The people has spoken that they want the district shut down and the board members out of there. The best thing would be to start a brand new district with different board members. That was the whole point. Richard Land could not guarantee that the board members would not be there and we want a guarantee. We do not want a redo !!!

what hurts the people of coventry is the blantent waste of tax payers money when they go joy riding all of the town and then they tell us the need to respond in 4 min
how do you respond when your joy riding on the other side of town . what about using captains suv to make your coffee runs. do we have to use 1 mill truck to get coffee?

What's a mill truck? Is there more than one mill truck? Should they use another truck instead of a mill truck?

Ron its not joy riding, its called being ready when the call comes in. Majority of time being in different parts of town could be related to training, or responding back from a call, or even possibly relocating a truck to the part of town left empty when another call comes in. I also look at the logic if a truck is on the road it is also driver familiarization and driver training. But just driving around joy riding, your not being realistic, you want all for nothing be honest.

As I had said in the past as a former New York State fireman this whole thing makes me sick! The union has then there back to the community and is only thinking of themselves hence what has happened here So something that need to be done is the union needs to be dissolved , and all Of the firefighters can reapply for there jobs, a new board of directors formed putting two members of the board as actual tax payers and the others are out of town professionals that have to answer to the town an the tax payers , bring back the volunteers cause it's been proven in other districts s in this town it works to help out with manpower and labor costs! Take things back it the way it used to be where people where proud of there fire department and not disgusted cause they " mismanaged " the money and want the taxpayers to bail them out!

New York State Fire Fighter? Do you collect a pention?

Oh what small minds there are in coventry!! There is alot of misplaced anger and jealousy. Are you following them Ronald Nagel? If so, get a life! Do you leave your job once in awhile to grab a coffee? I know I certainly do! These men aren't out there making millions. They earn a decent salary, yes, but certainly aren't rolling in the dough! Many have second jobs just to maintain good homes for their families and have the ability to send there children to college. Second jobs!! How many jobs do you two have? Apparently none, since you have time on your hands to follow fire trucks and bash people who would be there saving your sorry asses if you were having a heart attack or were in a car wreck. I am so glad I live far away from Coventry. Coventry is now the laughing stock of the whole state. You'll be here complaining soon when your home insurance sky rockets (much more than the proposed tax increase) and we will all continue laughing at you. Pathetic!

The bottom line is that there we mistakes made by many that led to the financial deficit. Regardless, many in town cannot afford to bail the department out by paying an over 40% increase in taxes on top of the already high property tax. I own a business and if I make a mistake or have a bad year I don't go back and get a bail out from my customers. I either figure out a way to operate lien or I declare bankruptcy and either completely reorganize or liquidate. While i feel bad for the firefighters and the Department, the real victims are the residents. We are either vote for an increase many of use can't afford in a poor economy (blamed if we dont't) or be left with a lack of services. This is a false choice and requires middle ground. The department has to clearly show (like a real business) that they have taken every step to slim down the department with regard to essential equipment, staffing, and payroll. Will this be painful...Yes. Will it result in reduced services...perhaps. However, we need to strike the balance between service and cost right now. All I have seen is the Department gaining some concessions through the CBA with a focus on operating as they have done in the past with no "real" change. This just isn't going to fly with residents when you ask them to shoulder the burden of another tax increase. Bankruptcy sounds like a dirty word, but it's a tool many businesses use to their advantage to become lien and reorganize properly.

Lucas if your business goes out of business, no one dies!

William, it was a error in the Tax office. What is it you and the select few don't comprehend. The other districts in town also have unions, and the firefighters working now were volunteers who gave many hours of there time ( years even ). Your bashing the wrong people, they were wronged and are the ones along with the taxpayers in town who are paying the ultimate price. I feel for those who need EMS and Fire service and will not get what the deserve, as a select few made a decision for thousands.... sad but true.

Oh I'm sure thy know all about the ISO rating system. They would never vote without the info needed to make good desisions. ISO rating 1-10, if iSO drops even one point, insurance rates go up. Can you imagine how much they will go up with no fire protection. Add an extra 1000.00 a year to insurance rates easy.

William your right dissolve it all and restart over! I have witness the waste this past December when two full size fire trucks drove around with "Santa", Waste of fuel especially knowing your budget is in the RED. There is no need for Firefighters to be driving around for there personal need on Tax payer monies. I witnessed the comments made at the meeting,"that they dont have days off" Really! Most of us all work 40 hrs 5/days /week do you think we are allowed to leave work with pay for personal tasks. We have all been exploited ,spending like there is an endless amount of monies needs to stop.The Board,Chief and anyone else in volved in this debacle should have been canned and held accountable.
To Mr Land ,who keeps stating that 100,000 eval would only pay an extra 20 a month.
I have been paying for and extra 86,000 over my present eval for the last 2 yrs.which by the way is illegal and you refused to address. So for most tax payers its well over $20.I have funded this wasteful spending to long and on like you Sir I dont make Millions,There are other ways to right the budget ....Drop your rate per/hr.

