Published: March 27, 2008 11:11 pm            

SOUND OFF: Published March 28

I've been following the argument concerning a fully paid county fire department versus what we have in place now, it's awful funny that the people that are for this can cite facts, and the opponents cannot. I'm sure you can come up with something better than overtime. I don’t think every professional firefighter took the job because of overtime. That's quite a gamble on their part. The only gamble I see here is the poor residents who have to gamble every time they call 911 in these towns that are not staffed by full-time paid professionals, who or what is actually going to show up! Yes I understand that times are tough for everyone, that a lot of people are forced to work two or more jobs, so point being made truly how many good qualified volunteers, who make all of their required training and so forth are available when I need them? It doesn't sound to me like anyone is trashing the volunteer service, it's just times have drastically changed. Overtime is not the issue, dedication to your community is not the issue, the bottom line is “You get what you pay for” And I for one would much rather pay a little more for the security of knowing that when the time comes for me to need the fire department, that they will be there with personnel ready to get the job done, whatever that may be, and I'm sorry to say but that only comes with full-time paid professional firefighters. You need to prove to me otherwise, because I pay taxes, and if they go up a little every now and then, that’s okay with me, because I know what I am paying for. Thank you, sleep well non-supporters of this effort, I know I will tonight and every night.

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What kind of person would suggest laws to prevent cruelty against "gay" people. There are laws to protect people from cruelty. I don’t know why a gay person deserves more then anybody else. Who cares if you are gay or not? I don’t get why people have to run around saying their sexual orientation. Who cares?

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There is a home on Payne Avenue between Shenck and Thompson Streets that has been abandoned for many years. These homes need to be addressed before we have another situation as on Gilmore Street. The next victim, possibly your wife, daughter, sister or mother, may not be able to escape and run for their life.

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Today is a good day to write about the need for an all paid county fire department. As I sit here drinking my coffee and listening to my scanner, a Town of Tonawanda fire company was dispatched to a OAF. You'll be glad to know that it only took 9 minutes for the first truck to arrive on scene, and then it was a ladder and not a pumper. Second alarm transmitted right away, but was that to cover for the first company that did not respond? That's very comforting to know. I'm so glad I paid my fire protection tax this year. I’m still trying to figure out why I paid. As usual lots of chiefs on location early and nothing to do but watch, and watch they did. I'm sure this business owner is very pleased with your response. Probably would of been nice to have crews on duty 24-7. It’s response, response, response times.

        

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