Union Fire Company Suspended, Again

Ben Salem July 11, 2012 at 02:42 am

THE MEETING IS AT 7:00 PM

KLW July 11, 2012 at 05:28 am

Not from the area, but if its the leaders of the dept they have an issue with, bring other Officers in and not close the whole station, the article clearly says there is loyal Firefighters there in the dept, why should they be punished for it, and sorry but if I was a citizen in your town, you bet your sweet butt I would be at that town meeting and open my mouth, once again, politics over the safety of the public whom we ALL swear to serve and protect.
Stay strong brothers and sisters, your not the first to go through this bull, and wont be the last when people in council think they can run a fire dept better than those who run and risk it all to protect them. God bless

Mike Thomas July 11, 2012 at 01:15 pm

My opinion on this is that if the director of public safety feels that the department is unsafe and a liability to the public, then he has every right to shut it down. As for all of the others that say this has and was a witch hunt, why hasn't Union as a non-profit corp filed suit against the township or at least why haven't the individuals involved filed suit to bring this out in the open and prove that they haven't done anything wrong? I think there has to be some truth to what the township is saying, otherwise they would not shut down a fire house just because they don't like someone...think about it...it is completely ridiculous.

P2YA July 11, 2012 at 02:25 pm

This seems to be a power struggle over township demanding Union get rid of a rescue boat and the FD's refusal to do so, although there may be other issues too. If the boat was bought with a grant what is the urgency to get rid of it? It won't sell for nearly what it's worth (boats never do), and the $750,000 grant would have to be paid back to the Feds. Maybe the real objective of all this is to bankrupt Union, leaving them stuck with paying back a huge debt, so the township can then swoop in and commandeer their building and equipment for the paid department they seem hell bent on shoving down resident's throats. Despite being in difficult financial condition (the township), at least this what they stated when they reduced by 2/3 the property tax rebate, they have money to indulge their every whim to make themselves more comfortable. Besides vehicles already mentioned in another post, consider the 5 million dollar fire training center that can't even have fires and the recent Taj Mahal building expansion that also cost millions. It's like a country club. Oh yeah, the town owns a country club too, which is nothing but a money pit. It's time for a change! Term after term doesn't build efficeincy it breeds arrogance and entitlement, and that's what you've got in Bensalem.

PPLSUX July 11, 2012 at 03:39 pm

P2YA... Question? How can the township "swoop in and commandeer their building and equipment for the paid department they seem hell bent on shoving down resident's throats?" The building and equipment are owned by the fire company, not the township.

Yourewhatswrong July 11, 2012 at 03:49 pm

Whoa whoa whoa. Who brought the paid company into this? Is the paid company now taking over your territory? No. The township and county changed the box cards in order to assure the 37 boxes would be properly covered. Again with blaming the paid company? Really? Get over it.

Wendy Saddler July 11, 2012 at 04:29 pm

Mike:
Union has and still are bringing this out in the open via legal action. There is no truth to what Harran is saying, especially since the "18 Safety Issues" from the last "suspension", were proven false. As for the Oversight Committee's findings, they met with Union only once, and Harran has refused to give the results to Union.

Wendy Saddler July 11, 2012 at 04:36 pm

With all due respect Yourewhatswrong, I don't see anywhere the paid fire department is being blamed for this.

Mike Thomas July 11, 2012 at 06:50 pm

Wendy, in what court has this legal action against the township by Union that you speak of been filed? I'd like to look it up? Also, is the chief of Union still the same one that allowed his son (the deputy) to drive around fire vehicles while knowing he had a suspended license which could have put the fire company and the township in a lot of financial liability if he was in an accident? If so, then it does seem like the chief may be up to wrongdoing that the other members of the fire department doesn't know about. I can understand why the members of Union are sticking up for their chief and their company, but I'm sure they are not being told everything by the chief and some others. I'm sure the members didn't know that their deputy was driving around with a suspended license and warrant out of lower southampton, but his dad the chief knew and allowed it to happen.

