Firefighters back recall efforts against Salem Township board members
You may have heard that the Salem Township Fire Department or the dissolved Fire Administrative Board wanted to “red flag” homes in Salem for “any resident who filed a complaint about a member of the fire department. So that the police would appear first at their door … By this new policy the fire department would sit on the road while the house burned …” This statement is absolutely untrue!
Each year firefighters and medics are injured or killed due to violence at response scenes. In an attempt to minimize violence and protect firefighters from injuries the “unsecured scene” designation is used. This designation has been used in Salem Township and Washtenaw County for over 20 years.
Typically an “unsecured scene” is an emergency response which involves a suicide attempt, assault, mental illness, drug overdose, or any other volatile situation where there is an increased risk to the first responders. It may also be an address where there has been a previous incidence of violence. This designation is used by Washtenaw Central Dispatch across the county to help protect unarmed firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and police officers.
Michigan law allows the responding fire chief, who upon arriving at the scene of a fire or emergency, finds a condition dangerous to persons or property, to take all necessary steps to protect persons and property until the dangerous condition is abated. The law does not require the fire chief to wait for the police before he can take action in an unsecured area. A designation of an “unsecured scene” simply means that law enforcement are also dispatched to the incident.
It allows the chief, firefighters, and other responding agencies to know that there could be a risk at the location. The chief uses his best judgment supplemented by his knowledge and experience, to protect the responders and possible patients to help ensure that everyone remains safe while on-scene.
Please be assured that the Salem Township Fire Department is a group of highly trained and licensed professionals who serve the community. Service is not based on likes and dislikes, but is provided when a 9-1-1 call is generated. Salem Township firefighters are dedicated to providing the highest quality patient and fire response.
Much ado has been made of the Fire Department’s “Brush” and “Command” response trucks (similar to pickup truck sized) not being kept at the fire station. The false claim is the fire trucks somehow provide a benefit to the firefighters who operate them. The township auditor explained that the fire trucks assigned to the chief and other firefighters are driven for the benefit of the community and comply with IRS guidelines which have not changed since the issue was originally raised by Trustee Van Fossen in 1996.
The chief’s truck is to be with him when he is within a responding distance, and that has been defined as the communities which make up the Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Association. The truck may also be taken further if he is on official business. The trucks assigned to other firefighters are to be within 3 miles of Salem Township’s borders unless on official business.
Many times the small trucks are the first vehicles on a scene and can manage the response appropriately thereby allowing the larger engines and tankers to be cancelled. These vehicles are equipped with life-saving equipment, as well as fire extinguishers to allow firefighters to directly respond to a variety of emergencies.
As an example of the effectiveness of a direct response by using the small trucks, a firefighter was able to restore an airway, provide life sustaining oxygen and call for a medical helicopter at a severe accident scene at North Territorial and Curtis roads before the larger vehicles were able to respond to the incident.
Additionally, these trucks have been used to pull a vehicle on fire out of a garage on Beacon Lane thereby saving a $500,000 home from further damage. The larger fire department vehicles were unable to get to the home because of snow and ice.
Supervisor Heyl, Treasurer Uherek and Trustee Wallazy want to park these trucks at the township hall, rather than have them readily available for a quick emergency response, which helps you and me!
Lastly, the firefighters unionized to ensure an effective and sustainable fire department that protects the township. Trustee Witkowski and Clerk Trent have shown their support of the firefighters. Supervisor Heyl, Treasurer Uherek and Trustee Wallazy actually voted not to support the firefighters.
Please vote Nov. 2 and help your Salem Firefighters keep our community safe. To maintain quick, effective and quality emergency response in Salem Township, vote “NO” to retain Clerk David Trent and Trustee Brien Witkowski.
A “YES” vote to recall Supervisor Heyl, Treasurer Uherek and Trustee Wallazy is imperative and critical if you want to continue to have an effective fire department that cares about the community they live in.
James Rachwal Salem Township Local 9600 union president
Editor’s note: The letter was also signed by Fire Chief Mark Hamilton, Assistant Chief Ed Rohraff, Lt. Richard Cort, Eng. Don Roberts, and firefighters Ken Ascher, Kirk Ferris, Brett Hupenbauer, Dan Kahl, Mark Kimler, Steven Kimler, Eric Labadie, Casey McCreedy, Shawn McCreedy, Laura Roberts, Ricke Rosselle, Ryan Rosselle, Dan Seedott, Max Siegel, Ed Siegner, Mark Waterhouse, and Simon Wilkinson.
Comments
Linda Hamilton
Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.
EatingPopcorn talks about a political issue used by certain individuals to discredit my family. Apparently, they are not aware of Attorney General Frank Kelly's ruling on this issue. His ruling can be found at: http://www.ag.state.mi.us/opinion/datafiles/1960s/op04147.pdf It's too bad that many people do not take the time to verify the information that is disseminated.
EatingPopcorn
Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.
