Board of Aldermen 6-10-2020 Page 12
Now for those of you who have been around awhile like | have, you’d seen it. It is not uncommon for the
Fire Department in the past to be the second level of contract. Now again, this contract isn’t putting it on a
par with anybody, it is just giving them what they should be getting given the responsibilities that they have
everyday for us. There has some discussion about Safe Station. Safe Station came in several years ago
and the whole idea of Safe Station was very noble. As John said, we had a terrible crisis in the City back
then that needed Safe Station type of assistance. There was a segment of our population back then that
were very against this, they didn’t really realize why they were against it, they were against the issue that
this was trying to correct. Nonetheless, the Firemen went out creating uproar, took on the responsibility.
And if you folks could see the list of what they have accomplished over these years in handling the Safe
Station customers, you’d be as impressed as | was.
Now some question about they are going to do going forward. Well we, as a City, haven’t made our mind
up yet.
Chairman Dowd
One minute, Don.
Mr. Davidson _l’m sorry?
Chairman Dowd
One minute.
Mr. Davidson Oh | didn’t know | had time, in that case | probably would have spoken...
Chairman Dowd
Keep going.
Mr. Davidson We don’t know what we are going to do with the City except that the State has come down
and changed the whole process. They have created an agency in the City from 8 to 5 and any Safe Station
type of need is supposed to be handled by that facility. But the question pops up, what happens after 5:00
and until 8:00 in the morning. And what is happening is they are going to the Fire Station. That is going to
be addressed going forward, but the Firemen are still there doing their job and as has been said by others,
not getting paid to do that extra work. How many of us would work over these many years, doing something
extra, without getting any kind of renumeration. I’m sorry | didn’t know | was on a time thing here, but | do
want to close by saying this, this contract is fair. It is helping the Administration going forward. It is not
overkill, it is not excessive. When you are thinking about doing it, think about the needs for the Fire
Department. Why do we need it? Well fires are obvious and you especially want them if it is your house
that is on fire. Think of all the other things the Fire Department does, the members of the Fire Department,
what about the medical calls? Ve have thousands of medical calls every year. We don’t really know about
them as citizens but they happen, somebody has a heart attack, somebody falls downstairs, somebody
gets stuck in an elevator. Now for me, | kind of laugh, | try to push it out the door, how many of you people
want to be stuck in an elevator? Guess who comes and gets you? 99.9% of the time — the Fire
Department. How about people who are elderly and fall out of bed.
Chairman Dowd
OK I’ve got to ask you to wrap up Don if you can.
Mr. Davidson Alright I’m sorry, I’ll take any questions but as | have said before this is a very important
instrument for the men and women of your Fire Department. Thank you.
