WHO IS ON BEACH PATROL?……..
BCbythesea…hears…that VFD Chief Bob Perkins was on T. V. to speak about the recent LBTS drownings…and address the position on the VFD….(very glad it was the VFD Chief and not the Vice Mayor)…….
BCbythesea…hears he was visibly frustrated ….as he addressed the situation and showed the new VFD equipment …the VFD has in its possession… ready to go….with trained volunteers….
Unbelievably…the VFD beach patrol were not allowed to patrol the beach until yesterday…due to the Oct. 1st contract date!…
Much went on behind the scenes..phone calls with Commissioners…Town Administration…. the BSO….and the VFD….
It is said that BSO Chief Scott Gooding inquired as to where the VFD beach patrol was….not knowing their “hands were tied”…(shouldn’t he have known?)….
BCbythesea….This raises some questions for the BSO….where were they…and the new “toys”…the acquisitions…..that Chief Gooding was so happy to get from the Town….that he said would travel the beach so easily?….
All they needed to do was patrol and alert….HMMMM……..
Town Manager Colon stated they could not proceed until the contract date….
BCbythesea…..sometimes a Manager needs to bend….and react promptly…….especially in such dire circumstances ….
A Commissioner on Sunday saw yet another near drowning on the beach near Minto…at El Prado…a day after the two drowned by the Holiday Inn….up the road…
Finally ….after two days all the back and forth….at last the “hand wringing” stopped…and common sense prevailed …at Town Hall…allowing the VFD to patrol yesterday….as training practices…..
Will they continue today….they certainly should….as trainees…alongside the BSO…as we face 3 possible storms and days of rip tides that present more such incidences….
more to come………
