Middletown 9/11 Remeberance Ceremony South Fire

September 1

1th Remembrance Program Invitation
 
On behalf of Mayor Dan Drew 
and South Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman David Gallitto,
You are cordially invited to attend this year’s

 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMORIAL,  

Promptly at 8:30 am. at the 9-11 MEMORIAL GARDEN
 
South Fire District
455 Randolph Road, Middletown

The Program should last approximately 20 minutes  with time for reflection and refreshments afterward

THE PUBLIC IS
 INVITED!

Please RSVP via email to Alyse McEwen at alyse@southfiredistrict.com 

South Fire District Annual Charity Flower Sale

A Message from South Fire: Our annual Easter Flower sale starts Thursday April 2 at the firehouse on Randolph rd. The funds we raise help support local organizations like, Amazing Grace Food Pantry, Middletown Little League, Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, and the Adopt-A-Family program. We will be there from 8am till 7pm Thursday through Saturday, hope to see you then!

Game of Thrones: Consolidating the City of Middletown Fire Districts?

Middletown Fire Deputy
Chief Steven J. LaRosa, EFO MPA

Middletown used to have 2 high schools. Now we have 1. There also used to be police sub stations, now the department is under one roof. Today we have 3 fire districts, but the debate is still lively as to whether these too could/should be consolidated. Residents receive an annual tax bill with a municpal tax (board of education budget is factored into this) and depending on which district you live in one of 3 possible rates - South Fire, Central Fire, or of Westfield fire in decending order of costliness based on annual budgeted cost of services.Some feel that the board of education should be a separate district tax so that taxpayers can more easily see how much of their bill goes to education. 

Consolidate: Below is a link of a these written by Deputy Chief of Middletown Fire District Steven LaRosa where he discusses in depth the consolidation of Middletown Fire Districts Westfield, Sout Fire & Middletown into one district. La Rosa outlines a comphrehensive strategy and cites research as to why this strategy is most beneficial to Middletown. The paper is entitled RUNNING AHEAD: Consolidating the City of Middletown Fire Districts. The paper is published on the U.S. Fire Administration's official website as a submission to the National Fire Academy training program. La Rosa has been a firefighter with the city of Middletown since 1983 and was made deputy chief in June 2014 & also an adjunct professor at the Connecticut Fire Academy.

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo47982.pdf

Westfield Fire
Deputy Chief Darrel Ponzio

Don't Consolidate: Current Deputy Cheif Darrel Ponzio wrote an essay six years ago, posted October 2008 on the old Westfield Fire Dept. website stating his concerns about consolidation of departments & and what he claimed "encroachment." Ponzio's main arguement is that the Fire Districts are autonomous according to a 1930's state statute &amp enacting three taxing districts; there is little cost savings to districts with different needs. In a quote linked to Ponzio's post, Councilman Bauer concurred on the issue regarding statuatory regulations & ultimately it was each districts decision, but encouraged each to further study the issue. Ponzio states Westfield's milrate would increase with the consolidation, because unlike the Central and South Districts, Westfield has a small full time crew in proportion to its volume of volunteers, while the other two districts more crew and less volunteers. Read his reasoning can be read here: http://www.westfieldfire.net/2008_09_01_archive.html

Approximately 18 monthes ago the Common Council voted to consolidate several city departments. The cost savings have yet to be presented to the Common Council; a council study is supossedly "in the works." 

Could the Fire Department consolidation be back on the table?
Good idea or bad idea?
 What do you think? Tell us in comments!

South Fire Reponds to Structure Fire on Maple Shade

Structure Fire 595 Maple Shade road Middletown. South Fire District responded at 0755 am for a detached shed fire. Fire quickly spread with wind conditions to a large garage and a couple of cars. South Fire District was assisted by Middletown Fire on scene.Water supply was Haddam, Portland, Durham and Middlefield with Tankers. No injuries reported on scene. Fire Marshal's on scene from South Fire District, State Fire Marshal office.

