Girard Fire Department News & Information

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From the Youngstown Vindiciator 12/11/2003


City to eliminate ambulance service to reduce deficit

The mayor is negotiating to station a private ambulance service in the city.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — The city-operated ambulance service will be eliminated effective Dec. 31 to help reduce a $1.3 million general fund deficit.

Mayor James J. Melfi announced Wednesday that he was also laying off two of 15 full-time firefighters and will not allow the use of part-time firefighters.

In addition, the position of street commissioner held by Larry Kren is being eliminated as part of an administrative reorganization.

The actions have been anticipated for some time.

The city has been in fiscal emergency since August 2001, and the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission that oversees fiscal aspects of the city has been pressuring Melfi to reduce the accumulated deficit.

By eliminating the ambulance that is operated by the fire department, Melfi said he estimates that more than $330,000 will be saved annually.

"Obviously, any time you cut services to the people, you're not really pleased," the mayor noted.

"No one in my position wants to cut services," Melfi said. "I'm committed to bringing this city back to fiscal health, regardless of the difficulties of the task."

Melfi pointed out that other municipalities in the Mahoning Valley don't operate their own ambulance service, including Youngstown, Niles, Warren and Hubbard. The Newton Falls service is operated by the fire district, not the city.

Layoffs

The cost of the service has exceeded its revenue, Melfi asserted, resulting in the layoffs of the firefighters.

The mayor explained the city will save $143,000 in furloughing the two firefighters, $75,000 paid the part-timers, $70,000 in overtime and $50,000 by not paying for maintenance, supplies and insurance.

The move does not mean residents will be without ambulance services. Those needing an ambulance will call 911 and the police department will dispatch a private emergency vehicle.

Melfi said he has been negotiating with private companies to station an ambulance in the city. It will provide quick response time and its employees will pay income tax, he said.

There are no layoffs in the police department. It has been reduced from 27 to 19 officers through attrition from 2000 through 2002.

Elimination of position

By doing away with the position of street commissioner, the city will save the $45,000 annual salary paid Kren, who has more than 30 years of service with the city.

Kren's duties will be assumed by Service Director Jerry Lambert and the engineer's office. Kren supervises between two and five jobs a day, depending on what work needs to be done, Melfi explained.

"It's an antiquated position," he said.

The moves, the mayor insisted, will result in balancing the $4 million 2004 general fund budget and reducing the accumulated general fund budget by more than $200,000, if current finances are maintained.

Earlier this year, city council decided not to place a 3.9-mill levy on the November ballot to bail out the general fund.

Melfi said he will support placing a safety-forces levy before voters to bring back the city ambulance service and to replace equipment, including 8-year-old police cars.

At the same time, Melfi cautioned that more cost-cutting measures will be made. He would not be specific.

yovich@vindy.com

[YARBFD10]

The Mahoning Valley is EMS retarded when it comes to Fire Department EMS service.  Yes there are some of the departments around here that have accepted it and ran with it, setting the standards, but others are just plain DUMB.

Youngstown & Warren could generate so much $$$ for a city their size that they would never have to worry about layoffs, and even give their guys pay raises.  They would actually afford to hire people to replace those who retire too.   :shock:   Simple mathematics.   :!:

Its amazing to me the differences from sucessful departments like Maple Heights, Akron, or Mentor and departments that struggle to buy a roll of toilet paper at the end of the year like Girard.  Starting pay for guys in Mentor and Akron is in the $40,000's.  What is the starting pay for guys in Y'Town, Warren, & Girard?  $20,000's.  Again simple mathematics.  :!:

Billing for EMS, hell even running EMS, is a lucrative and beneficial aspect of the fire service today.  As much as everyone in the fire service hates it, EMS is our survival if we expect to have good departments.

 :idea: Just my opinion.

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This was on the WKBN Channel 27 Web Site 2/25/2004...

Trumbull County
Girard's New Ambulance Service

(2/24/04) The city's fire chief tells First News: Mayor James Melfi announced at a council meeting tonight, that he's signed a 6-month agreement with Rural Metro Ambulance.

