Dear Readers….this writer read and re-read  what the “Gang of 3″ chose to write about in their CIC/VFD Supported Furth Times newspaper produced at Town Hall East on El Mar…If there is any doubt as to why rational, competent residents and voters have said “enough is enough” with these elected officials and their backers…this edition of the Mc-Furth Times and especially the Commissioner’s columns can leave no doubt…it is time to throw the bums out!…

COMMISSIONER CLOTTEY….

Commissioner Clottey is a bigger disappointment than either of the Broom Boys….that’s the word around town especially from the women voters…We thought she was independent, highly educated and would be an asset up there in dealing with the finances of the town as well as the irrational behavior she herself witnessed from the Vice Mayor and the Furths as a candidate…But she CHOSE…to be besotted by Marc Furth and be led by the nose from those who pointed their fingers at her and told her she better not follow suit and ask for a sabbatical from the CIC  after Comm. Dodd did the night her was “tarred and feathered”…even though it was she who 1st broached the subject at current CIC Chair and BTSTimes Editors Bob and Adrienne  Roberts ….(both wrote in this edition of the paper)…Her irrational behavior on the dais began with her treatment of Michael Arker’s attorney…proceeding to her BSO “fear of calling the police” statements…..Off the dais she had some major changes in her life..leaving Barry University to teach online from home…She became more isolated ( in this writer’s opinion) and this writer was increasingly concerned with some of her calls stating (before her BSO actions on the dais) that she had been out in the middle of the night with a “soaker hose” and had observed suspicious action going on in her neighborhood…she though there was “drug deal going on”…This writer was astonished…first that she would be out doing what she was doing at that time and second that if she was correct in her observation she would remain outside at that hour! I told her she was a Commissioner and to contact the BSO…I followed up on her doing just that and a few days later she said she did …she was not a happy camper …she relayed that the Chief responded “in that neighborhood it’s probably prostitution”…I laughed..and said “Is that better?”…She said he might not get back to her if some undercover operation was going on….Sometime later she called me and was quite undone…it was in the afternoon and she had observed the BSO stop 2 people walking up her street with suitcases and they [BSO] were asking the people who they were…she said “what if that was me”…”They can’t be stopping people.”…My response…”You can’t have it both ways, first you didn’t think they [BSO] was doing enough and now you think they’re doing too much.”…I also added that  in a past election the Vice Mayor who lives in Bel Air as well made it known he did not like people walking in the area without a reason….So you can imagine my reaction to her dais BSO statements…I was dumbfounded and felt she had an ax to grind…Around that time this professional accomplished woman…a single mother who raised an accomplished professional daughter …also startled me with yet another call about her problems with her front yard and Marc Furth…She said she had hired a man to take care of the lawn that was dug up after the sewer installation…the man did a bad job…Comm. Clottey  said she called Marc Furth to help her deal with him (HUH?)…Birute said Marc came over and told the man he better do the job right or he [Marc Furth] would write about him in his paper…(last I heard the man was not going to be threatened)…..Birute was beside herself that Marc had made that statement…I asked her what in the world she needed Marc for to deal with her house?….This readers, is the decline I have witnessed…Against my better judgment I held on to maintain a relationship hoping that our conversations would give her someone to “bounce” the Mc-Furth directives off  and help her to do as she did throughout the campaign …to find her own voice…to actually hear what she was going to say out loud …and know how truly off the wall it usually was…It lasted for a while…I would usually take a little time and say I’ll get over it when she spouted some “Furthisms”……but then as she took to the podium and it was all  Furth directives coming  from her mouth …I finally told her “I’m not getting over it this time”…and walked away from any further communications…(sadly)…..culminating in my going to the dais after the special meeting for Scott Gooding in which I  told her I had wasted 2 years of my life on her and she should resign. I still think she should!…

Now in her column she has further shown something is “terriably” (see below for the misssp.) wrong…She again perpetuates her claim that she “tried and failed to put a motion on the floor” at the Scott Gooding meeting…The tape shows that never happened!…She says Comm. Dodd’s motion was “one sided and should have been two sided”…(HUH?)…He was asking for a vote to direct the Manager to reinstate the Chief!…And then she goes really goes through the looking glass with the following…” If there is to be a showdown between A reassigned police chief and THE town manager,I WILL CHOOSE THE TOWN MANAGER. Yes, Chief Gooding was a nice guy, A FREQUENT PARTICIPANT AT THE ANGLIN SQUARE SCENE”…(seriously besmirching connotation made ) “and a COMPETENT police officer”…(Chief Scott Gooding’s academic and professional accomplishments were brought forward by the BSO Colonel at the June 30th meeting…and proved him to be much more than just a “competent police office”. Again, the Comm. besmirches the Chief)..”but, BSO can EASILY assign us another COMPETENT police chief”…(The incompetent Clueless Comm. is tone deaf to her constituents!)…”Finding a competent town manager with Esther Colon’s financial expertise and savvy is an entirely different story”…(Piece of cake, Comm…Piece of cake!)…Comm. Clottey then spouts the financial  acumen of TM Colon…being “in the black”…blah..blah..blah…and the rest of the same old tired rhetoric…followed by these statements further showing who is influencing her with revisionist history that she herself did not research…(This writer KNOWS Comm. Clottey had no prior intimate knowledge of the previous Town Manager and Ms. Colon was brought into LBTS  by that TM and worked side by side with him as Finance Director and Asst. TM…so she would have been complicit in any inferior management of the town…oops! )” I might end with a question. In these hard economic times, would you prefer to have a hard nosed BUT FAIR competent town manager with a proven track record”… (finance and staff)..” Or do you prefer to have someone who is always nice to your face, allows the staff to get their work done when they get around to it and then socks it to the taxpayer, financially?”…(Give me a break!)…” Compare the two most recent town managers and decide for yourself which one had the the best interest of the town at heart.”…

