STATter 911: Furlough update: Notifications are starting, with final approval possible today.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Furlough update: Notifications are starting, with final approval possible today.

Chief Lawrence Sedgwick Jr. and other public safety officials are scheduled to meet with Prince George's County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety / Director of Homeland Security Vernon Herron today. The number one item on the agenda is the approval of furlough plans.

According to sources familiar with the process within the fire department, Chief Sedgwick's staff has been moving ahead this week getting things ready to start the furlough process at 0700 on Sunday. Even though the department's plan has not received final approval and could be modified by Herron, the notification process is underway for the first group of career firefighters to be given 8-hours off without pay.

According to our sources firefighters from these stations are being told they could have some free time on Sunday: 805 (Capitol Heights), 813 (Riverdale Heights), 819 (Bowie), 821 (Oxon Hill), 823 (Forestville), and 825 (Clinton). Battalion Chief 801 is also on this schedule.

It is expected the same crews will be furloughed every 20 days.

Medic units are also in the furlough rotation plan.

As part of the furlough plan career crews going off-duty are being told not to respond to calls if they are still in the firehouse after the start of a furloughed shift.

It is unclear how specialized units such as hazmat and technical rescue will be staffed when furloughs hit the fire stations where those units are housed.

Again, all of this could change after today's meeting. The final plan is supposed to be ready on Friday.

The department expects to use firefighters and officers assigned to office work and volunteer firefighters to cover some of the staffing shortages.

Bill Smith, a vice-president with the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association contacted STATter 911 on Wednesday to say the association has been unable to get a meeting with Chief Sedgwick or his staff to coordinate volunteer coverage. Smith believes some volunteer stations have enough firefighters to provide additional crews to cover some of the furloughs at stations where volunteer participation is low on non-existent.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 11:58 PM

Comments:

Why should the volunteers take off from their careers to cover for the union personnel. Did some forget they are now having to take money and food from there families for a union that got greedy. Start cutting the positions of upper managnemnet and save millions of dollars without a furlough.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 8:26 AM

I thought that when you take an oath that makes you a 24/7 employee (fireman, policeman, sheriff etc) that it is your duty to respond to emergencies. How can the Fire Chief order his personnel "not to respond" on a call if they are in the station (at the end, or before the beginning of a shift)? Can the Prince George's County Fire Chief change the rule of law at a whim? Sure looks like he's trying to.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 9:50 AM

Dear above poster, You SHOULDN'T take any time off from your career to cover for the union personnel. Go to work as usual. We will handle it without you.

Lt. A. N. Onymous

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 9:53 AM

I can see it now. 0700 station X is furloughed and as personnel are leaving someone knocks on the door with an emergency. They get told nope sorry can't help you since we are furloughed your going to have to wait for another unit to come help you. What kind of S*&) storm do you think that is going to cause. Only time will tell if something like this happens. Do you place blame on the firefighters leaving or place blame on the county for not letting them provide a service. Stand by to standby for that one

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 10:56 AM

Folks it's all public safety unions that are in this furlough because they all took thier raises that were bargained for by thier respective unions.. Fire/EMS, Police, Sheriff's Dept. and corrections.. don't blame this on folks being greedy-but mismanagement by the folks who are managing! I hope every volunteer in the Fire Dept. steps up and does there job whether they get paid for it or not. That's why they call it volunteering!!!

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 2:13 PM

i have a question. you are leaving your station. my mom comes to door with chest pains. u tell her she has to wait for help. and u leave isnt that abandament. im sure i misspelled it. but u know what im asking. so u lose your emt card and medic card. for not doing your job, because u were order too. someone dies, u will be charged. who is going to take blame for you.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 5:42 PM

Not to worry the Volunteers will carry the load, that's nothing new. They do it now anyway. Just dispatch Kentland on all the assignments in the county.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 25, 2008 5:46 PM

Thanks to Dave; the Management is starting to understand that they cannot just shut down an entire station, because of our contract agreement. It states that we must have four first responders at all times.
Why should we have to give up our cost of living increase? We risk our life each and every day. Think about it.

Thanks, Dave
Keep Up The Good Work!

# posted by

Anonymous : September 26, 2008 12:04 AM

Some of the firehouses will be affected more than others given the type of unsalaried (volunteer) members participation. This should not be the topic. It should be why and where did all the money go to get a triple "A" bond rating? Why is the County Executive and others now being investigated in ref to lost/mismanaged funds?

# posted by

Anonymous : September 26, 2008 8:21 AM

Furloughing firefighters and paramedics by County government just goes to show the lack of respect government officials have for the citizens and tax-payers.

There is NO excellence in PG County Government,just greed and self concern from the very top down. And unfortunately nothing will change in that regard until the voters get rid of the self serving politians at the top.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 26, 2008 9:32 AM

Why won't the County furlough trashmen, libraians, meter readers, building inspectors, utility workers, general government workers, etc etc etc etc.........instead of firefighters?

# posted by

Anonymous : September 26, 2008 4:42 PM

"Why won't the County furlough trashmen, libraians, meter readers, building inspectors, utility workers, general government workers, etc etc etc etc.........instead of firefighters?"

THEY ARE! If you earn leave in Prince George's County, you are being furloughed.

Nobody is talking about it, because the trash not getting picked up doesn't normally lead to a tragic and immediate death.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 27, 2008 1:10 PM