         Michael J.Howley

Capt. Michael J. Howley
South Fire District Middletown
445 Randolph Road
Middletown CT.  06457

MARC: 12th Annual Tip a Firefighter Event!

MARC: Community Resources and Middletown Firefighters Local 1073 invite you to the 12th Annual TIP-A-FIREFIGHTER at Tuscany Grill on Friday, October 11, 2013. Enjoy Tuscany's modern italian cuisine for lunch, dinner or both as local firefighters help serve your meal and drinks. Lunch: Noon-2 pm / Dinner: 5-8:30 pm. Reservations encouraged for parties of 5 or more. Call (860) 346-7096 Our 2014 Firefighter Calendar featuring Middletown's buffest and bravest will be released and sold during the event for only $20. All proceeds benefit leisure and advocacy programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A portion of calendar sales also supports the Middletown Firefighters Local 1073 Charitable Fund. THANK YOU to our sponsors: Title Sponsor: A.R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists Co-Sponsors: Attention to Detail (ATDZONE), Dzialo, Pickett & Allen, P.C., Greenwald Industries, Rocky's Aqua, Suburban Stationers Sponsorship and ad book opportunities still available! For more information contact Andy Heuer, (860) 342-0700 x215, andy.heuer@marc-cr.org

South Fire District Open House October 5, 2013 11am – 3pm

South Fire District annual Open House/Fire Safety Festival Saturday 

October 5, 2013  

 11am – 3pm

South Fire Participates in Operation Save A Life

South Fire News Release:

News 8 is proud to partner once again in 2013 with Kidde The Home Depot and The Burn Center and the Trauma Center at Bridgeport Hospital to present Operation Save A Life ; a life-saving program designed to increase public awareness of fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) dangers.

One of the cornerstones of Operation Save A Life is the distribution of smoke alarms to Connecticut families in need; particularly low income, elderly, and other residents at risk in their respective communities. Kidde will again donate smoke alarms and CO alarms that will be distributed by Fire Departments throughout Connecticut.

Today’s donation of smoke and CO alarms with 10 year batteries is huge in terms of peace of mind for those fire departments installing them for the public. “I have been involved in smoke alarm programs since the early 1990’s. Never  has the fire

services  been able to walk away as confident as we can today with the 10 year alarms knowing that the batteries cannot be removed and those who receive the alarms will be protected for many years to come”. Chief Rob Ross, South Fire District, Middletown. South Fire District received 60 CO and 90 smoke alarms for their alarm installation program. Seniors or those who are physically or finically challenged should contact the station to receive the alarms at 860-347-6661

In addition to the distribution of smoke alarms, News 8 has committed to fire safety education and CO awareness by airing Operation Save A Life educational vignettes. The vignettes were produced with help from the New Haven Fire Department and begin airing on September 17^th.

The Home Depot will also be sharing valuable safety tips at their Save a Life Saturday Event on October 5th from 9-3pm at the following  participating stores:

Norwalk, 600 Connecticut Ave
Fairfield, 541 Kings Hwy Cut-Off
Manchester, 80 Buckland Hills Dr.
West Hartford, 503 New Park Ave.
Waterbury, Bank St.
Danbury, 114 Federal Road
Enfield, 136 Elm St.
Glastonbury, 115 Putnam Blvd

Alarm photo 1: Home Depot employees from across CT gather to load up fire department vehicles with smoke and CO alarms.

Alarm Photo 2: hundrens of smoke and CO alrams are piled high ready to be loaded into awaitinf FD vehciles.

Alarm Photo 3: Firefighters Carl Lurtecki, Cliff Seifert and Tim Heiden unload and inventor the 60 CO and 90 smoke alarms received by the South Fire District as part of Operation Save A Life.