Comm. Clottey told this writer she was a professor and marketing was her field…unfortunately she has failed (in this writer’s opinion) …as an online teacher reviewed  in 2003 (see below)…And as a professor witnessed by this writer during the campaign when students came to meet candidate Dodd and to do a class project …(ala Sandra Booth’s 2 successful AI projects) that failed to get off the ground… The students came…Candidate Clottey did not assemble any materials for them (this writer did) …there was no interaction observed with the students throughout the get together…and it never moved beyond the initial meeting…..She has failed as a Commissioner in the first year and a half of her 4 year term…Time to step down Comm…time to step down…for the sake of the town…..and let us voters find a COMPETENT COMMISSIONER who has a CLUE!….

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX. ONLINE…2003 (Google)

‘Birute Clottey
Professor: Birute Clottey
Course: RES341: Research and Analysis I (Management (Business))
Grade: Review Details
Overall Grade
F
Personality
F
Speaking Skills
F
Outside Class Availablity
F
F
Review by: thinkpink
Grade student received in this class

Total reviews posted by this student
Just this one
Average grade of student’s reviews
F
thinkpink
Posted on: October 18, 2003
A Terriable Teacher
All F reviews are hidden right now. They will be back shortly.’

http://www.coursereviews.com/u106/professors/Clottey/Birute

COMMISSIONER SILVERSTONE….

Ah, Um,  Jimmy..Jimmy…Jimmy… You have written the perfect FREUDIAN STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS about you and your BFF McIntee…This writer thought it was magnificent…(KUDOS)…because you have truly stuck it to your BROOM BOY mentor..BIG TIME…(any doubt who it could be about could  be revealed if your pal tries for a second term)……Comm. Silverstone wrote…”If a child cheats in school on a test and gets away with it, the other students, if they know they have two choices. They can tell on the cheater or they can also cheat.”…(In this writer’s opinion)…Jimmy…look in the mirror!…The probable cause charges found from the elections and ethics commission for you and your BFF McIntee…Voting McIntee in as Dep. Chief even though you know your VFD by-laws do not allow it…standing by as McIntee went after VFD Battalion Chief Pointu..VFD Captain Scot Fowler …VFD Captain Joe Padden…and recently the VFD Chief Perkins (more on this to come) ….watching and then joining in …so much so …that all those who used to say “Jimmy’s a nice guy”… want you out!….You just gotta love this part it fits the VM to a “T” (T for “TIM” )…Jimmy talks of “Tim”…the “Cheater in his class”…who was the “class clown” (HMMM) “thought he ["Tim"] was smarter than the “rest”….(“rest”, Jimmy?) (HMMM)..”So smart in fact he didn’t need to study all that much”…(VM does not open his backup …we hear…until he’s on the dais)…he goes on…”Once it was known “Tim” was cheating and because he was bigger then most of us ” …(HMMM)…” many of the students” started to cheat to keep their grades up.”…(“many of the students”, Jimmy?.)…” If “they” told ON “Tim”, the FEAR was they (“they “Jimmy?) were going to be CAST ASIDE and get BEAT UP after school.”…(HMMMM…the BULLY)…the final salvo…intentional or not?…” In the end “many of the students” (“many of the students”, Jimmy?) became very good at cheating and NOT VERY GOOD AT KNOWING THE SUBJECT’…(HMMM..In a NUTshell …in a NUTshell)…Thanks Broom Boy…”2-Hats” off for your insight…the “Healer” should be proud …you have had a epiphany…and most likely did not even know it…HMMM…

VICE MAYOR MCINTEE

Vice Mayor McIntee chose to deflect…deflect (no mirror, VM?) his bad behavior on the dais…his electioneering on the dais…his bullying on the dais…his VFD ad-nauseum rhetoric on the dais…his wheeling and dealing on the dais…his ineptness on the dais with the facts…the backup and the gavel…by going after the Mayor…and those audience members who not afraid to speak up…get used to it Vice Mayor….get used to it!….

The perfect medal to bestow……..

more to come……….

Tags: BSO, chief perkins, Commissioner Birute Clottey, Commissioner Jimmy Silverstone, medals, Scoops, VFD, Vice Mayor Jerry McIntee
Posted in Local Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, local government

CHIEF SCOTT GOODING

Dear Readers… First the news…

‘LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA – There will be a new chief in town Monday when Capt. Oscar Llerena replaces Broward Sheriff’s Chief Scott Gooding, who was removed from office last month by Town Manager Esther Colon.

Gooding’s departure was protested at a raucous town meeting where more than 100 residents and business owners praised his leadership and demanded his reinstatement. They were unsuccessful.

Gooding’s removal came as a surprise, after Colon faulted the cost of his renovation plans for police office space. She had never complained about his performance or financial management and had reviewed the construction costs with his supervisors prior to removing him.

Colon chose the new leader from within the sheriff’s ranks but from outside the town’s 28-member force.

In 2004, Llerena was named in a widespread inquiry into improperly closed cases during former Sheriff Ken Jenne’s administration. Sheriff’s investigators recommended a three-day suspension for Llerena.

