Scene And Heard Around Town…A Conversation With Chief Perkins
November 23, 2008 by Barbara
THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT….
Whomever was responsible for the Chamber’s Arts and Craft Fair advertising…BRAVO!…First rate…multiple coverage in the papers leading up to and during the event….
GREAT WEATHER…
The 10th Arts And Craft Fair was the recipient of the best weather conditions possible…luck of the draw…
BEST CRAFT AREA….
In the town parking lot…locals…with great wares…and plenty of informative and positive feedback …parking bags on or off…a big consensus…from the local shop owners…BAGS OFF!…Followed up by some call for creativity in finding ways not to slap the customers with an instant ticket…somehow….
Bill Davis was enthusiastic in his response to how well this venue has worked with getting the word out on the Diner By The Sea…with its own Diner Dollars…and creative one of a kind menu items…never seen before in town…and the news that his Away Inn is full…doing a healthy business…in these hard times…due to the extensive upgrades…good news for the other hotels on El Mar…in the renovations process…
Local talented Artist Fran Scheffler was in all her glory…surrounded by her one of a kind t-shirts…and artwork….
Sharon Huff from Frame n’ Art Gallery…was right in front ……saying she and Gary are very happy in their new location on Commercial…with the addition of new neighbor Abru Caffe’…and the fix-up happening next door on the other side…all to bring new life into the area…
Paradise Gifts and Fruit …was included…welcomed back after the summer away…for those who are still missing Macks….the items displayed did not disappoint…doggy purses!…
Ran into many neighbors… and Commissioner Dodd after I met up with Commissioner Clottey… we both walked over to say hello to VFD Fire Chief Perkins…sitting on the park bench in the square…
Chief Perkins was responsive and promised to reply to my next public records request…asking me to e-mail in once again what I need…and I will…
He said that he is fully ready and able to answer all questions at the podium at all times from the Commission…despite protestations from the VFD members on the dais…so Commissioners…ask away!…
Chief Perkins informed this writer that Vice Mayor McIntee’s son has taken former Battalion Chief Pointu’s position…and is training the FF1 class…being paid the same as Pointu was…
This means that Vice Mayor McIntee must recuse himself from all VFD votes…to avoid any conflict of interest …due to benefitting a relative…his son…
The Chief also said everyone on the roster has had their medical exams and the VFD was paying for medical exams themselves…including the “old guys”…McIntee and Silverstone…who have been approved despite a few medical conditions..
When this writer inquired about following his own By-laws…the Chief asked which…I pointed out …appointing a board member rather than voting them in…he replied he had the right as Chief to appoint anyone..until the election (will need to take a look to verify this assertion)…
He did not know that the SOPs still contained the #205 VFD members responding while on duty with AMR…and responded that is not allowed after he was dressed down by the Manager over the fact that the contract did not allow it…I concurred…and said that was why I was surprised to see its inclusion…and had checked with the Town for any amended SOPs……with a reply…there were none…
The Chief and I finished up…with his final thoughts…that he was doing his job…he is in charge…and he can not get caught up in all the side stuff going on …with McIntee and Silverstone…he needs to keep his eye on the VFD and protecting the town…words this writer wants to believe and see in action…
He added that the town Christmas tree goes up tomorrow…courtesy of the VFD…
All in all…a pleasant outing…despite a little light on the vendors…and the football fans…
Nice job…Chamber…nice job…