South Fire District September 11th Memorial Dedication

Click to Enlarge

News from South Fire : Memorial Update and 12th Anniversary of 9/11

SOUTH FIRE DISTRICT

445 Randolph Road

Middletown, CT 06457

860-347-6661

For Immediate Release:

For Information Contact:   Chief Robert Ross or Captain Michael Howley

860-347-6661

In two weeks, Middletown and the nation will pause to mark the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA.   This year, Middletown’s remembrance ceremony will be held at the South District Fire Headquarters on Randolph Rd. and will coincide with dedication of the City’s permanent 9/11 Memorial and Memorial Garden.  The memorial, a joint project of the South Fire District and the firefighters union, has been constructed on the grassy area at the front of the firehouse on the corner of Randolph Rd and Lee St.  

Captain Michael Howley who heads up the Memorial Committee says the ceremony, which is open to the public, will begin at 8:30 am, with Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Mayor Daniel Drew, other city officials, Middletown Police Officers and Middletown Firefighters scheduled to be in attendance.  Howley said, “the ceremony will be interrupted for moments of silence at 8:46 am and 9:02 am, the exact times when the two planes flew into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center”.    As is the tradition for 9/11 ceremonies conducted by fire departments, the event will conclude with a special tribute to the 343 New York City firefighters who died that day.  A bell will toll a signal 5-5-5-5, which in the protocol of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) precedes reading of the names of those firefighter who have answered their “Last Alarm”.

Among the speakers for the remembrance ceremony will be Mary Canty of Middlefield whose brother was among the civilians who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center.  The Wadsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be on hand to present the South District Fire Department with a “We Remember 9/11” Flag.  The fire department plans to display the flag throughout the year inside the fire station and to fly it from the flag pole adjacent to the Memorial Garden, each September 11th.

The Memorial Garden has as its focal point a section of a steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  The beam stands vertically atop a concrete pedestal at the center of the garden.  South Fire District has been designated as a curator for the 9/11 artifact which remains the property of the Port Authority of New York, the agency that owned the World Trade Center.

The final elements of the Memorial Garden, the engraved brick pavers that make up the walkway to the Memorial and the plaza surrounding it were set in place this week, according to Captain Howley.   

In recent days four Memorial Benches were installed and landscaping of the Memorial Garden has been completed.  Also installed in recent days was the lighting that now illuminates the Memorial and the Garden at night.

Public parking for the September 11th ceremony will be in the same field used for parking during the annual Open House in October.  The field is located directly across Lee Street from the firehouse.   Handicapped parking will be in a designated area on the west side of the South District Headquarters.

South District Firefighters, members of IAFF Local 3918 will continue to sell Memorial Brick Pavers for the Garden well into the future.  Captain Howley stated, “the paved area has been designed with many blank pavers that can be removed and replaced with engraved bricks as additional residents and businesses desire to add their names to the memorial”.  Information about purchasing Memorial pavers is available at the Randolph Rd firehouse and on line at the fire district website, www.southfiredistrict.com.

South Fire News: Captain Howley Achieves Honor

From the Middletown Insider staff: Congrats to Captain Howley!

Office of the Chief

SOUTH FIRE DISTRICT

445 Randolph Road

Middletown, CT 06457

860-347-6661

For Immediate Release

Contact:      Chief Robert J. Ross, South Fire District

        860-347-6661

After serving for 10 years as a member of the State of Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team, Captain Michael Howley of Middletown’s South District Fire Department has been given a leadership role in the statewide organization.   Howley has been appointed as one of three Task Force Leaders from among a pool of six candidates.  The new role will be in addition to Captain Howley’s fulltime position as Training Officer and Third-In-Command at South Fire District.

After receiving the news, Howley said, “I consider it a high honor for me and the South District Fire Department”.   Howley added, “The training I have received during my 10 years with Urban Search and Rescue is truly unique and has been invaluable in my day-to-day role at South District”.

The Urban Search and Rescue Team, headquartered at Brainard Airport in Hartford, is made up of  firefighters, police officers and civilians, each with specialized skills, who serve with the statewide agency in addition to their regular employment.  The team is part of the State of Connecticut, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  Howley says members participate in training exercises on nights and weekends at least once per month.

