SOS…ON VFD-SOPs…
This writer remembers way back when…before October 1st….when the Town Manager was still acting as an authority over the VFD…as she read them the riot act about their assertions…made this night first by Commissioner Silverstone wearing his “2 hats” and Transitional VFD Fire Chief Perkins…assuring all of the extra help they would have from VFD members riding AMR ambulances….arriving on a call….if need be these fellow members would leave their AMR posts and come to the aid of the department…
Not so fast said Madam Manager…that was not in the contract …she put together…and it would not be allowed…
It took awhile for the men to get it…and quietly go along….
So imagine my surprise when I picked up my request for the VFD-SOPs from the Town…and read…
SOP #205 VFD members responding while on duty with AMR…
‘ This policy explains the agreement between American Medical Response (AMR), the Town EMS provider, and the VFD regarding employees of AMR who are also VFD members.
To increase staffing during a emergency call, the VFD incident commander can request the AMR ALS unit to temporarily release the VFD member from its duty in the ALS unit.
This request will be done by radio to keep a time log.
The AMR ALS unit commander can approve or dispprove the request.
In case of approval, the crew member will be officially off duty and unpaid from the AMR unit and become an on duty VFD member for the time of the operation.
To avoid any chain of command issue, the crew member, if so qualified, will not be able to have a function that will let him/her to be able to give orders to the AMR unit. A function of the Incident Commander will not be allowed; company officer directing a VFD crew however will be acceptable.
At the latest at the end of the operation, or sooner if deemed acceptable, the Incident Commander will release the crew member and he/she will then become an on duty AMR employee. This release will be done by radio to keep a time log.
The AMR employee will be responsible to carry his VFD assigned protective equipment gear on board the ALS unit.’
According to a Town Hall employee …who prepared the SOPs for this writer…. there are no SOP amendments…in addition … to what I was given….therefore…the VFD-SOP in not in compliance with the contract..as per the Manager’s instructions that night….
more to come…
Tags: LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops, sops, VFD
