Author	Message
Madison	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 6:03 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker This topic is now closed. Any new posts will be deleted.
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 5:37 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker I think the chief very succinctly put an end to this discussion. If you would like to continue the far reaching inanity this thread has devolved into feel free. But start a new thread. This is no longer about Fire Co. to buy a new tanker.
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 4:49 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Guest wrote: First of all government pensions are not free.Government employees pay into them the same as you pay into your 401k. The difference in the past 20 years while many private companies had matching 401k contributions the municipalities (including Cranbury) paid very little if anything towards their own employees pensions, while the employees continued to make their contributions. The state which excused towns like this one from contributing raided the pension fund and used it for other things. At the time the pension fund was "overfunded" I realize this contrary to what the politicians and news media are saying. It is popular to lambast cops, teachers etc.. But the truth is no one goes into public service to get rich only to serve and in turn to be able to support themselves and their families. So you are saying the Cranbury pension fund is underfunded? You are also saying that you put the majority of the money into that fund for yourself and that amount far exceeds any contributions from the taxypayers?
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 4:21 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker First of all government pensions are not free.Government employees pay into them the same as you pay into your 401k. The difference in the past 20 years while many private companies had matching 401k contributions the municipalities (including Cranbury) paid very little if anything towards their own employees pensions, while the employees continued to make their contributions. The state which excused towns like this one from contributing raided the pension fund and used it for other things. At the time the pension fund was "overfunded" I realize this contrary to what the politicians and news media are saying. It is popular to lambast cops, teachers etc.. But the truth is no one goes into public service to get rich only to serve and in turn to be able to support themselves and their families.
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 3:38 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Guest wrote: On behalf of my fellow citizens I apologize to the fire company for ridiculous second guessing that has gone on this board by the do nothing know nothings. Perhaps some of the readers and posters will take you to task and join. Somehow I doubt it. Oh by the way guest who posted about not having a raising in 4 years and having to pay for health benefits..where were u 5 or 10 years when public employees where getting 3 or 4 percent raises and the economy was booming? My guess is that you looked down on teachers,cops, and other govt employees when drove by them in your expensive car and lived in your Cranbury house(don't think a lot of govt workers can afford to live in Cranbury) And you think you were entitled to bigger raises as a government employee? 3 to 4 percent was more then inline at the time with cost of living increases. That was what I was given the last few years before I retired in 2009. In fact if you were given such raises in government then it was generous given the free pension and health benefits given to government workers. I had to fund the majority of my 401k plan over the last many years and I did not get lifetime medical benefits for life on the taypayers dime. Even those who you think were looking down at you from the private sector may have been getting similar raises of 3 to 5% during the same span.
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 1:24 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker On behalf of my fellow citizens I apologize to the fire company for ridiculous second guessing that has gone on this board by the do nothing know nothings. Perhaps some of the readers and posters will take you to task and join. Somehow I doubt it. Oh by the way guest who posted about not having a raising in 4 years and having to pay for health benefits..where were u 5 or 10 years when public employees where getting 3 or 4 percent raises and the economy was booming? My guess is that you looked down on teachers,cops, and other govt employees when drove by them in your expensive car and lived in your Cranbury house(don't think a lot of govt workers can afford to live in Cranbury)
Guest	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 1:22 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Guest wrote: What is wrong with this picture? The poverty stricken residents of Cranbury are demanding municpal employees cut their benefits and salaries but they want to know if the volunteer fire firefighters can waste their time and equipment filling swimming pools? Does anyone else see the hypocrisy? By the way unless you join the fire department u don't get a vote what color the truck is. This town is sickening. I'm going to go way out on a limb here, but I think the swimming pool comment was a joke. As for the color, I like the green choice and if possible can we get the siren to sound like the new fire siren in town.
Michael	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 11:56 am EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker "Not to sound like a skinflint, cheapskate, tightwad, but, can't we just retrofit the old tanker with a pump and a better motor and spend maybe 10% of what a new one would cost? Just until things get better financially for us. Maybe, this will buy us a couple of more years. Its not used all that much anyway, and IT DOES carry more water than a new one would." The current tanker is a 1974 Mack tractor pulling an older trailer. That trailer was designed as a fuel oil carrier and converted into a water tender. The tractor trailer is does not have the maneuverability of a straight tanker, and the way tanker operations are practiced today, the 3500 gallon straight tanker could actually deliver more water to the fire than the tractor trailer version we have now. The tractor and trailer set up are also more difficult to drive, it has a manual transmission and no power steering, and as such only a few members are able to drive it. We also must comply with NFPA regulations, and would have to make the truck meet these specifiactions if we were to refurbish. In the long run the cost to upgrade is not worth it, and could be more than the cost of a new vehicle. If you are interested in how tanker operations are run, we would be glad to take you to our next tanker drill, right after you complete your application and are accepted as an associate member. Financially, this is not affecting the town, as we are using donated funds to replace an outdated piece of equipment. It will not raise taxes. It will not add to any debt load the town currently has. If you think the Fire Co. could use these funds in a different manner, after you become an associate member and start firefighter training, you can voice your opinion at our meeting. Everyone, please feel free to stop down on Monday nights and ask questions. Someone is usually there at 6:00, and our drills start at 7:00. We are happy to show you around, answer questions, introduce you to our members. Find out how we train, what special equipment we have to protect our town. While your there please fill out an application. We provide all gear, all training, all equipment. We have a great group of men and women who volunteer their time and are dedicated to protecting our town. If you'd like a more personalized tour, please call 609-395-0633 and we can set something up. "When will the firehouse have a fundraising beefsteak dinner? I haven't been to one of those in 20 years. You know, beefsteak, beer and dancing girls!" We do not have a hall to host events like this anymore, but you can buy a hot dog from us on Cranbury Day. Thank you, Michael Kervan Chief
publius	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 10:17 am EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker When will the firehouse have a fundraising beefsteak dinner? I haven't been to one of those in 20 years. You know, beefsteak, beer and dancing girls!