Joe Hart (Editor) July 11, 2012 at 06:51 pm

New article posted...Bensalem Dems: Mayor Should Reinstate Union Fire Co...What do you think? Click here to vote & leave your comments...http://patch.com/A-vWZK

Ben Salem July 11, 2012 at 08:41 pm

Mayor DiGirolamo NEEDS to go! All council members NEED to go! Fred NEEDS to go!
It's just that simple.

Wendy Saddler July 11, 2012 at 08:59 pm

I have documentation, but if you want to know look it up via the bucks county court house open records, and speak with Matthew Bass their attorney. As for your accusations, Where is YOUR proof???

Dave Fiedler July 11, 2012 at 09:24 pm

Not sure what the golf course has to do with the Union Fire Co. imbroglio, but keep in mind a primary rationale for buying the Country Club was to preserve open space rather than have it developed as housing or for commercial purposes. Whether the acquisition is paying off and generating a return on investment to taxpayers, who knows? Either way, it's off topic regarding the fire company issue.
Several people have mentioned the boat. Is that really what this disagreement is all about? Just reading the couple articles it does seem to me that the boat may have been obtained under questionable justification, but that's the fault of the US Government for not conducing full due diligence in the grant review process. Probably the boat should have gone to the Philadelphia Police or Fire Co., not to a small volunteer company that when it comes right down to it doesn't have any direct responsibility or authority for patrolling the Delaware River. I had a boat for years moored at Jack's Neshaminy Marina, and I remember seeing PA Fish & Game, NJ State Police and the US Coast Guard patrolling and assisting boaters or others in trouble out on the river. I don't ever recall seeing any local fire companies.

Wendy Saddler July 11, 2012 at 09:35 pm

Dave:
Boat was obtained properly. I checked with Homeland Security and more. FBI also got involved, and found nothing wrong. Union does have the direct responsibility or authority for patrolling the Delaware River. ASk the coast guard, and talk with Union.

Its Time 2 Speak Up July 11, 2012 at 11:03 pm

Some of you need to learn to read before making a comment ... An OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE made the recommendation to supsend Union FIre Co. 37 > From my knowledge , Committess such as this are made up of QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS who are HIGHLY TRAINED in the the SUBJECT AREA they are investigating .
After completing their investigation , the decision "was based on culmination of numerous incidents and issues over the past 30 months wherein the leadership of Union Fire Company has failed to follow both administrative and operational directions from the township, resulting in a loss of confidence in the leadership of Union Fire Company. " Based on this recommendation, The DIrector of Public Safety had to Suspend Union Fire Co.as to do otherwise would be a liability to the Township & a possible danger to those living in the boundary area . Nobody wants that to happen including the Mayor . It is a SAFETY ISSUE 1st and foremost, Wendy ,even you should be able to get it that a Oversight Committee made up of QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS , has more knowledge of the situation than you with do , 3 Counseling degreess or not ...

Hebegebees July 12, 2012 at 01:31 am

As a resident of the area that Union Fire Company serves , I'd like to know more about the appointed oversight committee , who are the members and what are their qualifications?

thumbsup July 12, 2012 at 02:43 am

I'd like to know the qualifications of the chief officers of the union fd.

thumbsup July 12, 2012 at 02:45 am

Tax money pashas paid for most of the building and equipment.

thumbsup July 12, 2012 at 02:48 am

No show at the meeting tonight? Guess you were to busy to show support.

