STATter 911

Coming to a Prince George's County volunteer station near you...
 

Open Letter to Chief McGee,

Chief, if you have had issues with GDVFD for the last 16 months and the problems addressed were not met to your satisfaction, then please put the complaints public. Show the citizens of PWC and the FRA the exchanges you had with Chief Bird. Show us what you wanted fixed and what the Birds response was. If there were numerous complaints on the part of GDVFD then there is a paper trail, lets see it.
It must be nice to go into a closed door session with the BOCS, with no FRA representation, I guess you can tell the BOCS whatever you wanted and we will never know.
So please Chief McGee, Please show us the proof you have. Show us the complaints.
 

You are correct with the PG comment.
However you need someone with a backbone to do what Chief McGhee did in Prince William County.
 

"no FRA representation"

He is chair of the FRA. Obviously, that represents it pretty well.
 

With responsibility comes accountability. Exactly right! As a retired Naval Officer and current Volunteer firefighter, the situation at GDVFD (by what I have read) reflects poorly on the entire volunteer system across the region and I am thankful the Chief McGee has engaged the problem and has taken direct action. The leadership of GDVFD was provided opportunity, however, the failed to cooperate with the audit (as stated in the audit report). With the severe financial crisis facing not only our region but entire country, did the leadership of GDVFD really expect their lack of financial accounting would be continued to be tolerated? Additionally, the most valuable part of the organization are the people and unfortunatly, the leadership of GDVFD seemed to lose sight of that fact.
Hopefully in the future, the membership will have the courage to put a stop to this before it is allowed to grow. I wonder what would have happened if all the good GDVFD volunteers showed up and expressed their concern to Chief McGee early in the process? The membership also has some ownership in this failure.
 

If there were people riding apparatus that were unqualified,Chief McGee had a right to act if Chief Bird had not corrected them. However,to basically "seize" the station, equipment and have its charter revoked is a real touchy legal issue. Does Prince William County own anything in Gainesville?? If not,they cannot operate anything owned by the GDVFD nor run ALS calls with their medics units if PW FIre -Rescue does not license the medic units..That would be theft or unauthorized use by Prince William( the career staff are guests in the station). The GDVFD could sell ALL its assets and PW could do nothing if they do have not a chain of ownership..This will wind up in court and will be a big black eye for both organizations,especially for the county if they were to lose.
 

"He is chair of the FRA. Obviously, that represents it pretty well."

Kind of a conflict of interest isn't it?
 

He has to chair the FRA because otherwise you have a bunch of uneducated volunteer chief officers, many that are in the same boat as Bird when it comes to leadership and education. for those of you who don't know, the FRA is nothing but the volunteer chiefs coming together every month and doing what they want to do when they want to do it. Actually thats how it use to be when they ran over and did whatever they wanted to do when Chief Michos was in charge. Now that Chief McGee is in charge he's not having it. I would hate to be a volunteer organization in PWC with anything less than perfect business records. Now that this has come to light in Gainesville there will be more fishing around and I hate to say it but it won't be hard to find.
 

To the Anonymous poster that stated that “That would be theft or unauthorized use by Prince William (the career staff are guests in the station).” You should really consult your firehouse attorney, or if you are the firehouse attorney you should consider another line of work. There is such thing as ‘imminent domain’, and since the fire levy constitutes a large percentage of the equipment and apparatus purchased, it is therefore owned by the county, regardless of whose name is hanging on the front door. The law of ‘imminent domain’ allows for a great deal of lee-way in allowing a governing body (the county government) to step in an assume responsibility. After all ‘Public Safety’ is a main function of the County Government, and when it is placed in jeopardy or it is mismanaged with real or perceived indifference then it is the ruling body’s duty to step in and maintain the public’s safety and confidence.

Do you think that your firehouse lawyer routine trumps what the county attorney allows the county to do? I am sure that the auditor examined all relevant information, and presented it in an objective manner to the BOCS. I am sure that the county attorney allowed the BOCS to act within their legal right and responsibility; after all he is also responsible for not only the county government but all its taxpaying citizens.