“Captain Llerena challenged the finding and the investigators’ recommendation was not sustained,” agency spokesman Jim Leljedal said. “He was never suspended.”

Colon declined to comment on her selection of Llerena, 37, who is on vacation and did not return messages seeking comment about his goals for the new job.

Llerena will work under a $2.9 million contract with the town that ends Sept. 30, 2011.

He joined the Broward Sheriff’s Office as a road patrol deputy in 1996 and has been a training officer and detective. An agency spokeswoman said Llerena’s most recent post was night watch commander.

Gooding will remain with the sheriff’s office as a field commander.’

IT’S NOT GOODBYE, CHIEF….

What a turnout…what a crowd…and what a way to say thank you to outgoing Chief Scott Gooding…for a job well done!

We gathered around as Village Grill owner Dave Gadsby (no relation)  stepped on the stage to explain why we had all come out this evening…saying a few words about Chief Scott Gooding…He then introduced BSO Sheriff Al  Lamberti who came to support the Chief ….The Sheriff spoke about the BSO and what they stand for…and how they stand together…saying it’s not about one person …it’s about the BSO department as a whole…He then brought Scott up to speak to the crowd….Scott  spoke about the LBTS department and of the people he worked with in his 5 1/2 years in town…His voice cracked a little as he said it was hard to move on when you weren’t ready to leave ….but added in his new position….this was not goodbye…he would be able to return anytime he wanted!….The crowd burst into applause!…He gave special thanks to close friends …. pointed out his sister ( and her date) and his neighbors from Pompano Beach who had joined him for this event…..and then said the drinks were free courtesy of Dave Gadsby!…(all in good fun)….Dave Gadsby came back to the mike and asked everyone to join in to sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”….followed by more applause and shouts of support ……Also in attendance…former LBTS Chief Tyre, incoming Chief, Capt. Oscar Llerena  …. Lt. Angelo Cedeno…many of Chief Gooding’s LBTS-BSO staff…Mayor Minnet… Commissioner Dodd…and former Town Commissioners…

Walking around the square the  subject was the same no matter where you walked…no matter who you talked to…IT’S GAME OVER…for  McIntee/ Silverstone/ Colon and the Furths…They went to far …and there’s no turning back… there’s no letting up….. to see that come this March…they are marched right out of power!…

This writer has never seen anything like it…a town full of residents…business owners….BSO ….and VFD ….ALL saying the McIntee and Gang are toast…they crossed the line and they can NEVER  recover from this action….NEVER….

Some spoke and snickered about the “UNSPINNING ” the spin campaign latest edition of the Mc-Furth times…saying it was more the “UNRAVELING” the campaign in 2010…THEIRS…”WE SWEPT THEM IN….WE CAN SWEEP THEM OUT”….Bye Bye BROOMS……..

With the Deputy Chief safely out of town, leaks from the VFD were front and center on these downtown sidewalks …Word is there is no support for McIntee in the VFD ….they’re  just waiting …for Dec/Jan VFD elections…where this writer is told McIntee will not be  re-elected Deputy Chief…We hear his bad acts are out of control……It is only a matter of time……..We’ll supply a medal for that!…

As the hour turned late and the music died down we all were in agreement….The man we came to thank tonight made his mark, was appreciated and richly supported by a community that will honor him by making “sweeping changes” in March ….of that this writer has no doubt……lights out…GAME OVER….

Thank you Chief, see you around town!….

link to Sentinel….http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/lauderdale-by-the-sea/sfl-lauderdale-by-the-sea-new-police-chief-073109,0,3298688.story

more to come….

Tags: BSO, Chief Gooding, local government, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, local government

TOTALLY TERRIBLE TOWN HALL……

Town Resident Vincent Ragusa’s expression reflects the rapidly growing number of residents rallying and ready to vote in March!….

“Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible Totalitarianism is generally characterized by the coincidence of  authoritarianism  (i.e., where ordinary citizens have no significant share in state decision-making)”….HMMMM…TOTALLY!…

Dear Readers (#1 )….The long 2-day Commission (#2 ) meeting will be posted in spurts… due to its length (2 days/ 11 hours) and the incredible amount of disturbing heated exchanges that took place…There is a need for much of it to be printed verbatim for the citizen /voters (#1) to remember….(this way Jimmy-boy (#2) can’t speak (in forked tongue) of misinformation and untruths…except of course if miss-truths are what he is “uddering”?)….

Before we head back there …this writer (#1) wants to take you into Town Hall West (as opposed to Town Hall East on El Mar )…where the Town Manager (#3 ) has decided in this writer’s opinion the town should be run as a totalitarian form of government!… There is no other way to describe her  form of management … her stranglehold on every aspect of government accountability and transparency while ignoring our  Town’s form of government …

THE LBTS FORM OF GOVERNMENT (included in the LBTS 2009 Proposed Annual Budget)

This Town as the above chart clearly shows ….Citizens-#1…..Commissioners.-#2 ….. Town Manager/ Town Attorney-#3…

Town Manager Esther Colon (#3 ) is clearly not adhering to our form of government…

