the FOP union members – which began January 1, 2013 under the Scott Avedisian administration – gives access to a city-funded Healthcare Savings Account in the amount of $2,000 a year for an individual and $4,000 a year for a family plan, which can be used to pay off the aforementioned deductible and cover co-pays. This comes at an approximately $500,000 expense to the city.
Another benefit given to the three unions is a 20 percent co-share on prescription medications, which is capped at a $300 out of pocket expense for individuals and $600 for a family plan. This means after paying $300 on co-pays for medication, an employee with individual healthcare can get all of their prescriptions for no charge for the rest of the year, regardless of the cost of that medication. FOP and IAFF members also receive this benefit in retirement, whereas Council 94 members do not, according to Council 94 spokeswoman Alexis Lyman.
Healthcare coverage contractually continues for members of the three unions following retirement until they hit age 65, when they are eligible for Medicare. IAFF and FOP members can retire and receive medical benefits after 20 years of service – or at any time if they apply for a disability pension following a work-related injury. Council 94 members need only to accrue 10 years of service to be eligible for healthcare coverage following retirement.
However, once a member hits age 65, they and their spouse are automatically eligible to be enrolled in a Blue Cross supplemental plan called Plan 65, which covers a majority of co-pays for services rendered through Medicare – at the city’s expense. For example, a Medicare recipient would normally have to pay a deductible and a $792 co-pay if they were hospitalized for 1-60 days. With the Plan 65 supplement, however, there is no cost to the retired member, and the city bears that expense.
An important point that must be considered is during negotiations for the contract period spanning 2015-2018, all three municipal unions agreed to make the concession that all employees hired after July 1, 2015 would only get access to individual medical coverage upon their retirement – not family or spousal coverage. These employees will, however, still get access to the Plan 65 Medicare supplement for themselves.
Plan 65 coverage is extensive but does have certain exceptions. A full list of what is covered by Plan 65 can be found HERE. (Note: This is from the IAFF collective bargaining agreement from 2015-18, which provides a full breakdown of Plan 65 coverage that is not provided in either the FOP or Council 94 contracts)
To provide a broad summary, the three municipal unions get high quality healthcare with a low deductible, low co-pays and a low monthly-co-share comparative to other health plans available in the state. They receive a beneficial out-of-pocket expense cap on prescription medication, and an assurance that their healthcare coverage – for them, their spouse or their entire family – will continue for the years in between retirement and when they can start receiving Medicare. Finally, once they do hit Medicare age, they receive a supplement at the city’s expense that covers a majority of Medicare costs, effectively giving them lifetime healthcare coverage.
It is important to emphasize, however, that employees hired after July 1, 2015 in all three municipal unions only receive individual healthcare and Plan 65 supplemental care upon retirement, not spousal or family coverage. These concessions were made by all of the union leaderships.
Although the exact details of the total cost will be further broken down in the next article of this series, a bottom line number to keep in mind is that the city budgeted over $23.5 million for healthcare to cover its active employees and retirees in the FY2020 budget.
Pensions
A pension is a method of retirement funding that makes regular, twice monthly payments to retirees who have worked long enough to earn access to that pension, for the rest of their lives. Pensions are funded through contributions of the employee and employer throughout the career of that employee. The size of a pension basically boils down to how many years the employee spent in service and what their highest attained salary was prior to retirement, but there are levels of nuance to each pension fund as well depending on the collective bargaining agreements.
Any discussions of pensions in Warwick must come with the understanding that for IAFF and FOP members, there are two separate pension funds to keep in mind.
The Fire 1 pension plan was adopted in 1953 and contains all members hired prior to 1992 who have attained 20+ years of service. This plan covers 327 retired members of the fire department, with just seven members of the department currently actively employed in the city that fall into this plan as of June 30, 2018.
The Fire 2 pension plan covers all employees hired after July 1, 1992. There are 187 IAFF members actively employed within the Fire 2 pension system, with 24 members retired under its terms.
The Police 1 pension covers employees hired before 1971, and has no active members and contains 96 retired members. Police 2 was enacted to cover all employees hired after 1971, and thus has the majority of the membership – with 157 active members and 199 retirees falling into this pension system.
The Council 94 pension was not split in this fashion, and currently has 375 active members paying into the system and 410 members drawing from the lone pension fund in retirement.
