RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF MAKING LBTS VICE MAYOR JERRY MCINTEE…THE NEW LBTS-VFD DEPUTY CHIEF….MORE BAD MOVES…
Dear Readers…previous posts…VFD category…show the last three…BAD MOVES… made in record time for the new VFD…
Jan. 12th, 2009… the election of the Vice Mayor…as Deputy Chief….of the VFD..
The word going around behind the scenes…there was a “special meeting” held before this came to be…to make sure it came to fruition…that officers…and members were not happy about the move… despite whatever ridiculous excuses are being put out that don’t pass the smell test……all is not well…
Many are aware of the LBTS-VFD Constitution/SOPs ( standard operating polices and guidelines)… being ignored ….but are afraid to outwardly express it…
The incredible discovery that …5.9 the Administrative and Management section …was removed from the 2008 VFD-Town Contract…
Now more BAD MOVES……for the organization…with the latest responses from the Chief of the VFD…to public records requests…
This writer previously posted (VFD category)…the e-mails of those 3 requests…and the less than truthful podium remarks by the Chief at the Dec.13,2008 meeting…in answering Commissioner Dodd…
After the meeting this writer contacted the VFD with the comments made by the Chief…and for a very brief moment received a response that was correct.
I picked up my requests at the time I was told they would be ready…AND…
The ‘games’ began…again…..
The monthly meeting minutes are now made using the “Call Numbers”of each member………I am told… not making known who the speakers are. This is public information, and the meetings are open to all.
In those meeting minutes…provided ..missing information…the members and number of members who were voted in… who were non-compliant…thus terminated…and who were given warning letters …
A comparison with previous meeting minutes…show that this organization is still covering the same topics…lack of SOPs…..in using pagers…radios…..par tags……drill and call habits…equipment maintenance …still calling for regular in-town members to participate in station watch…incident reports not being completely filled out by the officer on the truck…and making a motion to have an officers meeting to review sheet/data needed for Sunpro!….
One interesting discussion…purchasing a new fire truck…with the “town may match”…added on…Insider information?…
The second item requested the updated roster…which showed …when compared to the Dec 2008 roster…9 members were removed…7 new members…totals of…33 Regular members/ 41 Associate members…
Surprisingly missing from the roster……Tom Carr/ Rev. Jim Pollock….
The Fire Marshall Steven Paine was listed in Dec. as a Regular member…/Jan. is now an Administrator..
Secretary Cheryl Louvaris was listed in Dec. as a Regular member/Jan. no longer listed……BUT her daughter is listed…although we hear she was on a 6 month absence and the minutes do not show she was voted in…
Beau McIntee is listed as a Training Instructor…which still means as a relative of the Vice Mayor …he will benefit financially from any votes on the VFD making the Vice Mayor’s recusal required on any VFD votes…… Beau was never voted back in after a more than 6 month absence…which would require a probation period …
The third item this writer asked was the last 3 month operating budget…which showed items adding up to $211,005,50…(Town Contract is for $844 thou +)…
Realizing the items received were different than what I received in the first public records request made in September…I e-mailed the Chief to get the updates of those…The “profit and loss” for Oct-Nov-Dec and the roster with certifications…..certification numbers and dates of completion/expiration…
The Chief …I am told with “Direction” from “someone”……came back with ridiculous responses that show …if he is not being told to respond in such a manner…..that he does not understand the public records laws…how a non-profit organization works..and he is negligent in his knowledge of what is deemed private information for his fire department members…
A non- for- profit organization must keep a “profit and loss’ statement…or if they prefer they could call it a “Statement of Income and Expenditures”…to show that they are not making a profit! The VFD must have this information readily available for inspection for any public request. A quick Google will show contracted non-for-profit agencies used by government are to follow public records requests freedom of information…
Firefighters certification numbers and dates are public record, also to made available upon request….