Girard firefighters have been protesting the decision, arguing it would cost valuable seconds in an emergency.

They had hoped that voters would pass a levy at a special August election to keep the city's ambulance service going. They also wanted to fill four empty positions at the department, to bring it up to safety standards.

The city has cited "lack-of-funds" as the reason the ambulance service was cancelled.

We were unable to reach Melfi for comment.

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Communities look at safety merger

By DAVID KERESTER Tribune Chronicle on 3/29/2004

LIBERTY -- Liberty and Girard officials will meet in a special session tonight to begin discussing a possible consolidation of safety forces.
Liberty Trustee W. Gary Litch said Saturday that he believes a step-by-step approach toward merging dispatching services followed by police, fire and emergency medical forces could prove a more efficient, less costly approach for both communities.

''There are some who want to stay autonomous. That's great if you have the income, but I am looking at the future of this area and I think it is very important that we start to regionalize. It is time for us to take the lead,'' Litch said.

Litch suggested that a merger of dispatching services could be ''a logical first step.''

Citing a recent state performance audit, Litch said the state suggested three ways of reducing the township's $250,000 annual cost for dispatching its police, fire and EMS services: join the countywide 911 system, merge dispatching services with another city or ask voters for additional funding through a new levy.

Litch cautioned that today's meeting is just an initial step in a process that could become very complex if pursued.

''We must keep an open mind. There will be some concerns, union concerns and others,'' he said.

Girard Mayor James Melfi said he and other city officials will attend the meeting with open minds but may find themselves looking at consolidation from a much different perspective than Liberty officials.

''I think what Liberty is trying to avoid is the hard job. The hard job is downsizing. Girard has done that. Our safety forces are extremely efficient at this particular time. We are poised for a turnaround,'' Melfi said.

Melfi noted that the city has reduced its police force from 28 to 19 officers and its Fire Department from 17 to 13 members. Dispatching is performed by three workers, reduced from four shifts before the recent change.

Melfi suggested, however, that the consolidation talks could lead to something fruitful, particularly with fire services and equipment.

''The Fire Department is huge dollars. A fire truck is a quarter-million dollars. A ladder truck costs $400,000. How often do we use our ladder truck? Do we both need ladder trucks? These are things where maybe you can be creative,'' Melfi said.

The meeting will include township trustees Jack Simon and Jodi Stoyak, Administrator Patrick Ungaro and township safety supervisors along with Melfi, City Council and city safety officials, Litch said. Litch said he will be unable to attend due to a meeting in Columbus.

dkerester@tribune-chronicle.com

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Safety director resigns in Girard

From the Tribune Chronicle 3/25/2004

GIRARD - The city's safety director has resigned from public office in order to return to the private sector, according to Mayor James J. Melfi.
Frank Rich tendered his resignation Thursday after more than four years of service to the city. Rich said he has taken a job as director of human resources for Astro Shapes in Struthers.

Astro Shapes is an aluminum manufacturer.

''I enjoyed my time with the city, but an opportunity presented itself to me, and I took it,'' Rich said Friday.

The mayor said he is sad to lose such a valued civil servant, but he understands Rich's decision. His final day is April 15.

As safety director, Rich is responsible for overseeing the city's police and fire departments. The mayor added that Rich also negotiated many of the city's contracts and his financial advice was an asset to the city. Melfi said Rich brought ''private sector'' common sense to the city when it was going through difficult financial times.

''He was instrumental in the turn-around we're going to experience in the city, and he deserves much of the credit for that,'' the mayor said.

The city hasn't announced a replacement for Rich.

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From the Youngstown Vindicator 3/30/2004...

Discussing merger of 2 centers

Formation of the committee was suggested by the mayor of Girard.

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — A four-person committee will be formed to look at the possibility of combining Girard and Liberty Township's emergency dispatching centers.

The formation of the committee — a police and fire representative from each community — was approved by Girard Mayor James J. Melfi and Liberty Township Trustee Jack Simon.

The agreement developed during a Monday meeting involving elected officials from each community. They explored merging police and fire services, including dispatching.

"We came with an open mind," Melfi said.

