The 2nd quarter of  2010 continues to bring major challanges for the Suffolk County Volunteer Fire Service.  We still need the proper funding and legislative support to maintain our dedicated and outstanding service to the communities we serve.

Legislation at the federal, state and county level has kept your officers busy.  We are working with the other major organizations to address all the issues.

 OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 AT EAST QUOGUE FD.  PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND.

 

OUR ANNUAL BRUNCH AT MAJESTIC GARDENS WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.  OUR COUNCIL OFFICERS WERE SWORN IN BY SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATOR JOHN KENNEDY WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER OF THE FIRE SERVICE.

THIS YEAR'S "CHIEF OF THE YEAR" AWARD WAS GIVEN TO EX-CHIEF JAY EGAN OF THE SELDEN FD.  JAY WAS A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FRES COMMISSION AND SERVES ON MANY COMMITTEES FOR THE COUNCIL.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO JAY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING EFFORTS!!!!!!

 

Our current officers continue to work hard in their respective offices, so lets give them our support.  They also continue to  make their way around the county attending the various township chiefs council meetings.  If you would like them to attend a meeting please do not hesitate to call.  If you are interested in hosting a meeting in 2010 or 2011 please contact anyone of the officers.

The officers are: 

President Scott Thebold Middle Island FD
1st VP Anthony LaFerrera North Babylon FD
2nd VP John Carney Brentwood FD

This year's Washington trip to CFSI was another great success.  We met with our representatives and Senator Schumer and discussed our federal legislative issues. We also had the honor of providing the Color Guard for the CFSI dinner and visiting Arlington National Cemetery.  We are starting our plans for 2011 CFSI, so if you are interested in attending please contact Ron Barz.  We will be coordinating next year's attendance through the New York State Chiefs Association to promote attendance from across the state.

 

Status of issues at the Federal level are as follows:

The funding for the Fire Act is at $390M - down $170M from last year

The funding for the SAFER Grants is at $420M - $210M up from last year

The legislature has also approved to extend these programs another 5 years

The language from the Ryan White Act that was left out of previous legislation has been restored.  Be sure your department has a designated Infectious Disease Contol Officer.

The ICC and the Fire Service won the battle to have residential sprinklers in the next version of the ICC Code.

 

Status of issues at the State level are as follows:

THE PRIORITY LEGISLATION FOR THIS YEAR IS TO PASS THE REQUIRED AMENDMENTS FOR THE CONSOLIDATION AND ESCAPE ROPE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR!!!!!  ALL THREE MAJOR FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE THESE THEIR PRIORITY.

CDL license issue for operating emergency vehicles was enacted into law.

Retention and Recruitment check-off when filing your taxes was enacted into law.

Both these laws were due to the outstanding efforts of Senator Foley and Assemblyman Sweeney.

We are working on getting the Blue Light issue resolved early next year.

Still working on the Health Insurance Issue, Cancer Impairment Legislation and International Background Search for applicants to the Fire Service.

We will be assisting NYSAFC in working with the other major organizations in setting a joint agenda for both the Federal & State Issues.

 

Status of issues at the County level are as follows:

Suffolk County Legislators overrode County Executive's veto of additional funding for Fire Academy and have restored the $50K.

Legislators Horsely's Resolution was passed guaranteeing that the Secondary PSAP's will get 20% of the revenues from the additional surcharge to wireless phones.

Legislators tabled resolution to give County Ambulance Chiefs three seats on the FRES Commission until the issue of equal membership for county organizations is discussed.

 

 

 SCHOLARSHIP SEMINAR:

Our annual spring scholarship seminar is on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:00PM at Brookhaven National Labs was a great success.  We had over 300 firefighters attend.   The training provided was interesting and valuable for all firefighters.  PLAN TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR!!!!!

We give out three scholarships.  Two(2) to graduating high school seniors and one(1) to an active volunteer firefighter or EMS member.  The scholarship applications can be downloaded from this web site under the Registration Forms link.  If you need an application or have any questions, please contact Chief Anthony LaFerrera at 631-484-7917 or Chief Greg Anderson at 516-241-1985.

 

Chiefs who are interested in getting information on buildings in their respective areas from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) can log on to web site www.isomitigation.com and go to the Fire Chiefs Online section and apply for a user ID and password.  This site can help chiefs do preplans of buildings.

  

EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Please see the "Articles" page for depts looking for equipment.
If you have spare equipment that you are looking to get rid of or are in need of equipment, please contact Craig Zitek, 631 831-8842, to put it on our web page.

The REGISTRATION FORMS page has the proper proceedure for notifying the Burn Center of a burned firefighter. Please make sure you know the procedure!

FIREMATIC SERVICES: If you have an chief or past chief pass away please contact a member of the executive board(DIRECTORY page)as soon as possible, so that we may have a representative attend the service. INFO NEEDED: Date, Time, Location of Firematic service; Proper spelling of Departed Chief's Name; and Religious affilliation.

 

FIRE FIGHTER'S CANCER SUPPORT NETWORK: 

A new network service is available to support those firfighters and their families that have been diagnosed with any type of cancer.  The website is www.firefightercancersupport.org.  You can also contact the NY Regional Director Shawn Owenburg at 631-484-7598 or 631-780-6823.  His email is sowenburg@fcsn.net

We need all Chiefs to attend their local Chiefs Council meetings and the County Chiefs meeting in order to remain current with the issues affecting the Fire Service.

We would also like to welcome any Chiefs that may have been recently elected, please check the schedules for both the County and Township Chiefs Councils meetings and try to attend. Remember the Associations and Councils are only as good as the input and participation they receive from its members.