Announcement of Howley’s appointment came from William P. Shea, Deputy Commissioner of the State’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  In a memo announcing the appointment of Howley and the two other successful applicants, Shea stated “all have tremendous skills, background and expertise to serve as US&R Task Force Leaders”.    Shea said the appointments are effective immediately. Click to continue reading

Update from South Fire on 9/11 Project

 We asked Capt. Mike Howley how the 9/11 Memorial under construction at South Fire was going, here is what he had to say:

South Fire District & Local 3918 IAFF update on 9/11 Memorial Project. Many things will be going on with the Memorial Garden Project this month in anticipation of the dedication ceremony on 9/11 at 8:30am. The footings for the benches are in, the benches will be mounted over the next week by Steve Crouch and engraved. Plantings are continuing to go on around the project. Masonry work will start this week with the inner circle around the Beam being done. The bricks should start to go in around the 26^th of the month. People are welcome to stop by and see the progress of the project and even lift a shovel to assist if they want to!!.

         Michael J.Howley

Capt. Michael J. Howley

South Fire District Middletown

445 Randolph Road

Middletown CT.  06457

9/11 Memorial Update from South Fire District

“Pride of the South Side”

SOUTH FIRE DISTRICT

445 Randolph Road

Middletown, CT 06457

860-347-6661

www.southfiredistrict.com

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE

After many months of planning and lining up donors and volunteers, a permanent memorial to those who perished or otherwise affected by the events of September 11, 2001 is finally becoming a reality outside the South District Fire Department on Randolph Rd in Middletown.    In recent days the flag pole in front of the fire station was moved with the help of a crane donated by Mylchreest Construction Services, to make way for a landscaped plaza surrounding an artifact from the collapse of New York City’s Twin Towers.  Captain Michael Howley, spokesperson for the committee planning the memorial says “this memorial will honor the fallen heroes of 9/11 and will help insure that the residents of Middletown ‘Never Forget’ the events of The artifact that is the centerpiece of the memorial, a large piece of a steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center, was set in place on a concrete pedestal last year with the help of O & G Industries. The steel beam remains the property of the Port Authority of New York.  The South Fire District is one of 2,000 entities that have been designated as Curators of artifacts from the Twin Towers collapse.  Because 343 members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) died on 9/11, the memorial takes on special meaning to all members of the firefighting brotherhood, including those at South Fire District.

 Since the steel beam arrived in Middletown last year, South District firefighters, members of Local 3918 of the International Association of Fire Fighters have been soliciting donations for memorial brick pavers, plantings and four granite benches that will make up the memorial plaza.  Captain Howley says the first order for Memorial Bricks has been placed and they should arrive at the South District fire house by the end of the month.  By the time the bricks arrive, firefighters working on their own time and other volunteers are 

expected to have completed site preparation work which includes excavation of the area with the help of Mylchreest Construction that will become the paved plaza and laying in place the processed stone material donated by Tilcon will serve as the base for the brick pavers.  Howley says he expect installation of the brick pavers to begin in the first weeks of August.   Current plans call for the site to be completed in time for a substantial formal dedication on September 11th, the 12 anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.While many memorial bricks have already been purchased by local residents, Captain Howley 

says more are still available for sale.  4”x 8” brick pavers with 3 lines of information are $75.00, 8’x 8” pavers with 6 lines are $150.00 and 8” x 8” Corporate pavers are $300.   Brick purchase forms for the “Let Us Never Forget 9/11” Memorial are available at the South District Fire House at 445 Randolph Rd and on the District website at www.southfiredistrict.com.  

Payments to the “Local 3918 Memorial Fund” are tax deductible.  Further information can be obtained by contacting Captain Howley at 860-347-6661.  All monies left over after the memorial is completed will be donated to a fund for the families of the 343 members of FDNY who died on 9/11 and the others who have perished since then as a result of injury or illness caused by the Twin Towers collapse.