Oh and by the way yes I was former NYS fireman and proud that I served my community and No I did NOT collect a pension!! I volunteered my time and served proudly As a captain of a engine company and everyone can be a cheerleader for the union and it is possible to dissolve the union if its proven that they didn't have the interest of the public! Remember they work for US ! Our taxes pay for there saleries and look what they have done with it!

Make sure to line up the Fireighters, sticking out thier chests, arms folded to intimidate again. What a joke. The people have spoken. Get rid of the districts or get rid of some fireman. I guess it's time for CoventryForward13, the Fireman to respond to this while he's sipping on his coffee on the job, cooking Fillet Mignon's on the grill for lunch!

Ya I remember when they were workin and not gettin paid. That can definatly be used as proof that they didnt have the interest of the public in mind. Go get those bastards.

There we go. Someone else that has no clue. I bet you think the food fire fighters eat is provided by the town. Any meal eatin at the station is purchased with fire fighters out of pocket money. And as for them being lazy, who do you think maintains the stations, the trucks and the equipment? Do you think these men just know everything about firefighting and don't train? Ya there is down time and sure sometimes they get to "sleep". Although I'm sure not restfully, waiting for the phone to ring, not knowing what's on the other side. Is it a 2 mth old that stopped breathing? Or your mom in cardiac arrest? Easy to talk trash till you need help.

I am convinced that no matter how much one tries to supply the public with facts and present them with the entire picture, the average taxpayer will choose to have no fire/rescue service over anything else. Most on this patch spend their time bitching and whining over who did what and offer very little as far as REALISTIC and SOUND solutions to fix the problem. Bankruptcy is not an option. Bashing the firefighters is just plain immature. If your house is on fire or you need a rescue you would certainly change your tune. People, grow up. We have a serious issue here. Serious mistakes were made. We need to correct them with plausible and well thought-out solutions. Please stop. Lives will be lost because of this and this is simply not responsible to think otherwise. How this bookkeeping error turned into attempting to destroy the reputations of those good people that put their lives on the line every day to protect us is WAY beyond me. I don't think I will ever understand how the taxpayers elected a board that was obviously flawed, yet the firefighters became the target. If that bookkeeping error had never been made, all of this would be a moot point.

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No Justin I didnt. After serving 8 years in the army and then being honorably discharged as disabled war vet, I went on to become a volunteer firefighter, before becoming a paid firefighter in another town. I like to serve my country and my community. I'm sure you wouldn't know anything about that.

I have a plan! I am going to make a request that from now on, anyone planning on making a difference in the world should do the following: Allow their Obituary to thoroughly explain the unique story line of how they entered into eternal rest. That may paint a clearer picture those of you who believe we live in a bubble. I am serious. This is a good idea.

If the voting results had been reversed, what chance would the taxpayers have had of holding a second vote. This entire state is a mess because the election results very often do not result in what is best for the state. In fact most election resluts in this state result in what is best for the state and municipal employees. The tables have finally turned and the losers want a second chance to try and win...unreal.

RIPensionProvider Very true

@Just Me
I was a FF in Ct when I got out of the service. Did that for 7 years part time while getting my degree . Started a medical related business after college. Sold it. Moved to RI Started another medial related business that I still run and own today. I have a great deal of experience in the medical testing field. I had a minor in business/accounting. Imp a numbers guy and the CCFD numbers suck

I agree that finger pointing or bashing fire fighters or the board is not productive. My earlier point on bankruptcy wasn't to imply that they should necessarily go bankrupt, but they need to deal with reality. A comprehensive LONG TERM plan need to be presented that maps out a sound future and seeks to reduce current waste in EVERY ASPECT. While my insurance may go up, I have the CHOICE to seek a competitive rate from a company that is able to deliver a fair product at a fair price. A 42% increase isn't what I am worried about, it's about the increase next year and the year after that. Nothing ever goes down if we haven't noticed. It's about figuring out a way to work within a budget as opposed to just asking for more funds to fix the problem. What is the reduction plan after the debts get paid? What's the 5-10 year expenditure outlook? Is the department capable of keeping up with long term equipment needs or payroll obligations or do they need more money? I would rather Pay a 100% increase this year if it meant settling the debt service (I hate paying interest), bringing the rates back down next year and we had a long term SUSTAINABLE PLAN. What will likely happen is the wasteful debt will get paid over many years and rates will continue to rise to pay for new equipment and salaries because this isn't factored in long term plan. Perhaps the real threat of bankruptcy is what it takes to make the real hard choices or create a well conceived plan...

