If last summer was the “Manassas Next” summer, this summer has been the summer of public safety. It has been grueling and is consuming tons of time but I think that we are close to getting a final solution in place. Fortunately, the problem has never been on the operations side. If you call 911, qualified people will show up, just like always.
It’s a question of how to proceed from here on out. It’s a question of how to integrate a newly formed department with a volunteer company that has served our community for over 100 years on the fire side and 50 years on the rescue side. Working with all of these guys is really humbling. I had a meeting the other day with Woody Merchant – the first chief of the rescue squad that was formed the year I was born! These volunteer institutions have long been an important part of our community and I also have great respect for our career staff so it becomes a delicate question of balance.
I’m working hard, right along with the other members of Council and the public safety community to get it right. We’ll know soon enough if we are more right than wrong….
July 13, 2009 at 8:01 pm
It really shouldn’t be a hard decision. the Council hired the new chief for a reason. I’m not sure when Council is going to see that while the volunteers have a place, they can no longer run the show. 2 of the 3 organizations agree the career Chief should have operational control. If you aren’t going to give the chief the tools to do the job then why do we need him? The career Chief is the one constant in the three organiztions. He will be there as long as he and you want him to be. Next year you could have two new unqualified Chiefs in the Volunteer organizations who change everything the former chiefs installed.
July 17, 2009 at 1:18 pm
COM,
Why does one person have to make the rules/decisions? “Board of Directors” (for lack of a better term) seems like a good way to go for me…just like most of the other departments in the city (or a well run corporation). Of course you have to have a city who is will to listen to the board…now THAT’s the hard part.
Do you actually think that the Manassas fire and rescue has had “unqualified” chiefs and remained in existance all of these years? Just because someone gets paid, doesn’t mean they are any more, or any less qualified than a volunteer. IN FACT volunteers do it for the love they have in their heart…not the money in their pocket.
July 19, 2009 at 5:10 pm
WSGFN, where in my post did I say there was ever a bad volunteer chief. It just isn’t there!. Ok, so you want a board. is the board going to get up a 3 a.m. and show up at a large fire or mass casusalty incident and take a vote on how to handle the incident? The career chief and his men should be in charge. The volunteers did a great job in their 100+ years and continue to do a good job. But a good job is just not good enough. The bottom line is the current crew of volunteers have left the fire house unattended on occasion, that is a fact. I am not saying the volunteers should be disbanded or anything like that, but the City needs a full time department to make decisions. The current system leaves open the possibilty of having an unqualified person running the show. The City is paying a man to run the show, let him do his job and let the volunteers augment the career men as they should be at this time. I find it hard to believe this is even an issue. No one has said the volunteers should be disbanded. Even the Volunteer Rescue Squad sees the writing on the wall.
July 20, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I did not say you said “bad”…I was reporting on what you said…”Next year you could have two new unqualified Chiefs in the Volunteer organizations who change everything the former chiefs installed “…by using the word “new” you implied that the past/old chiefs had been unqualified.
July 20, 2009 at 6:20 pm
WSGFN, it is only implied because thats what you want it to imply. Also, if I thought they were unqualified, wouldn’t that imply I meant bad? That is the reason I used “bad” in my response to your post. But since you said it, Yes, I think Manassas had some people who were unqualified as chief, great firemen, but unqualified to be leading a department the size of Manassas. I suspect you are either or were a manassas volunteer, a family member of a current or former volunteer or some sort of official of the MVFC, not that that is a bad thing, it just would cloud your opinion. I also agree with concerning many of the volunteers, they are very qualified, as firemen though, not chiefs. I think the large majority of citizens know it is time for a change before something bad happens, at least from the people I have spoken too.
July 22, 2009 at 11:27 am
Having lived in the TOWN/City of Manassas all of my life I have known more than a few founders/members/volunteers from both the rescue and firehouse. I have not been a volunteer myself, but that’s not to say it will never happen.
Do you often talk out of both sides of your mouth? First you say I wanted to imply it…then YOU say it…hmmmm, I believe I’ll leave it here and let others determine your “status”. L
July 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm
WSGFN, I didn’t speak out of both sides of my mouth. My first post said it was possible to have unqualified chiefs because of the system. I was trying to be politically correct and not actually state that I believe there have ben unqualified chiefs. But since you asked and obviously can’t comprehend what you read, my other post did state my true feelings, there have been people as chief that were unqualified. There was no speaking out of both sides of my mouth. Since you have never served in the fire service, I will take your comments with a grain of salt and let the professionals that have served in the fire service determine your “status”.
July 22, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Serious? I did comprehend what I read and you verified it…L