Captain Howley reports that the granite benches that will serve as a place for local residents to sit while they reflect on the horrific events of 9/11 have already arrived at the fire house, having been donated by Frank Galluzzo a local businessman and his family.   They will be installed in August along with the brick pavers.  A landscaping plan for the site has been donated by Amy Sampson of AES Landscape & Designs and Captain Howley reports the plantings needed to make the plan a reality have been donated by local nurseries.Although not in the original plan, the memorial will be lighted at night thanks to a lighting plan donated by Robert Isleib Lighting Design and a donation of the lights need to illuminate the steel beam, the flag pole, and the plaza.  The memorial plaza at South District Fire House is a project that has been 5 years in the making.   According to Captain Howley, just the application process to the Port Authority of New York to get the piece of steel from the Twin Towers, took two years.

Please click the link HERE for Paver Order Form pdf download.

South Fire Gets New Chief: Robert Ross

South Fire announced today former fire chief Robert Ross will become the new fire chief starting June 24th. Since November 2011, Ross has held the title of state fire marshal. He had previous been a chief with in the City of Middletown and retired from that position. Ross replaces the position vacated by Edward Badamo, when the Fire Commission denied his contract renewal.  Ross had left the position of South Fire Chief to work for the state in November of 2007.

Congratulations to Chief Ross!

Letter to the Editor: Please Pass South Fire Budget

Editor's note: All letters to the Insider are printed as a courtesy to readers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Insider.  We want to hear from you! Please submit thank you!
A letter by resident Dan Penney in opposition to the proposed budget was published previously and can be read here:
http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/04/letter-to-editor-upcoming-south-fire.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 This week you ran a negative letter from Dan Penney regarding next Tuesday's South District Budget Vote.   Myself and the other four Fire Commissioners would hope that our position on the budget can be published before Tuesday.  Our statement is attached.  Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Any Questions, contact Commission Chairman David P.Gallitto or myself.

Statement by Members of the Board of Fire Commissioners – South Fire District

On Tuesday, April 30th, Voters in the South Fire District will be asked to approve the proposed $4,605,680 budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year.  As the duly elected stewards of Middletown’s largest Fire District, we the members of the Board of Fire Commissioners would like to offer some facts before you vote.

The proposed budget carries no increase in taxes. The Tax Rate will remain at 3.648 mils.  Compared with other Fire Districts in the State that are staffed by career firefighters, that rate is low, very low. In fact, the mil rate for South District is more in line with the tax rates for districts that are all volunteer or a combination of volunteer and paid.

Within our own City of Middletown, the Middletown Fire District has a tax rate of 5.8 mils. West Haven, is another City with three Fire Districts. All are staffed by paid firefighters with a handful of volunteers. There the tax rates range from 7.55 to 8.63 mils.   The Thompsonville Fire District, a career department in the Town of Enfield has a mil rate of 6.6.  We believe our mil rate is a bargain in comparison.

We have heard criticism recently regarding the overtime portion of the current district budget being substantially over spent.  While that is true, the salary portion of the budget is being under spent.  This is due to several vacancies.  It takes time to seek and test applicants to fill those vacancies.  In the interim, shifts must be filled, yet we persevere in addressing this problem.

Public Safety organizations are unique in that shifts MUST be filled 24/7 regardless of the number of available employees.   South Fire District is staffed with a minimum of 1 Lieutenant and 5 firefighters, 24/7. It takes four platoons, each working 42 hours per week, to provide around the clock coverage. While this is substantially less than what would be considered adequate staffing for a district with the commercial, industrial and residential fire potential and the physical size of South District, we believe it is the best we can afford in this economy.

As a public safety agency, we cannot leave the department unstaffed.  The shifts must be covered, regardless of the amount of overtime that is required.  Fires or medical emergencies won’t wait for the next platoon to show up in 10 or 14 hours. Also, we cannot predict with any certainty, the number and severity of fires or serious emergencies that will be encountered in a given year.  This also generates overtime over which we have no control.

As the Board of Fire Commissioners, we believe we have presented a very tight and fiscally sound budget. Please know we encourage any resident of the District to ask questions of your commission and to participate to ensure a healthy, sound South Fire District.  We urge a YES vote on April 30th and thank you for your continued support of our District.  Voting is from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at the firehouse on Randolph Rd.