In this writer’s opinion it encompasses the epitome of her insubordination to the citizens (#1) and Commissioners (#2)  …She has chosen instead to spend her days looking for ways to cover her tracks (again this writer’s opinion) …whether assigning staff to supply countless useless documents to a Commissioner (#2 ) or citizens (#1 ) rather than the paperwork readily available that proves she and she alone took over the development of the Beach Pavilion…..intentionally not following proper procedures for asking for Commission ( #2 ) direction while it is said at the same time informing the contractors her decisions were coming from the very Commission (#2 ) she left in the dark…….She has looked hard to find ways to do as little as possible or “skirt” the requirements of many processes such as RFP procedures…hiring practices…and Public Notices….severely restricting the responses to gain the results she alone wanted…We saw it early on with her choice of  Assistant “TO” the Town Manager (later dropping the “TO” ) and Town Clerk …(who later required an assistant)…Her stubborn behavior of not going out for a second RFP for the town law firm and Special Magistrate ….More substandard hires came with elevating long term employees that do not possess the credentials that would be included in a properly placed ad for the position…(then compensating for their lack of experience by keeping them as department head under the Assist. Town Manager who does appear to have his own proper credentials for his position let alone the one he covering for)… ….She is unequal in her treatment of citizens (#1 ) …. picking and choosing who she will speak to (goes for Commissioners (#2 ) as well…in person/phone or e-mail)…She gives orders for staff to not answer calls/ e-mails  from business owners…ignoring their plight ….On the dais she acts out in a manner that sets professional women back a decade or two when she publicly melts down thus fulfilling her all too familiar M.O. …She then predictably and disturbingly turns on a  dime asserting it is she  (#3) who is in charge ……and will not be told what to do… by Commissioners (#2 ) or residents (#1)…telling us (#1 & #2) to get “used to it”….knowing full well she is sitting pretty with her incredible 2007 contract and her “gang of 3 ” majority vote… …

This writer (#1 ) used to go in and get the backup material copied…waiting patiently (before it went online each month)…that is until it was deemed an interference and it was no longer allowed……This writer (#1 ) gets public records requests to get whatever materials are not online or in the backup…that too used to be easy…but no longer……This writer (#1 ) posted the RFPs bringing new companies to our door ready to participate and compete after picking them up in wordsearch…the Manager (#3 ) didn’t like it one bit……and as of yesterday the Manager (#3 ) and her staff decided it is no longer necessary to read out loud the opening of public bids as has been the practice at every RFP bid opening I have ever attended…….

Here’s what transpired….I came to Town Hall for the 2 pm bid openings for “I.T.”  RFP # 09-06-02 just as I did on Monday (7/27/09) for the beach maintenance RFP bid opening (it produced only 1 bid…our present contractor Beachraker ….the bid was opened and read for the bidding contractor and this writer…$13,500 per mo./ $162,000 a yr. at a savings of $60.00 per mo. compared to last year)….I was prepared to wait in the lobby…but the lobby chairs were moved….into the conference room…I (#1 ) asked why…and the receptionist had no answer…I asked if they were expecting a large crowd…again no real answer….so I sat in the Town Hall conference room to wait….2 pm came and Town Clerk White/ Assist. Town Manager Olinzock and Finance Director Kaola King were the only ones there….The Town Clerk began to read the bids from a rather large stack (9) …(so there was the reason for the chairs)…I (#1 ) asked for the town of each bidder to be read…and the Town Clerk balked.. but Assist. Olinzock complied…(this was always done before)…I thanked him…after each one was read the Town Clerk or Assist. Olinzock “opened” them…and I thought it was rather odd. …(usually each one is opened and the amt.of the bid is read)….But today after the 9th bid was “opened” they said that was it….I (#1 ) asked if they were going to read them and the answer was “no”…they would be tabulated and available later…Hmmm…What would have happened if the chairs were filled with bidders?…….I (#1 ) let them know I felt this was wrong….At the continuation of the Commission meeting meeting I told PIO Steve d’Oliveira I would be making a public request (I did)…but found it really bad P.R for the Town………Comm. Dodd (#2 ) asked the Town Atty. (#3 ) as she came in, and she was unable to give him a response without looking into it….Assist. Town Manager Olinzock (Not #1,2 or 3 ) said they were not required to read out the bids…..rather nastily as is his fashion…(following bad influences we surmise)…

Today I called the State…and the Florida League of Cities to inquire if there was a statute and inform them of the LBTS Town action…They were perplexed at hearing the change in procedure (bad Town P.R.) …I was told that it is not a state statute …and is a decision made from the Commission (#2 ) in the town’s bid procedures…I looked at our town purchasing manual (an earlier public records request) to see what was required…..on page 19 it says…’4.a. Bids must be received by the LBTS Purchasing Administrator no later than the time and date identified  RFP .’(this was not included in the recent Sun Sentinel Parking Citation RFP) ‘ Bids received after this time for any reason shall be returned unopened to the bidder. ALL TIMELY-RECEIVED BIDS SHALL BE PUBLICLY OPENED IN THE PRESENCE OF WITNESSES AT THE PLACE AND TIME DESIGNATED IN THE RFP.’ ….There you have it. fellow citizens (#1) ..because it does not SPECIFICALLY say “READ”… the Town chose to again “play with the rules “and do only what is printed…thus they felt they complied and  “opened” the bids…with a “slice”…but did not read them!…Really!….The recourse now is to ask the Commission (#2 )  to direct the Manager (#3 )  to include the words “and read the bids out loud” for the citizens (#1 ) and bidders…WOW!…

The Round Table Meeting is now set for the Commission (#2)  to decide how to review the Town Manager (#3)  on September 10, 2009 at 5 pm in Jarvis Hall …It’s open to the citizens (#1)… It is up to those citizens (#1) to inform the Commissioners (#2) what they, the citizens (#1)  feel should be included in her review… You (#1) can contact the Commission (#2)…. http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/contactus.html

For this writer/citizen (#1) …..It’s all of the above….and more….such as ….No oversight for the VFD … “Re-assigning”  BSO Police Chief Scott Gooding ….. The $200,000 Audit….The 2007 Contract….and of course the Town Manager’s daily interpretation of the LBTS form of government coming from Terrible Town Hall…..TOTALLY!….