Negotiations for the 2012-15 contract year created a tiered system for pension benefits, with employees of all three unions hired on or prior to June 30, 2012 placed into the “Tier 1” system, and all employees hired after June 30, 2012 being put into the “Tier 2” system.
The tiered system changed retirement requirements for IAFF and FOP members from simply attaining 20 years of service to needing to reach age 50 with at least 25 years of service. It also changed how the total pension amount was calculated – from the single highest salary the employee earned to a three-year average of the last three years of service. The change also made it so the maximum pension benefit went from 75 percent of the final salary for Tier 1, to 70 percent of the final salary for Tier 2. It made similar changes for Council 94 members.
Notoriously, the IAFF challenged its participation in the Tier 2 pension change because the language was never properly codified into their contract, and they maintain it was never collectively bargained, despite being included in a city ordinance that was passed into law. As a result, no IAFF members are currently a part of Tier 2 for the Fire 2 pension, which has resulted in an appeal from the city and a large back payment due to members who have retired since the change was made in 2012.
The exact financial implications of these pensions will be examined in the next article, but for the purposes of explaining the benefits of each collective bargaining group, it is important to note that FOP and IAFF members in the Tier 1 system are contractually guaranteed to receive a 3 percent, compounded, cost of living adjustment (COLA) to their pension payments each year.
For IAFF and FOP members in Tier 2, COLAs are also guaranteed but are granted based on the consumer price index, which has averaged around an increase of 1.5 percent in the past 10 years, according to Federal Reserve. If the CPI rises more than 3 percent, the COLA is capped at 3 percent, however. Council 94 is not guaranteed pension COLAs, and whether or not they get one is dependent on the performance of their retirement fund and a complex formula dictated by ordinance.
As for the FY2020 budget, the city has budgeted over $35 million to pay towards these pension funds, which will be further broke down in the next article.
In summary
The three collective bargaining units that cover police, fire and municipal employees have secured superb health insurance for their members, their spouses and their families, at rates that are comparably favorable to other health insurance plans offered in the state. After a certain amount of time employed by the city, they retain these healthcare benefits in retirement and then even gain new health benefits upon reaching Medicare age that are paid for by the city’s taxpayers.
Once members have retired from service in the city, they are entitled to pensions that are worth as much as 75 percent of their final, highest salary, which are paid twice monthly for the remainder of their lives. FOP members hired prior to June 30, 2012 – and all IAFF members due to the contractual dispute regarding the Tier 2 split – enjoy 3 percent COLAs for the rest of their retired life.
In total, the city budgeted over $58.5 million in FY20 solely for pension and healthcare benefits to its active employees and retirees.
The biggest difference between the benefits granted to the three municipal unions examined here and the Warwick Teachers’ Union and WISE Union is that neither the WTU or the WISE Unions receive any healthcare benefits beyond age 65, and neither currently get COLAs for their pensions.
Next week’s piece will fully dive into the financial implications of these benefits on the city’s budget, including an extensive comparison to the union benefits granted to the city’s teachers and independent school employees – which are significantly different.
Open a PDF file Health Coverage.
Open a PDF file Plan 65 Coverage.
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Reality
Thanks for answering why our taxes keep going up. THESE BENEFITS ARE OUTRAGEOUS.
Time for the elected officials to cut these benefits or if not be shown the door.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Correcting the facts. Active co pay for fire is now $90/week. No one can elect to join Classic Blue. And the result of the Tier 2 ruling DOES NOT RESULT IN ANY PAYMENT TO RETIREES. It only affects the most recent hires, the city technically doesn’t owe any money, the affected members actually owe the money. The Beacon can’t get basic facts straight.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
EthanHartley92
Hi Jimmy. Getting this information correct is important to me, so please let me know the following:
1.) When you say co-pay is now $90 a week, which plan are you referring to? Also, when did this change occur?
2.) When did members become barred from joining Classic Blue? Is that limited to new members, members hired on a certain date? Etc.
3.) In regards to the Tier 2 pension issue, it affected the contribution rates of the membership and the city, which would have an impact on the ARC necessary to fund the account, which is where the concept of it costing money comes from. I do believe how I phrased that paragraph should be adjusted, as it is not accurate.