David P. Gallitto,         David F. Darling            Edward J. Creem Jr.

William F. Gregorio Sr.        Mary A. Bartolotta

South Fire District Easter Flower Sale

Press Release: South Fire District Local 3918 is holding their annual

 Easter Flower Sale this weekend

All proceeds go to Middletown based charities: Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 

Middlesex Cancer Center, 

Middletown Little League, 

Adopt-a-Family Program & MDA.

Event Location:

South District Firehouse, 445 Randolph Rd

Date & Time

March 28 - 30, 2013, 8 AM  to  7 PM

 

 

Annual Westfield Fire Meeting & Commissioner Elections, South Fire News

 Last night David Gallitto was re-elected to a 5 year term as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of South Fire.He defeated Todd Greatsinger, 198 votes to 110.

 http://southfiredistrict.com/



http://www.westfieldfire.net/2013/01/call-for-annual-meeting-of-westfield.html

Call for the Annual Meeting of the Westfield Fire District of the City of Middletown;

The annual meeting of the Westfield Fire District, City of Middletown will be held on February 5, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. at the Westfield Fire Department, 653 East Street, Middletown CT.  All inhabitants living within the limits of said Fire District for six months and qualified as electors of the City of Middletown are members of said Fire District and are eligible to vote at said meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is:
1) To elect three (3) Commissioners for a term of three (3) years beginning on February 6, 2013.  Candidates applying for the position:
Ross Andrew, Jr.
George King
Thaddeus Bysiewicz
Daniel Barone
2) Approve bonding or financing to replace the Rescue and an Engine apparatus in the amount of $1.5 million.
3) To transact any and all business which may properly come before said meeting.

Ross Andrew, Jr.
Chairman
The Westfield Fire District
of the City of Middletown

Letter to the Editor: Greatsinger will make Conservative decisions as South Fire Commissioner

Letters to the Editor are published as a courtesy, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Middletown Insider staff.

 

To the editor: February 1, 2013

The South Fire District Board Of Fire Commissioners has scheduled the Annual Meeting  for Monday,February 4, 2013,at 8:00 p.m. at the Firehouse. This meeting will elect one Commissioner. Public voting for this election will take place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Monday ,February 4, 2013 via voting machine at the Firehouse. 

As per a recent classified section legal notice,candidates are David P. Gallitto and Todd Greatsinger. The South Fire District budget for the current fiscal year 2012 - 2013 is $4,606,932 with a mill rate of 3.648,an all time high. Included is increased spending of some 16% or $600,000 greater as compared to the previous fiscal year. 

This letter is to endorse the candidacy of Todd Greatsinger a concerned taxpayer as well as a proven accomplished professional business leader, who will certainly demonstrate conservative control and balance is addressing such critical issues as the upcoming budget,questionable CVH support and ongoing collective bargaining negotiations at South Fire District. Todd will always offer a balance relative to the best interest of taxpayers as well as the excellent services being provided by our Firefighters . 

Most importantly, it is critical that the public make every effort to get out and vote on Monday. Your vote is needed and can effect positive change,such as improved services at less cost.

Dan Penney

Chamberlain Hill Road

Middletown,CT 06457

Chief Leaves South Fire District

Chief Edward Badamo , photo from South Fire website.

South Fire Chief Edward Badamo joined the department in 2005.During his tenure he obtained a grant to replace much of the department's Hurst equipment, provided leadership during the Kleen Energy explosion in 2010, and the obtaining of the a beam from the World Trade Center that fell during the 9/11 Terrorist attacks. The beam the been incorporated into a memorial at the station.
The Fire Commission voted 3-2, without giving details at this time, not to renew Badamo's contract.
The Insider would like to thank Chief Badamo for his years of service to our City and wish him well in future endeavors.

South Fire Safety Day Festival Oct. 6, 2012

Click to enlarge. Elected officials may attend a free Fire Ops 101 class on community safety the morning of the festival.