What’s on your list?….

It’s up to you the  CITIZENS (#1) to make Town Hall TOTALLY Open and Transparent …

PLEASE contact your Commissioners (#2)  before Sept. 10th and make sure you attend!…

more to come…

Tags: audits, bids, BSO, forms of government, RFPs, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local Politics, Scoops, local government

“AHHHH……CALL IT TRAINING”… “UMMMM ….SAY THERE WERE 2 THERE”…

Dear Readers….as you all know this writer makes public records requests for certain VFD incident reports…You may also recall that previously posted were incident reports that were less than stellar…due to the lateness in their production….A comparison was shown that the Pompano Beach Fire Dept.has each apparatus that was on scene write up their own incident report within the report completed right after the incident…something we were told before the VFD took over would be the process followed by them as well…..Nope…didn’t happen…instead we get reports (that are legal documents in any court proceeding) that are usually done by one member …who may not have not even been on scene…but he takes the info from the Dep. Chief (McIntee) more often than not!…

The VFD was paying their members for both medical and beach patrol responses…per their income-expense reports…(until they were told it was a no-no)  for at least 9 months into the 1st year as our provider…..At the first meeting in July the Town Manager went along with what looked like a  “cover up” (in this writer’s opinion) from the dais calling  the medical calls the VFD goes on “training “…per the VFD Fire Chief…… But how many times can you call it training when in June alone they went on 58 of 64 medical calls with AMR?…Turns out they lucked out on the medical calls/training charade they cooked up…when Mike Burton of Burton and Assoc. informed them at the special hearing last night that under “first responder” status according to the Supreme Court they could continue to go and get paid from the fire assessment funds as long as they did not assist beyond “basic “care or transport…(The Beach Patrol though is to be paid from a separate account…more on that to come)….

The problem this writer still has is the same despite the heavy weight being lifted from their shoulders on the whether they can be paid for these call from the assessment…and that is the VFD told us repeatedly that there would be NO need to have firetrucks going on medical calls because AMR would be fully staffed in the way BSO was not …thus allowing us not to have a firetruck going along for that 3rd EMS responder…Instead the VFD  is going on almost all medical calls and we are continually faced with an unnecessarily large number of responders …leaving taxpayers to pay through the nose for those VFD members to standby…(Check out some of the yearly call #’s  for some members to 6/30/09…287/406/112/281/226/340/248/161/494/221/373/257/533/429( no pay McIntee)/729/184/289/247/415/268/187/195/111/122(no pay Silverstone)…..then multiply them each  by $10 for medical/ $25 for fire ) ….Furthermore the Chief’s assertions that AMR needs their help at all these calls diminishes AMR as our EMS provider in the eyes of those who are asked to put their trust in the services!…

These recent public requests made were from July 4th and July 10th, 2009…

The July 4th incident reports…show the following..(NOTE- VFD Incident reports were written 9 days later on 7/13/09)……

21:43:43 (After the July 4th fireworks…prev. post)…Incident Type 745- Alarm system sounded, no fire- unintentional (brought out 3 trucks/ 2 command cars/ 17 personnel right as crowds departing the beach) / CAD NARRATIVE …Incident Type FIRE ALARM …GENERAL FIRE…NO RESET INFO…4 STORY CBS ABC INVESTIGATING, ALARMS FLASHING, NOTHING SHOWING DP12/FC ADV 4/S CHECKING PERIMETER & INTERIOR…POSS MALICIOUS DP12 ADV ESTAB IT IS A FALSE ALARM …ORIANA SUITE

7/13/09 VFD Narrative…At 2143 hours on Saturday July 4,2009 we were dispatched to an alarm system sounding. Five units were assigned to this incident. Seventeen personnel responded. We arrived on scene at 2147 hours and cleared at 2240 hours. The incident occurred at 4318 EL MAR Dr. L-B-T-S in District 12A. The local station is 12. The general description of this property is multifamily dwelling. The primary task(s) performed by responding personnel was standby. No mutual/ automatic aid was given or received.

Upon arrival E12 and SQ 12 crew found that alarm panel read pull station. E12 and SQ12 Crews searched for pull station. Pull station manually pulled and on the north side of the garage. No smoke no flames.

BC- This was the 1st half of the embarrassing display that had residents and tourists shaking their heads…and openly laughing at the spectacle…not quite what the Deputy Chief desired from this response call…

21:53:02/Incident Type 118- Trash or Rubbish fire/ contained/ CAD NARRATIVE…COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE…CALLER ADVD ACROSS FROM THIS ADDRESS AST THE COSTA DE SOL APTS THERE IS APOSS FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM A DUMPSTER ACROSS THE STREET…STILL….REC’D ADDITL CALL SAME 1043/ CALLER ADV PD 97DUMPSTER FIRE…CALLER ADVD THAT THE DUMPSTER IS NEXT TO THE BUILDING…COSTA DE SOL

7/13/09…VFD Narrative…At 2153 hours on Saturday July 4, 2009 we were dispatched to a contained trash or rubbish fire. Two units were assigned to this incident. Six personnel responded. We arrived on scene at 2157 hours and cleared at 2221 hours. The incident occurred at 4209 EL MAR Dr. Dr. L-B-T-S in District 12A. The local station is 12. The general description of this property is multfamily dwelling. The primary task(s) performed by responding personnel was standby. No mutual/ automatic aid was given or received.

