Fire Position Addendum

We recently posted two points in our post under the story Feiner Lies About Fire Department that were wrong. We still acknowledge that Mr Feiner not only lies for his convenience and at his convenience, but that with the email he sent out, he was in full deflection mode. He’s trying to take focus off of his illegal actions with GameOn 365.

We posted that the position has always existed, and even highlighted the word always. The way it was explained to us when we were gathering information for the story was that the position has always existed. ABG has since come to learn that the position was created in 2005 and first filled in 2006 by our current Chief, Anthony LoGiudice. What we should have said was that the position has existed, unfilled, for some time. The rest of the information as to whether it is justified and how it is intended to be used remains.

The second point we seek to correct is that of the NYS 2% Tax. We said the position would not affect the tax cap or refunds. We had reached out to the NYS Budget office but were unable to speak with someone willing to answer our questions. Please do not misunderstand this. The person we spoke with was not the correct person to provide an answer and the people she thought would be, were unavailable. Apparently, the filling of the position and the subsequent benefits that go along with it may be an increase to the budget and push the district toward violating the 2% Tax Cap. However, with a $12M budget, we’re suspect if $140k (+ benefits) will really impact the Fire District’s NYS tax status?

Another point we were unaware of that seemed to not be publicly known or openly discussed until recently is that the chairperson of the Fairview Fire District is Vicki Simmons, who has held this position for some time and her son, a Captain in the Fairview Fire Department is up for a promotion and this currently unfilled position! Ms Simmons has been pushing this move for the position. Dare we say, now we know why!

The Fairview FD members are an exceptionally talented and extremely well paid group. Our firefighters do not do without anything. They get guaranteed call back hours when a fire is declared bad enough to warrant extra personnel. They get station uniforms (which is fine) as well as exercise gear paid for by the taxpayer, just to name a few expenses. The district’s volunteer firefighters are not utilized to their fullest and they are taxpayers as well as volunteers for their community. Many of the paid staff do not live in the district or the Town. As for nepotism, there are many related members in the department. Is it a conflict of interest that a commissioner’s son works for his mother? Coincidence? You decide.

The information we originally received was truthfully provided. The additional information that has become uncovered as the onion gets peeled back is sadly troubling. Having spent some 40 years in the fire service in Greenburgh, we are sure Chief LoGiudice has the best of intentions for the Department and District. But since this position will cause a hiring ripple effect for the taxpayers, we urge he and the commissioners to seek an alternative method to bring the current deputy chiefs into the grooming process and do what they can to not increase costs. Or, if they feel this is a necessary step, do away with something else of equal or greater value. It will be these kinds of efforts that will bring the taxpayers relief and make for a Better Greenburgh!