I am truly trying to present these facts in an objective, honest way, so I appreciate if you can help clarify any areas that are missing the mark. Feel free to email me at EthanH@rhodybeat.com with any other clarifications.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Healthcare costs per employee are allowed to go up 10% a year, some years they don’t go up the max, but currents fire employees (all of them with family plans pay $89/week.
Classic blue hasn’t been offered since before 2000. There hasn’t been a choice. Since around then either.
Tier 2 only affects the newest members. They were paying a smaller percentage into their (Tier 2 plan). When the union won that fight they were required to pay the same larger percentage that all the other actives were paying. The city is not required to pay their share, only the newer employees. This of course is still in litigation so nothing has officially happened in terms of payments.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
EthanHartley92
I appreciate your insight. It is difficult to cover this massive topic, especially when the latest contract for IAFF was ratified in 2015. I didn't think about factoring in the percent increases year over year, so thank you. I will try to update this ASAP and make a note in next week's article as well.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
davebarry109
Hey Its got to stop...where were you when the contracts were being signed? These are legally binding contracts. You have to address the folks going forward. Don't cry now if you never once attended a budget hearing or voiced your concern to your councilperson.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
Bob_Cushman
Jimmy you should go sit down at the Beacon office with Mr. Hartley and go over all of the variations of active and retired firefighter benefits.
Let's finally shed some light on what all the benefits are, how much they cost, and if they are reasonable.
Also are there any limits to these benefits or can they grow for some to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year?
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
I’ll meet, no problem. As soon as the real FBI story is written.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
Thecaptain
Jimmy will stay in the shadows as do all of the other "hero's" who remain anonymous. Cowards at best.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Classy
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
It has nothing to do with hiding or being a coward. It was poor investigative journalism by Ethan Hartley, John Howell as well as Channel 12 Walt Buteau.
They had no problem printing stories with rumors started by Cote,Block, Merolla and fabricating down right lies just to sell newspapers and make a name for themselves.
I don't expect an apology from Cote or Block but Hartldy, Howell and our Mayor Joe Solomon as well as City Council Steve Medulla zhou!d apologize for bringing false and damaging information to the forefront.
They embarrassed the city of Warwick with this and should do right by it.
As for attending city council meetings and having a voice heard sadly I have and they go off topic and last way to long. I prefer to live stream them as do many others and watch the humor.
Now before you say how does anyone know there was no FBI investigation concerning the WFD, I've admitted to be g retired and I am friends with many ranks but I do know this much I've spoken with Armstrong, Cooley, Sullivan, McLaughlin, Hannon, Jessop, Fontenault who were all administrative chiefs and not one of them was interviewed. Not one box, computer or thumb drive seized to this day.
I'm sure it pisses off the active as well as retired professionals that had the department and city dragged through made up fodder and not one grown man can apologize!
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
It has nothing to do with hiding or being a coward. It was poor investigative journalism by Ethan Hartley, John Howell as well as Channel 12 Walt Buteau.
They had no problem printing stories with rumors started by Cote,Block, Merolla and fabricating down right lies just to sell newspapers and make a name for themselves.
I don't expect an apology from Cote or Block but Hartldy, Howell and our Mayor Joe Solomon as well as City Council Steve Medulla zhou!d apologize for bringing false and damaging information to the forefront.
They embarrassed the city of Warwick with this and should do right by it.
As for attending city council meetings and having a voice heard sadly I have and they go off topic and last way to long. I prefer to live stream them as do many others and watch the humor.
Now before you say how does anyone know there was no FBI investigation concerning the WFD, I've admitted to be g retired and I am friends with many ranks but I do know this much I've spoken with Armstrong, Cooley, Sullivan, McLaughlin, Hannon, Jessop, Fontenault who were all administrative chiefs and not one of them was interviewed. Not one box, computer or thumb drive seized to this day.
I'm sure it pisses off the active as well as retired professionals that had the department and city dragged through made up fodder and not one grown man can apologize!
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
Sorry about the typos and flow of sentences. I didn't proof before I hit send.
Thursday, October 31, 2019 Report this
bill123
This is not undercover investigative reporting. This stuff is supposed to be out in the open. The downloadable PDFs are not even marked as official documents, or city documents, or marked as anything other than “Exhibit A”. Will the city confirm/endorse any of this? Why not? I don’t doubt benefits are generous, but the Beacon should not be acting essentially as a public relations department for the city. A detailed discussion from city officials rather than Mr. Hartley alone would be much more probative.
