"Self-appointed task farce" spreads more lies

Just thought I would inject a little fact & truth into the most ridiculous claims the self-appointed task farce (intentional mis-spelling) have levied in a while.

LIE #1: On Thursday night, largely as a result of the union's unwillingness to make meaningful concessions, the CCFD Board voted unanimously to dissolve the fire district, and reorganize it in a more efficient, more economic fashion.

TRUTH #1: The Board voted to give their recommendation to the Judge on the following question as noted in the agenda---"if the resulting budget is not balanced (expenses greater than revenue) does the Board recommend that this Court authorize the Special Master to close and liquidate the CCFD." Nowhere in that statement, or their subsequent sound bites, does it reflect they want to dissolve and reorganize or in any way make it better. Their vote was only to dissolve and close it so stop adding some noble reason for them doing what they did. The Board voted to close/liquidate and nothing else. They waited to cast their votes until people got up and spoke and thought they were having real input. Most insulting was a firefighter got up and thanked the Board members that attended the sessions for the diligence and hard work and after the nice smiles they gave him they showed their true feelings by voting to put them out of a job.

LIE #2---The Board has acted responsibly and with fairness.

TRUTH #2:--The Board has stalled and dragged its feet to get us to the point where there is little money left and we still have not enacted a tax rate to get the bills out and paid on time so we can keep going. This will result in some sort of bridge financing being necessary and then they will express outrage that borrowing is required and blame the Special Master. The petty nature of the Board was shown when I repeatedly asked to be recognized on Thursday evening only to have the all-powerful chairman ignore me. And as a side note-the District elected the Board not Atty D'Agostino-why does he have to answer all the hard questions? The Board has repeatedly cost us all more money by disregarding mandates put in place in Court and by the Special Master.

LIE #3--It tried repeatedly to work with the firefighter union to craft an acceptable solution.

TRUTH #3: Meaningful negotiations only took place after ordered by the Judge and let's face it they were a ruse b/c they walked away indicating there was a tentative agreement and then voted down the concessions that would achieve real dollar savings and be a blueprint for future negotiations. They have seemingly offered no counter-proposals but in truth we do not know b/c all we hear is whining about how we can't do anything w/ the contract--oh and about history and what Abraham Lincoln said.

 LIE #4---Unfortunately, significant, permanent concessions that would allow the District to operate without adding to debt were never offered.

TRUTH #4:--What was the Boards counter proposal? And given where we are and how long it took to get here it has to be a long term process. Can't solve all the problems in one negotiation/contract. Any reasonable and fair process contemplates a give and take and long term planning scenario. But that would mean the privatization would need to wait and then how do we keep Morgan happy right Board?

 When will this self-appointed group be honest with the taxpayers of the District? You have advocated for a balanced budget or for liquidation if that cannot happen. Why are you telling people to vote for what you say will not work? At a minimum that seems hypocritical-in actuality it is a strategy to move us more towards massive debt and liability. Judge Stern has made it clear-we are ALL responsible for the monies owed by the District and we will pay it one way or the other. This is a manageable and fixable situation over time if people that want to make it happen stop posturing and working towards unrealistic and unsafe goals.