Fire funding held 'hostage'

Hamilton Township has decided to lower its donation to one of the four fire companies that serve the township - and raise its donation to the other three.

[just because]

Real classy move Hamilton Township. Perhaps the four companies serve equal size geographical areas of the township but you just cut funding to the fire company that provides ALL of Hamilton Twp. with vehicle rescue and ladder truck services. Generally when a crash or structure fire occurs anywhere in Hamilton Twp. New Oxford responds with a rescue truck and/or a ladder truck. No offense meant to Hampton, East Berlin or Abbottstown they are good companies, but the fact is they don't have rescue trucks or ladder trucks, only New Oxford does. You are ill informed and should reconsider this decision.

[Facts]

Again the township leaders are confused. The quadrants served are no where near equal quadrants. New Oxford and Abbottstown cover roughly 30% each, East Berlin 25% and Hampton 15%.

It's sad to see a municipality cut 1/3 of the funding to a department because a volunteer officer could not be present at a meeting.

I wonder which 1/3 of the New Oxford service area the township would like to receive no service from New Oxford in since that is the amount of their funding that was cut.

Remember these are the people YOU have elected to be your township leaders, try not to make that mistake again.

[Scott]

Those supervisors should be tarred and feathered. What the heck is wrong with them? New Oxford fire company provides volunteer service to them. If I was New Oxford, I would be saying F*ck you to them, find someone else to work for free. These township supervisors are a prime example of what can happen when you give an idiot a little bit of authority. Give an idiot a little bit of authority and you have an absolute headcase on your hands.

[New Oxford Member]

Just Becuase... You are correct. The New Oxford Fire Company provides a special service, they have equipment the other 3 stations do not have, and they have very well trained personel. More then a dozen of these volunteers work in career departments. On there days off they give free service to Hamilton, and the other townships the NOFC covers. The Hamilton Township supervisors are out of there mind. You guys are a joke. Whoever the female supervisor was that asked me who Steve Rabine was at the carnival doesn't even deserve to be a supervisor if they don't know who the fire chief is.

[Mad Guy]

Why get mad at the township. I think its funny that they other three fire companies seemed it was important enough to make the meeting, but Rabine didn't. So I say if want to blame anybody blame the Chief.

[C_Sherman]

What time were the meetings held?

[BS Hamilton twp ---]

Yea its all the Chiefs fault, mad guy come on in you can be the chief, obviously you have no clue what hqappen and what it takes to be a Chief
I say let the Supervisors explane to the twp residents why they will have to wait for the other FD to arrive when NOFC tells them to take a hike maybe they will wake up.'
What a joke $100,000 worth of free service , waht am I thinking they fired the PD so they get free PSP service , look out Hampton A-town and East Berlin, better make sure you get to all the meeting. Chief Rabine can use this time some where else.

[Scott]

Mad Guy wrote:

Why get mad at the township. I think its funny that they other three fire companies seemed it was important enough to make the meeting, but Rabine didn't. So I say if want to blame anybody blame the Chief.

Blame the chief? How can you blame volunteers? Would you like these volunteers to become round the clock slaves or what? No matter how much some people do, it is never enough. If your house is ever on fire, I say let it burn.

[Mad Guy]

Chief Rabine can use this time some where else

That is what the problem was he was neglecting Hamlition by not going to any mettings and if he was busy then he should have sent another Chief or line officer.

[NO RESIDENT]

Just goes to show that anybody's village idiot can be elected to an office in a good old fashioned Adams County election.

[What the heck]

If I was NOFC I would tell them where to stick it and to find someone else to do the job. Tell them sorry no fire or EMS untill we get paid. Its just like any other place, you do not get your product untill you pay for it. I volunteer for the red cross and I know how much time that can take, I can only imagine a fire chief. Sounds to me that the council had a grudge against Mr. Rabine.

[Business Owner]

There were fire personnel available to be involved in the conference however the chief did not inform any of the department members. Personnel available Also, a phone call could have been made at the chiefs convenience to any of the townships supervisors or voice mail saying he was unavailable and that he did support the sprinkler Ordinance. this would have taken approx 20 seconds. I know time is valuable as I volunteer services to state and federal governments however; I can always spare two or three minutes for an issue if I feel it is worth supporting.

[Cool 1]

"New Oxford Member",
You obviouslt don't know who the female was that you spoke with at the carnival. It definately wasn't "The Village Idiot".

[A life long volunteer]

What a crock... With all of the time spent on training and the difficulty in recruiting volunteers and over $100,000 in free service, what a great "gift" of $3,000 from the supervisors... Maybe, just maybe, this issue will bring to light that working a full time job, family obligations, other volunteer work, church & outside activities any community would be happy with the gift of giving....when was the last time these supervisors put their life on the line in their volunteer work??? And, how much is it going to cost the taxpayers to fight a code change that has been upheld across the state??? Maybe the supervisors could contribute those $$ to the volunteers that are puting their life on the line and not into the lawyers pockets!!!

[Scott]

This is a perfect time for New Oxford fire company to take a stand and say no more. If they did that and other companies followed, maybe these townships would wake up and realize what a bargain they are receiving and start to provide some real funding.

[Firehouse Lawyer]

The lawyer's are going to have a field day with this. It now appears that the government has bribed the fire companies to support the code change. The have neutralized their best supporters by their own actions. They should have been satisfied with 3 fire companies supporting their request.

[Maybe]

They are lucky fire departments don't start to reufuse service when townships do stupid things such as this. Some say it would only have taken a few minutes of his time, but how can you justify takeing away the money with such petty excuses as he did not call me, or he does not agree with me.

[Concerned Citizen]

Just maybe there was other things going on at the firehouse, responding to calls or other meetings they were attending those nights. There volunteers. That means NO PAYCHECK for risking there lives and saving the municipalities a couple million in fire protection. They have families and other obligations to fulfill also. It's pretty shitty they only found out about it when the newspaper called the chief. If what I am reading is correct they protect 100% of the township with there specialized rescue and ladder truck. How much do they cost? If I was a township resident I would be really upset and make sure I let the supervisors know what a horrible decision they made. When is the next township meeting? The Fire Department needs the communities support in this.

[Scott]

If I lived in that township, I would be at the next meeting raising all kinds of H*ll.

[Try Hard]

I hope they open their eyes and give these stations the money that they need.