Upon arrival E12 crew found the dumpster on fire, E12 crews used a 13/4 speedlay to extinguish the fire.

BC- What is wrong with this report is that this writer and countless others saw 2 trucks go to this fire along with command cars…all the trucks assigned to the Oriana alarm “hightailed” it over to this dumpster fire…taking a fast turn around the square (curbing)… looking like “Keystone Cops” which is what you heard them called from the crowds watching the equipment falling off one of the trucks and hoses left unattended  for many to trip over as they took off to the 2nd scene up the block!…Not quite what was written 9 days after the fact…OUCH!…

HURRY…HURRY…HURRY…Sign up for MIDNIGHT VFD TRAINING DRILLS IN YOUR CONDO TODAY!…

July 10th ….AND 11th 2009…(prev. post)…

BC- Previously this writer posted the leaks from VFD members concerning the “dressing down” of VFD Chief Perkins by his Deputy Chief McIntee…after it is said McIntee returned from dinner with family out of Town limits and returned to find an alarm still going off at the Europa Condominium where his “troops” had been earlier for a fire call…Not happy with the situation…Dep. Chief McIntee it is said dropped the Mrs. off at home and made a beeline to the station…giving the Chief and ” troops” hell…Dep. Chief McIntee then contacted BSO Dispatch to say they were going back and after being asked by Dis[patch if he wanted a 2nd call number he said he would be using the original call number to return …BUT as you will see from the VFD Narrative…the Dep. Chief  7 days later as “Officer in Charge/Reviewer called the after Midnight- 1AM return a “Training exercise”!……How can you use an existing fire call and turn it into a “training exercise”?….Hmmm….

7/10/09 …23:25:44 alarm/ 23:34:38 arrival (1st time)..1st clear time for Chief Perkins 23:59:38/ E12 clear time (1st time) 23:31:08/ E212 clear time (1st time) 23:59:38/ E12 (again pg. 2) clear time (2nd time?) 23:40:44 (HUH?)

7/11/09…E12  arrival time o0:30:54 …clear time 01:10:12/ E212 arrival time 00:30:54…clear time 01:09:32/ SQ12 arrival time 00:31:07…clear time 01:08:28/ C12 (Perkins) arrival time 00:34:57…clear time 01:10:15 / DP12 (McIntee)  arrival time 00:35:02…clear time 01:10:23

CAD NARRATIVE BUSN GENERAL ALARM FIRE ALMC12 ADV 12 STORY CBS STRUC NS ON A,B AND C SIDEC12 LIGHTING IN AREA AND IT SET OFF THE ALM AND RESET ALMEUROPA BUSN GENERAL ALC 12 UNABLE TO RESET ALM AND ALM COMPANY EN SEC ESTAB FIRE WATCH EUPOABUSN NAME 5 POWEROUTAGE MIGHTHAVESET IT OFF/SEC CHECKING NOW/EMP HUNG UP

7/17/09 VFD Narrative …At 2325 hours on Friday July 10,2009 we were dispatched to an alarm system sounding. Nine units were assigned to this incident. Nineteen personnel responded. We arrived on scene at 2334 hours and cleared at 0110 hours. The incident occurred at 1460 N Ocean Blvd L-B-T-S in District 12A. The local station is 12. The general description of this property is multifamily dwelling. The primary task(s) performed by responding personnel was investigation. No mutual/ automatic aid was given or received.

Upon arrival C12 discovered that alarm panel showed trouble on the 6th floor. E12. E212, SQ12 crews investigated the trouble and searched all floors. No flames or smoke found. alarm was reset at the panel (BC-?) After all tasks were completed all units RETURNED to Station.

UPON ARRIVAL TO STATION DP.12 (MCINTEE) REOPENED CALL AND DISPATCHED ALL UNITS TO THE SAME LOCATION FOR A TRAINING EXERCISE, ZONE FAMILIARIZATION AND TACTICAL TRAINING ON THIS LOCATION.

PAGE 5 OF THIS REPORT HAS THE DEP. CHIEF’S INITIALS….

BC- Sure looks like the “leaks” were accurate concerning the Deputy Chief’s actions at the station and with the 2nd run to Europa ….As for the Chief’s “missed opportunity” of using the situation as a “training” for a couple of “rookies” it sadly looks to have been orchestrated and really lame performance at the podium…..especially when the report shows that the VFD responders sent both times were not “rookies”……when compared to their June Report stats below…

MTD= Month To Date calls (JUNE)/ YTD = Year To Date (calls from Oct. 1st to June 30)…..