Friday, November 1, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Ok, what is point of this article? EThan how much do you make? Benefit package?
With that said, jobs everywhere are compensated based on education level, skills, importance I see no problem with what first responders are making. The most difficult job on the planet
Time to start writting about what the jobs are like ! About cpr, narcan, saving lives, getting puked on, bled on, trauma, ptsd, interior fire fighting, training, etc.. etc..
Poor journalism.
Friday, November 1, 2019 Report this
wrkvoter
I liked the article, and also appreciate the comments which often add information. It's about time that we started discussing what we can afford as a community and what is fair all the way around. Nothing at all wrong with having this conversation.
Kudos to Beacon and this reporter for reporting these issues, because that can only help find a good solution.
Friday, November 1, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Apollo, I agree. I don’t think people realize what the job entails. Yea, some days are slow, or some days you can do CPR, clean shit off your hands and pants, revive a baby, deal with an overdose, another CPR, pickup an accident victims arms because both came off, etc.... all for the great price of $31/hr. I know brand new construction laborers getting $30/ hr. I’d love to see the complainers ride for 1 day. Beacon? Might be a good story.... You need people that care abot the job and people. The second you make it a normal job, we will all see firsthand. The effects of hiring from the bottom.
Friday, November 1, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
20 years ago the WFD had 700 applicants. Two years ago they had 130. People that don’t care cannot be working in this job.
Friday, November 1, 2019 Report this
Warwick_Resident1998
For those of you who feel that these benefit packages are too generous....
Warwick has highly respected Fire and Police departments. Many say the best in the state for both of them.
The way you maintain having the best departments is you hire the best applicants.
Hiring the best applicants isn’t cheap. But it is an asset to your city.
And for all of y’all who complain....when is the last time you went into a burning building, fought with an armed felon in a backyard at 3:00 am after chasing him for 3 blocks, unsuccessfully tried to save an infant, been shot at or stabbed?
Notice how Warwick police and Fire are rarely in the news (other than fake FBI stories)? Because they are well run professional departments. You get what you pay for.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Apollo
The old saying is with municiple jobs the pay is below national private sector jobs however the benefit package kind of off sets that.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Don't forget the 911 operators in Warwick. Making $25 or less an hour based on the wage chart found online. But, I have a friend that works for verizon. In the call center $40 to $50 an hour with excellent benefits and they have a union also. Crazy how people want to complain what the poor city workers are making. Guess people have the need to pick on some group of people.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
bill123
Unless this story was intended as pure editorial opinion, it could be called “fake news”. But it appears the reporting of facts, not just opinion, was intended, because the reporter reaches out to one of the anonymous commenters, saying “Getting this information correct is important to me”. That means you (the reporter) have to reach out to city officials, as opposed to anonymous commenters. I assume he is an experienced reporter, and he already tried that. Why is the city silent ?
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Apollo
It's a biased, error full, opinion piece. Why is the beacon so obsessee with city workers? What about the storm we just had? Write about that !!! Trees onto houses and cars. Blocked roads and so forth. That's what people want to read about. Not all this city workers bashing. It's like Cnn talking about Trump.
Wariwck Beacon hire me please. I will change your paper to a best seller. Heart warming stories. Stories about kids trick or treating, holidays, history, weather
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Disregards typos. Cell phones are tough.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Thecaptain
Boo boo boo. Poor first respo ders. All they do is cry and tell everyone they have toughest most dangerous job. Firemen were always known as THE LAZY MANS JOB. Quit your bleeding and go find some other emotional tampon to soak up your bleeding other than the taxpayer.
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
thepilgrim
The city needs to cut all these “benefits” out now. And when the liberal courts rule against this decision then stand firm and refuse to pay. This is now life and death for the city. Let future government employees have savings accounts like everyone else. Why should we responsible citizens pay for their healthcare?
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Robert,
Why should the city be responsible for employees healthcare? Uh maybe because they risk their life breathing cancer causing smoke, sick people throwing up on them, needles, poop, lifting 300lb people down stairs, etc.... The city is not facing a life or death moment.... The financials say otherwise
Saturday, November 2, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Quityourbitchin probably a squad member.
I'd like to see you do that job. You would go on 1 call and run to your mommy crying about what you experienced.
Sunday, November 3, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Robert
Because the private sector has healthcare why shouldn't the gov't ?