Trustee W. Gary Litch called for the session.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak pointed out that it's only natural to look at increasing services at a reduced cost.

Reason for meeting

The meeting was called because Girard is in state-imposed fiscal emergency, and the state auditor's office has recommended numerous measures be taken by the township to reduce costs.

Melfi recommended the committee's formation. It will collect data and discuss possible merger of dispatching.

No timetable was given for the committee to do its work.

Simon said meetings between the communities shouldn't be restricted to safety forces.

He said the combined communities have a total population of 24,000.

They should be looking at negotiating lower electric and cable television rates. Time-Warner Cable services both communities.

Simon and Melfi noted that the communities have been working together on extending waterlines and on sewer projects.

Fire departments' agreements

Liberty Fire Chief Michael Durkin said Liberty and Girard have mutual-aid agreements between fire departments.

Township Police Chief Anthony Slifka said that area law enforcement agencies have worked together, including sharing human resources.

Slifka said residents have to understand that if there are any decisions to merger, residents must understand there will be no loss of services.

At the same time, the police chief added, people want to be able to call for help during an emergency and have someone stay on the phone until that help arrives.

"Nobody wants to give up their turf," said Patrick Durina, a former township trustee.

Durina questioned who will be in charge if the police and fire services merge.

Melfi said it's too early to talk about merging police and fire personnel.

Township Administrator Patrick J. Ungaro said it's significant that the two communities are getting together, especially since voters have been rejecting levies more frequently.

yovich@vindy.com

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From the WKBN Channel 27 Web Site

Merging Services

(3/30/04) Girard and Liberty townships are flirting with the idea of an enhanced partnership. Sure, they share services like snow removal and mutual fire aid now, but leaders hope to take the relationship to the next level.

To ease the pain, leaders believe consolidating their emergency services, such as fire, police, and ambulance care, could help both communities' bottom line and expand services. This comes just months after Girard eliminated their city-operated ambulance, in an effort to save money. But, as with any new idea: there's a lot to discuss, and residents remind them of it.

But officials say they're aren't looking to merge the communities' forces entirely, just cooperate better.

Both Girard and Liberty will study the idea of a possible merge in the coming

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From the Tribune Chronicle 3/30/2004...

Girard, Liberty may join safety forces

By ANGELIQUE McKOWAN Tribune Chronicle

LIBERTY - Limited budgets and a goal to strengthen safety forces brought Girard and Liberty officials together Monday night to discuss combining the communities' dispatch centers and police and fire departments.
''In the City of Girard, we have cut nearly $1 million out of fire and police,'' Girard Mayor James J. Melfi said. ''With income taxes stable at current levels, we believe we'll be fine. But we won't have the ability to expand services.''

A merger, officials believe, would allow the augmentation of safety forces at a lower cost to both governments.

Liberty Trustee Jack Simon said that while combining police and fire departments probably would be the most difficult, few obstacles would prevent the combining of the two governments' 911 dispatch centers.

The cost of Liberty's dispatch center is $250,000 annually, while Girard's dispatch center breaks up the day into three shifts with one dispatcher a shift.

The idea of one dispatch center for both communities is the first possibility on which Liberty and Girard officials are going to focus. They plan to form a committee of one police and one fire representative from each of the two communities to discuss ideas and how to execute them.

''I feel confident putting people who know in charge,'' Melfi said.

Liberty police Chief Tony Slifka said he wants residents to realize they won't lose anything if the safety forces do combine.

''We're looking at a deficit this year that's going to hurt us,'' Slifka said. ''Everyone's got to keep an open mind.''

Melfi said it would be difficult for each community to maintain quality safety services without working together. Even if they were able to get their budgets in shape now, Melfi said, the shaky economy carries too much potential for future financial problems.

''If we're going to expand any services, it's probably going to be difficult financially,'' he said. ''We have to face the reality that none of us will be enriched with the dollars to do things.''

amckowan@tribune-chronicle.com

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From the Youngstown Vindicator on 8/10/2004...

Girard to seek 6-mill police and fire levy Nov. 2

The fire chief says he can longer pay overtime to firefighters.

TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — City council is proposing a 6-mill safety-forces levy to appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Lawmakers gave the five-year issue a first reading Monday and will meet in special session at 7 p.m. Wednesday to consider passing the legislation as an emergency.

Councilman Frank Migliozzi, D-1st, chairman of council's health and safety committee, said the millage is not enough to resume the city-operated ambulance service.

Auditor Sam Zirafi said the $3.8 million generated by the levy over five years will only maintain current services.

Among other things, the tax revenue would cover $1.2 million in additional workers' compensation premiums from 2005 through 2010 and $375,000 to purchase three police cars.

Of the 6 mills, 1.8 mills would be for the police department, 1.8 mills for the fire department, 2 mills for workers' compensation payments, and 0.4 mill to support the safety forces out of the general fund.

Zirafi said the levy is needed. Since 2001, when the city was ordered by the state auditor into fiscal emergency, the city has been transferring money from other funds to prop up the general fund.

There is no other money available now to move into the general fund, he added.

During a caucus session before the meeting, firefighter Phil Cretella, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1220, the union that represents city firefighters, called on council to maintain staffing levels when the levy is put before voters.

"People want to know what they're voting for," Cretella said.

Cretella called on council to develop the Girard Lakes, a matter that has been discussed since 2001 to generate money.

In another matter, Fire Chief Kenneth Bornemiss said he has received a memorandum from Safety Director Jerry Lambert prohibiting the use of overtime for firefighters.

The fire department was allocated $38,000 in overtime this year and has spent $52,000 thus far.

The city's contract with Local 1220 calls for a minimum of three firefighters to man the fire station on all shifts.

Bornemiss said that because of vacations, the department will have two firefighters or less 25 days for the balance of the year. This doesn't include other time off for things such as injuries, funerals or military duty.

The chief explained that he won't send equipment out to a fire station with less than three firefighters. He will be meeting with his captains and the union to work on a structure policy to resolve the issue.

"Yes, this will decrease response time," Bornemiss cautioned.

"It's a serious situation," Cretella said, noting that insurance costs will increase for residents and businesses because of decreased response time.

Mayor James J. Melfi said there are other communities that staff their fire departments with less than three firefighters per shift.

[Bs918]

Throwing money at this situation will not fix it. Its time some of these smaller departments form fire districts and conbine resources.

[daysleeper47]

A Girard-Liberty Fire Department would serve those two communities very well. It will never happen because the township-city politics would never be ironed out, but it wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Bs918]

Yes, Joe you are very correct on that. I also wanted to make perfectly clear that I am I no way advocating the elimination of any jobs by my statement. I feel that the merging of smaller departments make it a safer work environment allowing more manpower and better equipment. Bottom line is the safety of the firefighters and politicians for the most part don’t really care.

[daysleeper47]

Very true, Bob. In no way should this system abolish positions, but I believe that there are areas in Girard better served by a LFD station and visa-versa. The two have relatively new equipment. Sharing a ladder truck, perhaps stationed at LFD #1 on Belmont, would be a good start.

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From the Youngstown Vindicator on 9/14/2004...

Firefighters, Girard administration settle grievances on...

Three firefighters will be scheduled per shift, as the contract says.

GIRARD — City firefighters and the administration have reached a settlement of seven grievances concerning manning levels.

"We made the offer to the city. We are acting and have been acting in good faith," Phil Cretella Jr., president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1220, said Monday.

Union members filed the grievances beginning a month ago after safety director Jerry Lamber sent a memorandum to all city departments warning them not to overspend overtime budgets.

The fire department couldn't pay anymore overtime because it had outspent its overtime allocation for the year.

As a result of not paying any more premium time, two firefighters worked seven shifts in the past month, a violation of the union contract, which requires at least three firefighters on duty per shift.

"We realize it was a violation of the contract," Mayor James J. Melfi admitted.

Cretella said that rather than receiving about $6,900 due to firefighters who didn't receive overtime pay when the two-men shifts were worked, they will receive compensatory time off.

In exchange, the union will show good faith in minimizing overtime because of paid time off.