You give Chief McGee too much credit; he does not have the authority or the political clout to stage a coup of this magnitude. The Birds and the volunteer system as a whole have brought this upon themselves through years of putting themselves before the public’s best interest. Had the other Chief’s on the FRA, who were aware of how Bird was operating over the years, imposed even a modicum of peer pressure for him to operate within the confines of the rules, then maybe we wouldn’t be having this discussion and GDVFD would still exist. But they allowed him to continue to play ‘this is my sandbox and I will do whatever I want’ with the citizen’s money. Well, he got burned! Who knows how many other departments have been or are still run in a similar manner? Volunteer fire departments are not personal fiefdoms to be run however those in power feel like running them. They are accountable to the citizens they serve, as are all public servants. Paid or volunteer means nothing when it comes to serving a community! If you want to have more say in the operations of your department then don’t take one cent of fire levy money. Until volunteer departments refuse tax dollars then the citizens have a huge stake in what goes on. Can any department down here exist without tax funded fire levy money? I didn’t think so!

J. Smith
Woodbridge, VA
 

To correct my own post-the correct spelling is eminent domain. Should have used spell check!

The definition: eminent domain: Law.n. the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use.

J.Smith
Woodbridge, VA
 

If Prince William County does not have title of the equipment or insure them, they are not theirs to use. The county also has to be the licensing agency for EMS or the apparatus cannot run as an ems provider(bls or als) that is law and Prince William can be cited by the state for violating the law. Counties in Va. do not have to provide fire protection. Title 27 of the code of Virginia says a locality MAY provide fire and rescue services to its citizens and provide fire tax districts to collect for services rendered..Imment Domain does not apply here in the case of Gainsville VFD near as I could find in the code of Va. Mr. Smith raises some valid points.. Where were the rest of the FRA when this was going on and why did Chief McGee wait so long to act. Where was the Dept of Fire Programs during all this or the state Health Dept(ems licensing)??Its is one big mess and the citizens are the one's having to foot the bill..
 

Kudo's to Chief McGee and The BOS. I'mglad to see they had the kahuna's and foresight to take control of this fiasco of a department. The Chief is doing what he gets paid to do. Like it or not, he's the one responsible to the taxpayer, not some volunteer chief wannabe. Keep up the good work!!
 

I beg to differ, however, it is noted that eminent domain is a very controversial law and was probably not used in this case. VA state code 27 allows for the county to step in and act in the manner that they did. It may be challenged, but some of the facts working against the challenge of the case would be that public funds supported the organization (GDVFD) and sustained its existence. Therefore it does not fall into the category of a private entity. While you are correct with your statement that according to Virginia Code SS 27-23.1-Establishment of fire/EMS zones or districts; tax levies-the state allows for taxation of personal property to pay for expenses. However, right before that paragraph contained within the same state code is this paragraph: (pay particular attention to the first sentence)
“In the event of the creation of such zones or districts in any city or county, the city or county governing body may acquire, in the name of the city or county, real or personal property to be devoted to the uses aforesaid, and shall prescribe rules and regulations for the proper management, control and conduct thereof. Such governing body shall also have authority to contract with, or secure the services of, any individual corporation, organization or municipal corporation, or any volunteer fire fighters or emergency medical services personnel for such fire or emergency medical services protection as may be required. “
So while eminent domain can be argued against with an uncertain outcome, it is clear that within the same state code that provides for the existence of volunteer departments within the state of Virginia, it also provides for the governing body, Prince William County, to acquire that department and all that is in its name as long as it is used to provide the same purpose-Fire/EMS services.

Also all vehicles within Prince William County that are allowed to respond on emergency calls are licensed as EMS vehicles within the state through the Virginia Department of EMS, and not VDFP. The VDFP only provides for training certification requirements for all state certified providers of fire fighting duties. The VDFP is only a certifying agency and does not provide for any enforcement of regulations. Enforcement is left up to the local jurisdiction. The VAEMS does provide for enforcement of its policies.

Although I highly doubt that, we, the citizens are footing any increase in the bill…

J.Smith
Woodbridge, VA
 

What they all say are all the bad things that Gainesville has done. Go over the good things that Gainesvilles has done and then compare!
 

I am sure you can find some positive traits in a serial killer or rapist, but that doesn't excuse the bad acts that were committed. Similarly, Mr. Bird is probably a good person deep down, but he has committed some serious wrongs that should not go unpunished.
 