Mr. Witkowski, who I am is none of your business. I think your response to me just changed my vote from on you from a no to a yes. Voters, I urge you to vote no on the recalls of everyone except Mr. Witkowski, who deserves a yes vote. Why have I changed my mind on this, even though I still believe that this shouldn't be on the ballot until 2012? Because on his recomendation, I have now read his website. This is taken directly from the site, which blatently supports the recall of his fellow board members, and was posted on October 24th: "Ok, so a guy can only take so many false accusations, especially when it involves the fire fighters. These guys are trying to stay out of the political mess by just going along, doing what they were hired to do." Well, who is lying Mr. Witkowski? The firefighters who signed this letter to the editor that we are commenting on, or you? Because between the letters, the signs around the township, and the mailings it is pretty obvious that the firefighters are doing much more than "the job they were hired to do". Obviously you have some sort of personal agenda, and I think that you will be unable to work well with your fellow board members if they are not recalled. Sometimes a cancer has to be cut out to save the body, even if the surgery is distasteful. Ms. Hamilton, you are absolutely correct. I should not have speculated on your personal finances, and for that I apologize. However, can you honestly say that your family has not been so entrenched in Salem politics as to create conflicts of interest all over the place? That there is a feeling of greed, either real or percieved, about it? Because if you honestly think there isn't, I can assure you that you are wrong. There absolutely is that perception (whether it is right or wrong), and not just among the "regulars" involved in this whole recall mess. Best of luck on your quest for the Library Board seat. Contrary to what you may think based on my earlier post, I have always had respect for your capabilities.
Linda Hamilton
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
I have no plans to re-enter Salem politics. The side represented by people like Eating popcorn are hateful and vindicitive. I have no desire to be the object of their continued focus. I am however running as a write-in candidate for a partial term as a Salem-South Lyon District Library Trustee. This can be verified with the Oakland County Clerk's office. And this decision was not made in the past week! I'm not sure why Eatingpopcorn feels a need to speculate about my finances, but I will publically state they are none of his/her business. The post office was moved to the Rider House in 1998 and I was awarded a USPS contract to provide service in 1999 - well over a year before I was elected Treasurer. I have a letter written July 16, 1999 and signed by then Clerk VanFossen outlining the rent that I have faithfully paid over the years and continue to pay to the district court's escrow account. I will continue to pay this rent while I exercise my right of a jury trial. America is a land of rule and law. I will utilize those laws to present my case in court. My husband is the Salem Township Fire Chief and he was appointed to this position in 1991, before I entered politics. Ask yourself why his firefighters support him, Brien Witkowski and David Trent. And, why they encourage a "yes" vote to recall Heyl, Uherek and Wallazy - who all voted not to support the firefighters and fire department. (See Resolution of Support, dated April 13, 2010.) 100% of the firefighters did not, after all these years decide to vote in a union because they just want to pay dues. They want the protection a union provides to continue to provide quality emergency service to Salem Township and its residents!
Brien Witkowski
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 9:30 p.m.
My first question isnt about the article; its about the comment from EatingPopcorn. If you really had a little bit of the truth, why dont you use your real name? I will agree that the loss of any job results in a loss of income, thats really about the only truth in your comment. The rent for the post office was set by the board that was in office prior to Ms. Hamilton being elected. I will get the information to prove this and post it on my website. Im not sure if I can post the website address here, so I will leave it off. However, if you search for Salem Wants The Truth you will more than likely find it. Among the fire fighters who signed the letter, I know of three who are related to the Hamiltons. If you believe that 3 out of 21 are considered many, then you are correct. However, I would have to argue that 14% is not many. If you are aware of more than 3, please let the public know. The board approved, by a vote of 5-2, a new policy and procedure manual last night that would require Chief Hamilton to resign if Linda Hamilton was put back into office. This creates sort of a poison pill and one that would be hard for Ms. Hamilton to swallow if she chose to re-enter the political arena. Lastly, I want to say Thank You! to Jim Rachwal and all the Salem Township Fire Fighters who have supported me over the last 10 years. I look forward to keeping the effective fire department that cares about the community they live in. for many years to come.
EatingPopcorn
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
Here's a little bit of truth that this letter writer isn't telling you. The fire chief's wife, Linda, is the former township treasurer who was defeated by the current treasurer (Uherek) who is subject to recall. She is also the owner of the contract post office, whose eviction from township property is also included in the recall wording. In other words, Chief Hamilton and his wife have lost a pretty good amount of income from her losing her elected position, and stand to lose another good chunk of income if the Salem post office ceases operation or has to operate at a much higer rent than it was paying (rent that was set by the board of which Ms. Hamilton was a member). Many of the firefighters who signed this letter are related in some way to Chief Hamilton and his wife. Personally, I would take anything that is said by any of these firefighters in this issue with a huge grain of salt. I am sure that they are dedicated, but I doubt that they are objective. I do think this whole recall is just one huge power play in hopes of getting Ms. Hamilton back on payroll. I am voting no on all the recalls - not just Heyl, Uherek and Wallazy, but also Witkowski and Trent, because this battle should be fought in 2012. It's a crying shame that this is even before the voters now.
YouWhine
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 10:33 p.m.
Typical small town politics.