E12- 1st run-#090  Miko Angeles Captain FF1 (MTD calls/ 32 YTD  calls 287)/ #110 Gordon Chase FF1(MTD calls 39/YTD calls 406) / #128 Danilo Goyochea FF2 EMT-B(MTD calls 62/ YTD calls 340)/ #43 Jerome McIntee FF1/Pd. Trainer (not on Roster)

E212- 1st run-#004 Mark Conn FF1 (MTD calls 30/ YTD calls 281)/ #100 Brad Fabian FF1 (MTD calls 33/ YTD calls 226)/ #131 Christopher Maddock FF2 (MTD calls 31/ YTD calls 257)/ #089 Jonathan Michailiuk FF1 (MTD calls 33/ YTD calls 727)/ #091 Steven Muntean FF1 (MTD calls 20/ YTD calls 65)

C12 – 1st run-#81 Chief Perkins FF1 (MTD calls 19/ YTD calls 415)

E12- 2nd run- same as above minus Jerome McIntee Jr. replaced by #040 Pete Long LT.FF1 (MTD calls 20/ YTD calls 221)

E212- 2nd run- no names given

SQ12-  2nd run -(SQ 12 not on 1st run) #078 John Louvaris Battalion Chief FF1 (MTD calls 30/ YTD calls 373)/ Maddock (see above)/ Michailiuk (see above)/ #011 Ron McGirr Acting Captain FF1 (MTD calls 61/533)

C12-2nd run- Chief Perkins (see above)

DP12 – 2nd run (DP12 not on 1st run) #58 Jerry McIntee Dep. Chief FF1 (MTD calls 45/ YTD calls 429)

BC- Definitely not the “rookies” the Chief told the Commission were in need of the after midnight training at the condo….OUCH!…

Time to get their stories straight….write their reports accurately and right after the calls….and to get their act together…

It’s time to get rid of the Deputy Chief…

more to come……..

Tags: local government, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local Politics, Scoops, VFD, local government

TONIGHT SPECIAL HEARING  5 PM/ REGULAR COMMISSION  MEETING 7 PM…

5 PM SPECIAL HEARING

A. Resolution 2009-18 FIRE ASSESSMENT….

BURTON AND ASSOC. WILL BE  AT JARVIS HALL ….

B. Resolution 2009-19 MILLAGE RATE….

7 PM….. 2ND Commission Meeting for July…(last one until September)…

Jarvis Hall/ Public Welcome / Public Comments

use link below to also get the agendas/backup

Online ….. http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 / Comcast Channel 78

more to come……

Tags: fire assessment, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, millage rate, Scoops, VFD
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops, local government

OXYGEN MAY BE REQUIRED BUT NOT UNDER THE FIRE ASSESSMENT!……..

5 PM-SPECIAL MEETING….BUDGET…..

1. CALL TO ORDER, MAYOR ROSEANN MINNET

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

3. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION:

a. Resolution 2009-18: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS IN THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA; DESCRIBING THE METHOD OF ASSESSING FIRE PROTECTION ASSESSED COSTS AGAINST ASSESSED PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN’S GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES, KNOWN AS FIRE PROTECTION ASSESSMENT AREA – TOWNWIDE; ESTABLISHING THE ESTIMATED RATES FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2009; DIRECTING THE PREPARATION OF AN ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR FIRE PROTECTION ASSESSMENT AREA – TOWNWIDE; AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING AND DIRECTING THE PROVISION OF NOTICE THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE

BC-  Readers know by now this writer is at a loss as to why we need to maintain $130 fire assessment for a town this size with a VFD that has a membership of 63 members (not the 2009/2010 LBTS budget number of 82 FFs…steady at 60 + or – a few for months now) and we now know cannot be used for VFD medical calls or VFD Beach Patrol …

We are told that there is $35,000.00 in an interest bearing acct. that is not shown in the budget (justification pages…no line item) to pay for Beach Patrol … The VFD has shown in its reports and its income and expense acct. reports thus far that Beach Patrol and medical calls were being paid from the fire assessment..(the only town fund funding the VFD)…We are told the VFD  decided recently to pay the members from their neverending Booster Fund for the 2nd 6 mos. of their 1st contracted year. ( after hush-hush confirmation the fire dept. funds from the town were used incorrectly in the 1st 6 mos. for these calls) The Manager at the 7/14/09 budget meeting said the medical calls were for “training” per Chief Perkins…but some of these medical calls are “code 3″ and are in their report as “medical calls -assist “…OOPS!….The decision of the VFD to use the Booster Fund does not “jibe” with this special acct. (from ad valorem ) the Manager said is in-wait for a “bill” from the VFD for Beach Patrol hours…It seems “suspect” in light of the past payments and no line item last year or in the new budget!…

Fort Lauderdale is going to pay approx. $135 for their large professional fire dept…..Davie is at $104 and Pompano Beach is raising there assessment to $108…again for large professional fire services……We are slated to pay a 4% increase for year 2 per the contract…the amt….$887.875.00 (total with Fire Marshall…ins./ pensions/consultants/audit services…$1,025.776,00)..We have no control or oversight …due to the VFD being a contracted private non- profit corporation….We have watched as the dept. continues to become “bloated” with trucks …now at 5……The Manager’s early on assertions that the town must own all equipment for any future change in fire service providers … went by the wayside after the VFD purchased truck # 2 for the year… again with the purchase of the Jet Ski and the new Dep. Chief Command vehicle (title belongs to the VFD)…and the recent purchase of the $100,000 + 102″ ladder truck…(let’s see if the VFD asks for town funds on this one. It might happen at the 7 pm reg. Comm.meeting to follow during the VFD report per Chief Perkins…The Manager …we hear… has has said no)….With the last truck…the reason given for the purchase is the ISO rating…but a look at the ISO report already gives us credit for the ladder truck (prev. post. “kinder,gentler ISO”)….We hear that in the 1990’s a previous VFD Chief chose to pass on the truck because it “wasn’t worth it” in terms of servicing the town…OUCH!…