Isn't this irontic. Last week they are bashing McGee for not letting them do there jobs and fight fires now this week it is he is the best thing since sliced bread. Make up your mind or is it that everyone picks sides depending on topic? Typical
 

Having some grumblings or disapproval with a chief is one thing. I am sure that those who felt that way last week still feel that way about fighting fires and are at odds with McGee over the same issues. However, supporting him for doing the right thing, and standing up for the County Government and the taxpayers of Prince William County after years of kow tow behavior to the FRA and volunteers by Michos is an entirely different matter. The troops will support their leader when they make the right decision regardless of what went on between them before. McGee isn't the one who did this, he doesn't have the authority to do it. The BOCS of Pince William County did this under the direction and guidance of the County Attorney, and VA State Law. If you are looking for someone to blame look at the Birds, they brought this on themselves, and the entire Prince William County Fire Service.
 

People are happy with Chief McGee for bringing the Bird's down but people are still going to be disgruntled about not being able to put fires out. Interior firefighting is a thing of the past in PWC. One LODD has created a department that refuses to enter and IDLH environment and do there jobs. I am career firefighter in PWC working on the east end and it is ridiculous to see what this department has become.
 

Would that be Fairfax?
 

I believe Chief McGee could care less about any of the volunteer departments in Prince William. I believe he has a plan to elimnate all of the volunteers. I feel if he truly had any intentions of maintaining a working relationship, he would have notified the FRA before hand. I also believe that part of McGee's plan is to squeeze off training for the volunteers. That way he can go to the BOS with claims that the volunteers aren't qualified.

Oh and if you are thinking, duh money is tight and that is why there are less classes. Then, explain to me why at last count there were 47 people assigned to the training division?
 

I believe that you are confusing Chief McGee with another sinister villain…You might know who he is. He is bald, has a monocle, wears a grey suit buttoned all the way up to his collar, sometimes he is in a wheelchair and sometimes he is not, he has a fluffy white kitty that sits on his lap, which he pets as he ponders his plans for world domination. He goes by several names and runs an ultra secret organization bent on destroying all that is good in our world.

McGee is simply a fire chief doing his job…looking out for the PUBLIC’s interest…their SAFETY!
 

WOW…Looks ominous for any other volunteer department that hasn’t been operating on the up and up. I know that there are too many examples to list of exemplary volunteers in Prince William County who devote their time and energy to serving their community with pride. So this is in no way a dig against the volunteer community, however this is about accountability, and that is what the taxpayers deserve, the same taxpayers of the same communities that those volunteers serve with pride. They expect it in every other aspect of their county’s services, why should their fire service be any different. After all it falls under the arena of public safety, which is an extremely important area to have transparent oversight.

There seems to be little argument that many other volunteer departments have operated in questionable ways prior to this audit, as long as the have reformed their ways and no longer engage in questionable operating practices, then the volunteer system will continue to survive and flourish in Prince William County. I for one am looking forward to a new era of transparency for the taxpayers.
 

Dave,

Here are a couple more problems with the system to look at.

1. Why is it that it costs 50 thousand dollars for fleet to except one vehicle into its fleet and assign it a number, thats what the DFR pays just for that nothing else.

2. Why does it take 22 new hires to just maintain 2 firehouses, cut the grass because it is too dangerous for firemen to do..lol, change light bulbs, paint and whatever other odds and ends to do.

3. Why not ask McGee how he plans on paying for the 50 million dollars in purchase orders that he has issued to operate these to stations that he took over.

Talking about taxpayer abuse
 

Where is your proof?? There was a specific audit done with actual evidence not just some figures thrown out there! Judging by your spelling and grammer, I shouldnt even take your post seriously!!
 

Holy Cow.... Let me get this right. 2 stations in PW county get 2.4 MILLION dollars to run the station, and part of the staffing are paid county employees. On top of that they raised $93,000 additional dollars. WTF!!!!

I think the people of that "Fire Levy" (Tax district) have every damn right to know how that money is spent. I don't care who does the dirty work of exposing and taking charge (McGee in this case) having that much money at your disposal with little to no formal reporting or oversight has lead the GDVFD directly into this mess, and McGee is cleaning it up. Good for him, good for the tax payers of Prince William Co.