Oh go big think federal level.
Sunday, November 3, 2019 Report this
Reality
The WFD on this blog is going crazy. Thank you Mr. Harley for finally exposing the Avedisian ridiculous giveaways over the years.
The WFD lived large at the expense of the taxpayers. Nobody forced anyone to join the WFD it was strictly volunteer.
I wonder what ailment the WFD got from shopping at Dave's and Stop and Shop.
Be at Dave's tomorrow around 10:30 am and Engine 6 will be making its daily run.
Sunday, November 3, 2019 Report this
bill123
A main takeaway from this story is all health claims are processed through WB Community Health, a nationally-recognized standard of administrative excellence in the health care industry .… oh wait, it looks like WB Community Health is a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation with its principal office at the providence office address of
Whelan Corrente & Flanders LLP, according to the Secretary of State business database. Still, what could go wrong here?
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
OK Squad, Cote, Block and even Charlestown resident Stacia. I don't see the WFD going crazy commenting when maybe 2 or 3 are commenting so stop with your ridiculousness.
Had there been 400 individual comments from various then I would say right on !!!!
Look at the graph and please tell me the difference between the FD benefits and the Police department benefits but of course it's the FD who's ruining the city.
They are equal so start including them in the topics instead of always placing blame on one please.
Is it possible none of you want to piss the PD off so when you drive in the city after putting back a few you don't have a target on yourselves?
What I'm seeing are cowards who only go after fire and municipal. This is why your antics don't fly.
As for Mr. Hartley investigating this so be it. All along what I've always read is welcomed by many to investigate.
However Mr. Hartley has to do his job and obtain the information himself but report accurate information.
I believe fire and police for a family plan is close to $90 a week, I'm unsure of municipal.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Former User
I appreciate the work of all of our municipal employees. Warwick provides decent city services, and paying the people to provide them is part of that deal.
Also, Ethan just landed a new gig: https://twitter.com/IanDon/status/1191383964788899841
".@LocalEHartley (Ethan Hartley) is soon to start a new job working for @joepaolinojr, although he tells me he'll still do some journalism. Paolino says Hartley will help him with social media, his @abc6 show and other work"
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Daydreambeliever,
Exactly !!! Never about the P.D. rarely about teachers. Biased much. Heck that's why it's all fake news from the squad.
Time after time they have been called out and basically all credibility has been lost, no one cares what Stacia, Cote, Block has to say. I do believe they are all narcissists that believe they were going to become elected officials, or offered high paying jobs for their efforts.
Can't wait for Charlestown Watch to be added on Facebook by Stacia. That will be the 3rd town or city.
To answer your question municipal pay more than p.d and f.d. for healthcare.
The squad have become the comedy show for everyone.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Bob_Cushman
Hillsgrove hack, what does Mr. Hartley’s personal business have to do with this article? You are nothing but a sleazy hack.
Not surprised, typical for someone living off on the taxpayers
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Hey Raven,
Hypocrite much? Ok for all city employees business to be advertised 24/7. Good luck to Ethan on his new job.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Former User
The raven is back, I have told you multiple times that I do not know what you are talking about, and with every new comment you prove that you don't, either. If Ethan's hiring by the former Providence mayor can be published on Twitter, it is public information.
I hope he does well in his new position.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Reality
.Jimmy...Apollo ......Daydreambeliever
You can't be serious. The WFD doesn't deserve any respect. Wasn't it a group of Warwick firemen who attended budget hearings for years and bullied anyone who questioned their ridiculous and abused overtime? Didn't Bill Lloyd send a letter to someone's employer trying to get him fired for voicing his 1st amendment right at a council meeting because the WFD didn't like what he had to say?
Didn't the WFD sign a side deal without council approval costing the taxpayers millions. Doesn't WFD spend more time shopping at Dave's and Stop and Shop instead of working ?
These are just a few examples why the WFD is no appreciated by the taxpayers.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Reality
.Jimmy...Apollo ......Daydreambeliever
You can't be serious. The WFD doesn't deserve any respect. Wasn't it a group of Warwick firemen who attended budget hearings for years and bullied anyone who questioned their ridiculous and abused overtime? Didn't Bill Lloyd send a letter to someone's employer trying to get him fired for voicing his 1st amendment right at a council meeting because the WFD didn't like what he had to say?