Mike Thomas July 12, 2012 at 01:38 pm

Wendy,
My proof is easily looked up online through the district court records - Here is the case MJ-07106-TR-0004538-2010. It was a simple speeding charge and he thought he was too good to pay, so the state suspended his driver's license and issued a warrant in 2011. He didn't pay until he got arrested for the fraud and the other things that he was arrested for. That is my proof. You on the other hand, I looked it up through the county and there is no filing of a civil suit against the township by Union fire company for shutting them down last year. What is the case number Wendy? Again, you, the democrat party and the higher ups of Union fire company throw around baseless accusations against the township when you all need to look in the mirror. All I'm asking for is a simple case number and you can't even produce that. It's not confidential information Wendy.

lookingfortruth July 13, 2012 at 02:51 am

Did you know Fred Harran was on the committee?

that guy July 13, 2012 at 04:19 am

i think your problem is to many fire depts and too much apparatus, just like everywhere in the county,state,ect. 12 engs., 4 trucks, 1 squrt, 1 rescue, 1 food wagon, 1 brush, 3 boats, plus unknown amount of utility's. H3's for chief buggys? really the problem lies in we all should be under one dept. weather that be twp. run or county run. you get rid of the interdepartmental bs. 1 set of sop's so if i run with dept A and we are working a job with dept F, we both work the same way. Can't we all just get along and work to the common goal, serve the public to the best ability, and highest standards. If i am wrong then rip me but before you do, think long and hard about why we all do this job.

Its Time 2 Speak Up July 13, 2012 at 04:06 pm

Yes , looking for truth & as well he should be ,as the Public Safety Director of the Township, his experience in matters of Public Safety make him a qualified individual.
Mr Harran , was one out of many on the Committee, all with Qualified Experience in the Fire /Safety Field , he alone did not make the decision. The Committee looked into the issues presented ,spoke to those who they felt could give insight into those issues & collectively came to the decision that allowing The Union FD 37 to operate as they currently are would be detrimental to the Community.

MrBensalem July 13, 2012 at 07:41 pm

H3's are actually cheaper than the expeditions everyone else drives and are better on fuel. Learn more about cars. H3's are basicaly on an s-10 chasis. Which is way smaller than the expedition. Maybe If everone else had explorers then it would be a different story.

Jerry Nesser July 15, 2012 at 02:22 am

All, Please understand the facts. 1st, the township wants to suspend, not shut down, due to none compliance of the advisory board.......Report NEVER given to the fire company. 2nd, wants the boat out of service. Boat receive via Federal grant and investigated for its needs/practicality. Grant was approved after investigation and is available for Regional asset. 3rd, Need to activily recruit? 5 new members alone last month who ar ereceived new FITTED gear....4th, most of what was said at the community meeting was twisted and/or lies. The fire company has opened its doors. Now let the township. There are issues with leadership and the fire company needs to replace at least the chief. What the people do need to do is look inot the safety departments spending. what do they pay for regarding other volunteer companies? How are the paid crews financed? what ever happened to squad 187? still paying taxes for it and the township receives PARX casino money for it???? People need to look at the township more closer....

Justice4All July 17, 2012 at 02:20 am

Yes Harold let's ask the residents of Cherry Hill!! Approx 53% of the town pays less taxes than it would've of in the old system. Which by the was was 18 yrs ago! Those citizens have a great service, Police< Fire and EMS. Use another example Genius!

JohnJ July 20, 2012 at 12:53 am

Does the township plan on paying back the grant? That's a federal requirement if the boat is not maintained and operated for three years.

therealtruthbtold July 20, 2012 at 02:05 am

@JohnJ,
Why would the Township plan on paying back the grant. The Township apparently had no involvement in filing for the grant. Union fire company made the ill-advised decision to apply and sign for the grant without any participation or approval of the Township, therefore, they are solely responsible to fulfill the federal requirement, if one exists. Sounds to me like there should have been a more thorough review of the grant application and supporting documentation by those responsible for awarding the grant to ensure this volunteer fire company was capable of maintaining and operating this vessel.

that guy July 20, 2012 at 07:26 pm

MR BENSALEM......YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A MEMBER OF UNION.....B/C THATS EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID WHEN THEY WERE PURCHASED.....JUST AN OBSERVATION

MrBensalem July 22, 2012 at 04:36 am

Again like i said not a member of union. And its a fact that h3's are cheaper than expeditions. Sorry your too stupi to realize it thatguy. Would a member of union know that 65's had thier panties in a bunch at the recent association of fire companies meeting at 44's cause there were no members of union there.