The following questions were given to me by a firefighter in Beacon NY. Before you read my answers I want to express my gratitude to all of the firefighters for their dedication to protect the public at great peril to their own personal safety.

1. Manpower (Hire additional paid firefighters and/or promote officers, incentives for volunteers).

Answer: We need to hire a professional consultant who has worked at recruiting volunteer firefighters, to create a marketing program to find recruits in a new way. Recruitment has been a demoralizing exercise because we have been doing the same thing, looking in the same places and not getting results. A consultant will think outside of the box, look at different age groups, different occupations and different techniques. We can offer better incentives, pay for time spent in training and make the work more attractive. There are volunteers in other neighboring communities that we can begin to think of in terms of a larger community force. We can make daytime volunteering easier for municipal workers and all people who work in Beacon shops and business. I truly believe there are volunteers out there if we are creative and think in new ways. Because of the payroll expense involved in hiring four new career firefighters, such a recruitment should be taken only as a last resort. However I hope to be clear about the following…. no expense should be spared if the public safety is jeopardized, or if the safety of our firefighters are jeopardized. When fighting a fire is dangerous because too few firefighters show up, we haven’t done enough. That is why we need to act soon to find the best way to increase volunteer enrollment.
  

2. Dangers (Under 21 members unsupervised with unsecured alcohol, should alcohol be allowed in the stations)
Answer: I believe the entire volunteer service needs to ratchet up to a higher level of professionalism, not just under 21. I am referring to reexamining the volunteer culture and structuring it after national models that encourage values in a semi-military environment. I hope volunteers would also consider making the firehouse more of a family community center. Members under 21 need to be supervised but they also need to learn self discipline. There needs to be more recognition of the importance of leading young volunteers and generally a well thought out program to make young volunteers into a professional force. Regarding drugs and alcohol, random alcohol testing should be given by a supervisor after fire calls. No firefighter should be under the influence of alcohol when on duty.

3. New Firehouse (Renovate current stations or build a central firehouse)
Answer: I am extremely displeased with the lack of attention paid to repair and maintain the existing firehouses by the city administration. If the city paid as much attention to their buildings as the firefighters pay to maintain their equipment, they would not be in the sad condition they are now.  Last month I made the first motion to pay for remediation of the led paint that is peeling on Beacon Engine. I cannot understand why it took this long before it came to our table. I cannot understand why engine exhaust is still mixing with air circulation systems in one of the firehouses. These conditions along with others such as the damage to Maze’s historic ceiling because of a leaking roof are all unacceptable. Regarding a new firehouse, I am not convinced that it  is more cost effective than repairing the existing buildings. I am aware that there are advantages for training, office space and living quarters by building new. I would rather utilize county resources and modify existing buildings to solve these and other problems previously ignored.  I also think a central firehouse may create unintended problems. We should also find ways to consolidate services and equipment with other communities.

4. Purchase a fire boat ($125,000 investment for our ever growing waterfront)

Answer: Our discussions on this are leading towards Dutchess County services, Newburgh services and obtaining funds from LongDock and other beneficiaries. We have been given information that there are very few real fire rescue situations. Most water rescue is from boats in distress.

5. Purchase a gator off-road response 4x4 ($15,000 investment to protect our ever growing trail systems).
Answer: I think that is necessary without a doubt however the cost should be shared with the Town of Fishkill since the rescues will be primarily on their land.

6. Full-Time Secretary (Paperwork and clerical duties mount every day, as the computer admin for the department I can attest the need for this position)
Answer: Defiantly needed!