publius	Posted: Wed, Feb 17 2010, 10:13 am EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Guest wrote: Our Fire Co. should be congratulated for their fundraising efforts and sound management which helps reduce our taxes by allowing them to buy equipment outside of our tax dollars. According to the article below, the Fire Co. is purchasing a much needed water tanker from their own funds. This will save the tax payers $300,000. It is good to see the Fire Co. considering the hurting residents in town and I hope the TC and Board of Ed take their lead when it comes to budgets this year. http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/02/12/cranbury_press/news/doc4b748e246e98b507044644.txt CRANBURY — The Cranbury fire company is ready to replace its nearly 40-year-old tanker truck. The fire company plans to purchase a $300,000 tanker that carries less water, but is more efficient than the company’s early-1970s model, said volunteer firefighter Charlie Smith, a fire company spokesman. The older model, he said, is underpowered, overloaded (it carries 7,000 gallons of water) and lacks a pump. The new tanker — dubbed “Tanker 48” — carries 3,500 gallons of water, pumps 1,250 gallons per minute, is better able to maneuver, has a bigger engine and an automatic transmission, he said. ”Picture driving a car from 1972 versus one from today,” Mr. Smith said. The tanker is used about once a month as an alternate water supply in areas where hydrants are not accessible. The department will cover the $300,000 price tag by using the proceeds of stocks that have matured since they were received by the fire company as a donation in the 1970s. Mr. Smith said he did not know the identity of the donor and that he expected the tanker purchase would eat up most, but not all of the stocks.”Obviously, funding is down and times are bad,” he said. “Given the economic climate we felt it would be better to use some of our stock and buy the equipment.” Fire officials hope to order the new tanker by June and have it customized and delivered within 15 months, he said. Once the new tanker arrives the company’s members will spend a weekend training to use the new equipment. The tanker will be the third major equipment replacement made by the fire company. In 1999, an outside consultant recommended the township’s fire company replace all major equipment within five years, but budget constraints have made it impossible to do so. The company has replaced its first and secondary fire trucks, he said, and will consider replacing its 1950s brush truck, a four-wheel-drive vehicle used to extinguish field fires. Fire officials also hope to purchase a newer special-equipment truck used to carry tools not usually used on average calls, such as ice rescue equipment or carry pumps. ”Were doing this, number one, to help the town,” Mr. Smith said. “But this will also help us do our job and do our job more safely.” Not to sound like a skinflint, cheapskate, tightwad, but, can't we just retrofit the old tanker with a pump and a better motor and spend maybe 10% of what a new one would cost? Just until things get better financially for us. Maybe, this will buy us a couple of more years. Its not used all that much anyway, and IT DOES carry more water than a new one would.
Guest	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 10:31 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Guest wrote: The cops haven't had a contract in years. The other town employees(DPW town hall staff etc.) were given no raise last year and had to pay towards insurance. If the town is asking it's employees to make sacrifices residents should stop expecting special treatment simply because they live in Cranbury(ie having a fire truck fill their pools) I haven't had a raise in 4 years at my job and actually had a pay cut this year (everyone at my company did). And every year I pay more and more for my benefits because as the costs go up the company pays the same they always did. It now costs me thousands a year for my portion of the upfront costs of coverage plus co-pays and 20% of the costs of any services, tests, etc. Many people I know are in the same boat. Many others lost jobs. So while I have absolutely nothing against the Township employees I am unclear why their not getting raises during a recession or having to share in their benefits costs is considered somehow injust or a travesty. Annual raises are not a given for most employees, nor do a vast majority of non-public or union employees get their benefits fully covered and most have no pension programs. Are you suggesting these people are uniquely entitled to better compensation and benefits than everyone else?
JD	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 7:56 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker For the record, this is my first post on this thread. I appreciate transparent financial reporting as much as the next guy, but from what I have gleaned, details of all public expenditures are readily available and in this situation, the Volunteer Fire Company has chosen to use their own money to address an important equipment need. They could have asked the town for the money and used their own money for a helluva kegger but they didn't because they are highly-skilled dedicated firefighters for whom I am deeply grateful. Thanks Guys, JD
Guest	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 6:35 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker The police are in negotiations from what I understand and whatever raise they get will be retroactive so they will get paid. It is not like they are going without. Plus, a lot of the officers make more than I do. The staff got a pay raise last year, but they were asked to contribute the amount equal to the raise on medical insurance from what I recall. To me this is not a cut in benefits or salary.
Guest	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 6:28 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker The cops haven't had a contract in years. The other town employees(DPW town hall staff etc.) were given no raise last year and had to pay towards insurance. If the town is asking it's employees to make sacrifices residents should stop expecting special treatment simply because they live in Cranbury(ie having a fire truck fill their pools)
Guest	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 5:22 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker Where did you hear employees are having salaries or benefits cut? I have not seen that on this thread. Is that something being discussed?
Guest	Posted: Tue, Feb 16 2010, 4:33 pm EST    Post subject: Re: Fire Co. to buy new tanker What is wrong with this picture? The poverty stricken residents of Cranbury are demanding municpal employees cut their benefits and salaries but they want to know if the volunteer fire firefighters can waste their time and equipment filling swimming pools? Does anyone else see the hypocrisy? By the way unless you join the fire department u don't get a vote what color the truck is. This town is sickening.