Didn't the WFD sign a side deal without council approval costing the taxpayers millions. Doesn't WFD spend more time shopping at Dave's and Stop and Shop instead of working ?
These are just a few examples why the WFD is no appreciated by the taxpayers.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Daydreambeliever
Bill Lloyd was wrong I totally agree with you.
As for these so called outbursts. I've attended the majority with the members at city council meetings and your being very misleading. We were told in no uncertain terms by the Chiefs at the time not to embarrass ourselves and remain quiet which me most certainly did. Had we not serious repercussions would have followed.
These outbursts you mention were when all 3 unions were at city hall for contracts but it's always the Fire Department that you single out making comments.
Unfortunately it's your word against mine as we will never agree.
When have any of us mentioned respect ?
The shopping has been beaten into the ground so I'm done commenting about that.
As for the taxpayers up in arms i am also a taxpayer here and I have no issues with reviews and cost cutting but I do k ow this from 36 years of being a cirefightef. The public live us, always have and always will. We show up do our jobs and .an age there crisis.
So for yourself and maybe another 100 who agree with you I'll take the 75,000 plus who adore us.
If you don't believe me March with us or near us during the Gaspee Parade S we get loud app!cause with standing ovations and many thank you's.
No bottles thrown or negative comments just much appreciation and respect.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
JamesBruder
Daydream, you are correct, I was there for many of the budget hearings our group never got out of line. Actually never did any of the things we were accused of, but who cares it doesn’t matter now. Bill Lloyd’s actions were not what the majority wanted but the meeting that a vote was taken it wasn’t well attended. Shopping? There is a policy that the city implemented and is followed END OF STORY. Little Bobby Cote drives around with no pants on filming the guys in their trucks.... As for the respect, I laugh when the cast of characters brings that up, HQs is constantly receiving letters of thanks for service. We keep them all. I’m not going to let a handful of clowns bother me by portraying us in a negative light. It’s simply not true. Rob Cote has brought up things he things are wrong. Not one idea he has has ever been implemented. Biggest waste of O2 in the city.
Monday, November 4, 2019 Report this
Reality
The WFD wants to re-write history. At numerous council meetings that acted like thugs.
For example the WPD had to be called to a Saturday council meeting because Bill Lloyd worked the WFD in attendance up to a frenzy in the parking lot at city hall causing members of the city council to be verbally attacked while walking into the building.
There are many other examples but I don't want to waste my time citing.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Report this
Apollo
Living in the past I see. But it's okay for the squad members to turn up the heat and expect people not to defend themselves and stand up for the un-just slander. The squad members have met powerful superheros who don't bow to tyranny. In fact, if you ever know a first responder you will know that no challenge is too difficult, fearless, and above all the loyality of thy brothers and sisters. You see it's not a career it's like being a part of a family that is so caring and as a group wants to do good and help fellow citizens in need and crisis. It's something a person is born with, not developed. When you go after 1 firefighter, p.d., city worker you go after them all. Locally and the millions across the nation. Godbless our first responders and thank you for your service. Many are retired or active military. Political hacks, hate groups, liberal socialists, squad members, will not prevail.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Report this
bill123
I’ll try to answer my own question (see above, where law firm is mentioned), on what could go wrong. I called the law firm on the phone, and a women answered. I repeated the Corporate address as shown in the business database (and as shown in the 2019 Annual Report for WB Community Heath), and I asked if this was the address of WB Community Health. She said it was not, but she also confirmed it was the law firm’s address. Then why is it shown in the public database for WB community health? She responded “who is this?” I identified myself as “a member of the public who read an article”. She said any questions would have to be submitted in writing, with my identification. I asked if the person identified as the registered agent was with their firm. She replied “any information is attorney client privilege and not for public disclosure”. So the call concluded. I’ll also point out here the NAICS code shown is 813212, which is for establishments “primarily engaged in raising funds for health related research”. So maybe WB Community Health can tell us sometime what research is being done, assuming they can be contacted.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Report this
Apollo
bill123 not your concern.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Report this
Honestinfo
Bill what the hell are you talking about? Robbie Robbie Robbie how about some school zone speed cameras in Warwick you and I 40-30 split. City gets the other 30.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Report this
Honestinfo
On second thought you can have 100% for the Hawk fines, because your a legend.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Report this