"We're happy with that," Cretella said, noting that no less than three firefighters will be assigned to each shift.

"We believe that in working with the union that this issue will be resolved through scheduling, Melfi added.

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From the Warren Tribune Chronicle on 11/9/2004...

Rescuers give chase to monkey
By AMY McCULLOUGH Tribune Chronicle

GIRARD - When firefighters and police officers in Liberty and Girard received some phone calls Saturday about an escaped monkey, they said it seemed too comical to be true.

The 18-inch Capuchan monkey's journey through one township, one city and numerous rooftops ended Sunday when it fell 75 feet from a power line in Girard. However, the animal survived the fall and is now safely back in the Girard home of its owner.

But when rescue workers arrived Saturday at Belmont Avenue in Liberty, they were greeted with a frightened exotic pet and an owner desperately trying to lure it from the rooftop of Bob Evans restaurant.

Vivian Dunkel of Girard, the monkey's owner, was picking up something from the restaurant when her child accidentally let the monkey out of the car, Liberty police Chief Anthony Slifka said.

When firefighters arrived, Dunkel climbed their ladder with bananas in hand and called to her pet monkey in an attempt to lure it into a cage.

The monkey escaped capture, jumped to the ground and ran off into the woods, but not before pealing a few bananas, Slifka said.

"It was heading westbound in the parking lot with its tail flying in the air. I felt like the Wizard of Oz. It was obviously very shaken up; she was on the roof for a while,'' Slifka said.

Liberty police officers put out an all-points bulletin on the monkey, but hadn't seen her since.

The animal was shocked by an electrical wire on Plymouth Avenue in Girard before its capture, although it was not seriously injured and is back home with Dunkel, according to Walt Sheler, a member of the Animal Welfare League's emergency response team.

Tim Adkins of Kinsman, the owner of Mountain Man Trappers, said Dunkel called him to help snatch the simian from its rooftop journey.

"The owners had got her confined to a roof,'' Adkins said. "About the time I got up on that roof, the monkey looked at me and decided she didn't want to be up there any more.''

The animal jumped down from the roof, ran two blocks and up a utility pole.

"Then, she got mixed up with some power lines,'' Adkins said. "She took a pretty good jolt, fell, and I thought that was going to be the end of her. But she seems to be doing OK.''

The owners were able to scoop up their pet, he said, and immediately took her to a veterinarian.

Dunkel recently bought the monkey at an auction, but it may not have felt comfortable enough with its new owner to take the bait when they tried to lure her, said Sheler, who received a call from an elderly couple on Indiana Avenue in Girard around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

The couple let their dog out because it would not stop barking, Shelar said. When they looked to see what was causing the ruckus, they found a monkey on their roof.

Shelar said the monkey ate three peanut butter sandwiches before jumping to another roof.

"We tried luring it down, but it was so quick and agile that it just jumped from roof to roof and then jumped in a tree,'' he said.

Amber Bauman, an employee with the Animal Welfare League and part of the emergency response team, said she asked Girard police if they were sure it was a monkey on the roof.

"That's not a call you get every day,'' she said.

Bauman said everyone was trying to brainstorm on how to catch the monkey, which she said weighed between 4 and 6 pounds.

"They're very intelligent. You could see it was cold and hungry. As long as we stayed in the kitchen, she didn't move. She was hungry and wanted to get out of the cold, but every time we moved, she got scared,'' Bauman said. "It was unfortunate for the animal and for those trying to rescue her.''

Debbie Serbati, shelter director for the Animal Welfare League, said emergency workers left once they found out the monkey had an owner.

"When an owner has been located, then we're pretty much out of the picture,'' Serbati said. "We've had different calls on monkeys before. They do tend to get loose sometime.''

Dunkel was not available for comment Monday.

In his 20 years as a trapper, Adkins said he usually takes calls for raccoons, skunks, groundhogs and other northeastern Ohio nuisance animals. He has had some exotic calls before, he said, including a silver fox in Gustavus and some emus.

"But this is the first monkey,'' he said.

Tribune Chronicle reporters Amanda Smith-Teutsch and Jennifer Kovacs contributed to this article.