So here we taxpayers are…watching as one professional town public safety provider was decimated in retaliation  for “fiscal irresponsibility” and another volunteer public safety provider again in year 2 will be “flush with funds” and allowed to continue to spend like “drunken sailors”…courtesy of a fire assessment that is too high and a hands off policy from the Town Manager!…

Drop the fire assessment cost!…

June 2009 VFD REPORT …

b. Resolution 2009-19: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2009, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010; STATING THE PERCENTAGE AMOUNT OF THE PROPOSED RATE DOES NOT EXCEED THE ROLLED BACK RATE; ANNOUNCING THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

BC- It’s an election year…so this will be a fast the Commission will accept the proposed 4.4829 for the year in order to drop it at the Sept. 14th meeting (MONDAY..so it does not compete with Broward County’s Budget workshop) at 5:01 PM to 3.9990…It cannot be raised …thus the “reason” for the rate this evening…

4. ADJOURNMENT

more to come….

Tags: fire assessment, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, local government, Local Politics, millage rate, Scoops, VFD
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD, local government

BEACH BUGGYIN’….BOAT CRUISIN’ …JET SKIIN’….LADDER TRUCKIN’…

JUST ANOTHER DAY BEIN’ IN THE MC-LBTS-VFD…

Dear Readers …

Recently this writer has been hearing from a few that they feel I am “not just going after the leadership of the VFD” with my postings…I guess I would have to say at times that is a correct assumption……. sadly correct……Because while  I know it ALL stems from the present leadership…it does grow harder with the expanding incidents and sightings to let them off the hook by saying they are JUST being “led” by Mc-bad example!…

Yes, I’ve heard the leaks…the scuttlebutt of “fearing” the Deputy Chief…His flashing, well documented temper…his ultimatums…getting rid of those that disagree or question…and the “mantra” ( a Jimmy-boy reference) of holding out until he is loses in March election…..to then be able to “kick him out of the department”…BUT what about us residents? …What about those  of us who still believe in the VFD (with or without a professional Chief/Dep. Chief) and want to see them succeed?….Our patience is growing thin…Our collective antennae is up when observing the “blatant” displays of what some inside the department are saying are “Jerry’s favorites at play”…riding along on the beach …wearing no safety belts…..their feet on the dashboard…. shooting the breeze…rather than diligently on patrol….boating on the intercoastal ….jet skiing ……running stop signs…parking wherever…and “cutting” around town on the 102″ ladder truck already “in service” ….These supporters of the VFD members are shaking their heads in disbelief when they see yet another new VFD purchase…. barely catching their breath before turning to the Manager’s “justification” of BSO “fiscal irresponsibility” in “transferring “  Chief Gooding………How do you separate the troops from the taskmasters when the troops let their own bylaws slide?…..Look at incident reports that are still written up days  after the incident…containing questionable accounts …(in this writer’s opinion)…Is it alright at this point in time to not question those that do not question insubordination and covering your tracks?…The longer it goes on…the more the VFD members become intertwined and indistinguishable from those leading them down this wrong path….

So yes, some posts take aim at the whole department…because it is not what THIS supporter was told it would be…I want what I was promised…A department that is run by the book…above reproach…top notch…with the right leadership according to the VFD bylaws….fiscally responsible….P.R. savvy…with open books  and open meetings……A department looking for ways to better themselves…acting responsibly from the top down…and making this THE department of choice for those young trained professional associate members to keep their certification current while waiting to go to paid departments…

When that starts to be what this writer and others see coming from the VFD….then I guarantee you the positive posts will reflect the positive changes in our volunteer fire department…and I too look forward to that!…

more to come….

Tags: local government, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Scoops, VFD, local government

REALLY BIG EXPENDITURE….TO PLAY WITH….

Tags: BSO, fire assessment, fire dept. budget, firetruck purchase, Grumman 102' ladder truck, local government, Local Politics, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local Politics, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, local government

A TIGHT FIT….

THE NEW 102′ VFD LADDER TRUCK IS UNDER COVER….after a day of fun and frolic……(THE VFD WILL CALL IT TRAINING)….

Residents and taxpayers have been contacting this writer throughout the day with sightings…

The ladder extended to spray water across from the El Prado parking lot to the Town Hall parking lot….with the Town/VFD Photog. Marc Furth getting the shots (General MacArthur…prev. post….We hear the Mc-Furth Times is coming out 7/31)….

They drove around the town…stopping at Town Hall East (Furth Hall)…heading towards McIntee’s area just making the rounds…

The comments have been for the most part none- too pleased with yet another major purchase as we all face budget time….and hot off the heels of the Town Manager “getting rid of” BSO Chief Scott Gooding for “fiscal irresponsibility”!…YIKES!…

Guess “fiscal irresponsibility” does not apply to the VFD!…

more to come…

Tags: 100 ft ladder truck, local politcs. local government, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Local Politics, Scoops, VFD, local government

NORTHEAST FIRE CO. ….MARYLAND….lists a GRUMMAN 102′1989 LADDER TRUCK…

PHOTO FOUND ONLINE…Different Dept. (For Sale)…Grumman  102′ For Sale….

From Northeast Fire Co….(VFD/ EMS Fire Dept. 180 members)…

Apparatus …

Tower 4
Tower/Tower Ladder
1989 Gruman

102′ Platform with a 1,500 gpm pump and a 230 gallon tank capacity.

http://cms.firehouse.com/dept/NorthEastMD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4tuU8LchOc

more to come….

Tags: Scoops, VFD
Posted in Scoops, VFD