Coventry voter jay - not yet! And hopefully not at all. It is the point that business does not deal directly with people's lives and property in times of emergency.

And to the members of the board...As a tax payer I don't blame you. I believe you when you say you didn't know about the shortfall. I believe you when you say you did not know that the rates were too low. However, it happened on your watch, like it or not. Many a leader has had to step down for the actions of their subordinates or for factors outside their direct control. This happens in our military, government and private organizations alike. They do this not to accept blame or proclaim guilt; they do it to allow their organizations the ability to mend their wounds and move forward with actions that will help solve the problems that lie ahead. True leaders know that sacrificing ones own pride to allow for the reconstruction of trust among the masses is in the faith of good public service. Leadership by definition is a characteristic of making hard and undesirable choices for the betterment a larger goal. The public needs to trust that the Board, Department, and Town will not utilize their hard earned money in a fashion that will lead us back to another mess. If the goal is to save the department the the board should seriously consider resigning as a sign that the system is truly willing to change and sacrifice in the face of adversity. While I don't personally agree with the boards dismissal, I can't vilify my fellow taxpayer calling for a change in the board in the interest of rebuilding TRUST.

I wish this forum would start addressing the truth,instead of pointing fingers at Firefighters and Property Tax Payers. If I run my company and home with a 2.2 million deficit you all know damn well, I or anyone else who owns a Business or Home would be out on the street with no bail out. Lets get real here , we can not continue to bail mismanaged Business at any level.CCFD is and was a business whether you see or not.The Question still not answered is why has no one been held Accountable!

the people have lost trust that the elected leaders and unions care about costs..clearly the budget was completely out of control.some one wasnt paying attention. The employees of CCFD need take the risk away from taxpayers by ending any open ended obligations and reduce current costs more than they have proposed otherwise there is no need for another meeting.

Pink vehicles, who pays for the maintenance, fuel, driver and insurance for these
vehicles ?
Mr. Kettle you need to grow some big ones, I over heard the pension sucking former fireman Scott Guthrie threaten you. You better not say anything, Sit down and shut up or I will run against you next time. And you did. GUTLESS!! uhuhhojhojhioh!

I plead for a CCFD with less staffing (manhours not necessarily men) and less trucks----20 percent less!.....something we can afford and something we all need.
Save CCFD, What is the issue?

I work long hours in the private sector. I never leave my job to get coffee or lunch.I am lucky if I am able to take my thirty minute UNPAID lunch. I have a very large health insurance payment every week and a very large copayment for any services. I work hard for my money and live In the CCFD. I think it is high time that we crunch numbers, reduce staff, raise health premiums, or if unable to make this situation work, then close CCFD. Consolidation of redundant services needs to become the new normal in Coventry.

Why not look to other cities/towns to see what works and consolidate to one department like neighboring cities (Warwick, Cranston, providence) ?everyone pays their tax in their real estate taxes... Lets face it middle class families that moved into the many new developments like myself will vacate immediately if the fire department is limited. I do not live in central Coventry district but know the district that serves me will have to assist central Coventry. I will leave and move to Warwick!

Let's get real. The CCFD is out of control. It is a good old boys club taking care of each other. We have to wake up in this district and LIQUIDATE. Do not let these winers change your mind. Wasted money again. Risking their lives?? Let's get real people. Look at the physical condition of some of these guys!!! So yes they are risking their lives. As far as having to have a second job being a fireman, really??? This is another way to make us feel sorry for the poor fireman. They have the opportunity to have a second business because of their hours. We need to consolidate into one fire department in this town. Then there will be a need for only one chief. As far as the board members, they should be allowed to be retired fireman or spouses of fireman, therefore avoiding the look of any misdoings. We do not need all the stations we have. Stop hanging out in chairs in front of the station sunning yourselves while cooking on the grill. It just doesn't look good. As far as shopping in the firetruck...unacceptable in my opinion. I do not do my grocery shopping on company time in a company vehicle. What??? These guys can't figure out what they want to have for lunch until they all get together and talk about it??

See my predictions from thursday?
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BAZINGA

I thought this only happens in third world countries that when you have a vote the results are taken away from you if those results aren't what is wanted by the government. Welcome to our third world town. What a disgrace. Why bother ever voting again if judges like this will throw out the results.

Tainted vote??? more votes than registered voters ? and thats fair ?