The only information to be kept private pertaining to the members……that should not be given out…
‘119.07(1). The home addresses, telephone numbers, and photographs of firefighters certified in compliance with s. 633.35; the home addresses, telephone numbers, photographs, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such firefighters; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such firefighters are exempt from s.’
That was not what was requested..
Medical history is also not to be given out on members…although personal medical history was divulged by the Chief himself to this writer at the Craft Fair…in discussing the Vice Mayor…..
In conclusion….
All information concerning the LBTS-VFD …the accounting…and firefighter certifications must promptly produced…as required by law….
Because…. not only are these kind of “games”…BAD MOVES…they make such …QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS….look like they have something to hide….resulting in the VFD receiving more POOR P.R….
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The E-mails…last to first…
RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
Friday, January 16, 2009 4:16 PM
From:
“Barbara Cole” <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
[email protected]
Chief Perkins, a quick look back at your files will show what was provided. If you cannot find it, I will be happy to fax you a copy.
The lists of members containing certification numbers and dates were not published on my site.
I did however publish them for the 2 VFD Commissioners, yourself and former Battalion Chief Pointu.
None of the public information received was private, as it is “public records”.
Barbara Cole
— On Fri, 1/16/09, Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
To: [email protected]
Date: Friday, January 16, 2009, 3:58 PM
Dear Mrs. Cole,
Thank you for your request for information.
Please describe what accounting items you are requesting as the term “profit & Loss is not applicable to our non for profit form of accounting.
The members informed me they were upset the information previously provided to you was then placed on your web site which is a public form. Because of this, each member must gives his or hers authority for any personal information to be released. You may be able to retrieve some of this information on the State Fire Marshalls web site.
We will be back in the office on Tuesday.
Have a pleasant weekend,
Chief Perkins
From: Barbara Cole [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 3:27 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
Chief Perkins,
I am asking for the same items the VFD provided me in September.
The accounting was titled under Profit & Loss. March- Sept. 16,2008
My understanding is that only the addresses and medical information of members are to be kept private not certification numbers and dates.
This should be public record and if the VFD has voted to not allow such information, please inform me when.
I can then make the request to the state.
Barbara Cole
— On Fri, 1/16/09, Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
To: [email protected]
Date: Friday, January 16, 2009, 3:00 PM
Mrs. Cole,
1. We are a non-profit organization so we do not incur any profits or losses.
2. As per the your request of dates of certification, we are not allowed to disclosed this information from any member without their consent; as this information is private and might disclosed personal information of our members.
Thank you,
Robert Perkins
LBTS Fire Chief
Off. (954) 772-8978
Mob. (954) 868-3960
Fax. (954) 772-1550
[email protected]
From: Barbara Cole [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 1:59 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
Chief Perkins,
Thank you for having the public requests ready on 1/16/09
I require some additional requests.
1. LBTS profit & Loss for Oct- Nov-Dec.2008
2.The current active member list with Fire/Ems certs with date of certifications
Please let me know when they will be available.
Barbara Cole
— On Wed, 1/14/09, Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Chief Robert Perkins <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: FW: FW: 1 public records request
To: [email protected]
Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 4:28 PM
Ms. Cole,
Your 3 items will be ready for pick-up Friday after 12noon. The additional request for the newly elected officers will be ready in 5-7 days from today.
Chief Perkins
From: Barbara Cole [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 2:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: FW: FW: 1 public records request
Cheryl,
I was at the 1/13/09 Commission meeting and listened to Chief Perkins answer to questions concerning my public records request.
He said the 3 items would be ready this Friday. That your “turn around” time is 3-5 days.
The price he said for all 3 items would be $6.
Please e-mail me when on Friday (1/16/09) I may pick the request up.
In addition I request a copy of all newly elected officers and board members voted in on 1/12/09.
Thank You, Barbara Cole
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An interesting link sent today from a faithful reader..http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2009/01/audit-says-prince-william-county-needs.html
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Tags: public records, Scoops, VFD
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