UNION'S MARINE 37 OPERATION PLAN: What Haman Isn't Telling You
This
was found on my doorstep this morning and was able to confirm this from
Union themselves. I also learned this from others who received this at
the meeting.
Marine 37 Project Outline
Approximately May 2005, Chief Troisi and Deputy Chief Drobonick begin
review of the status and capabilities of the Union Fire Company Marine
Units. This review included current and future expectations of
development and traffic on the Delaware River north of Philadelphia.
It was determined that both current marine units were undersized, under
equipment, under powered and had limited capabilities for operations on
the Delaware River. The newest of the current marine units was 25 years
old and the oldest unit was over 50 years old.
The current marine
units provided no protection for the crews from exposure to the elements
when operating on the water for extended periods of time. The current
marine units did not provide for the safe extraction of injured persons
from the water without the potential of causing additional injuries to
the patient. Limited crew capacity meant little to no immediate first
aid could be administered by the crew to the person or persons being
rescued. There was limited space on the current marine units limiting
the amount of persons being pulled from the water.
Development of
commercial property along the Delaware River in the Union Fire Company
first response district included a high rise with a marina. Bensalem
Township government confirmed the construction of the high rise and
marina in the 3700 block of State Road. There was also planned
development at State and Street Roads which includes a marina. There are
three additional marinas currently in existence in the Union Fire
Company first response district.
Chief Troisi notifies then Deputy
Director of Public Safety Harran in the beginning of 2006 that the fire
company is researching a new marine unit which will be able to safely
operate on the Delaware River. The new marine unit will be an
all-weather craft with capabilities of operating at night with crew
protection, fire suppression, EMS, law enforcement and hazardous
materials response capabilities. Deputy Director of Public Safety Harran
acknowledged the report from Chief Troisi; however, he provided no
input.
The Union Fire Company continued to research and development
the requirements for the new marine unit from 2006 into 2008. As marine
firefighting operations require specialized training a course of
training involving three years of various training programs was
developed. These programs included a U.S. Coast Guard marine operations
certification class, NFPA standard 1005 (standard for professional
qualifications for maritime firefighter), marina fire suppression,
commercial maritime fire suppression, and marine incident command
training.
The Administrative section of the Union Fire Company
developed a funding program for the matching 25% to be supplied by the
fire company.
In Union Fire Company submitted a FY 2008 Port
Security Grant Program proposal through the Maritime Exchange for the
Delaware River and Bay.
In 2009, the Union Fire Company proposal
review was completed by Sector Delaware Bay Maritime Security Committee
(which included the US Coast Guard). Once this group approved the Union
Fire Company proposal it was forwarded to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for review and approval. On December 23rd, 2009 the
Union Fire Company received a letter from the Maritime Exchange for the
Delaware River and Bay that its grant proposal had been forwarded to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Chief Troisi notified Director
of Public Safety Harran that same month at the Bensalem Township Fire
Chiefs meeting. Director of Public Safety Harran asked no questions
regarding the development of the new marine unit.
In the beginning
of 2010, Chief Troisi met with Director of Public Safety Harran and
Mayor DiGirolamo regarding the new marine unit project. Director of
Public Safety Harran stated that he feared the Union Fire Company grant
would affect the township's ability to obtain funding from the Port
Security Grant Program. Director of Public Safety Harran stated that he
was applying for funds for the township training center for propane heat
generators. Chief Troisi stated that if the township's grant would not
be approved because of the Union Fire Company grant he would withdraw
the Union Fire Company's request for funding. Director of Public Safety
Harran then informed the group that he in fact HAD NOT applied for
funding through the Port Security Grant Program. Chief Troisi told the
group that Union Fire Company would continue forward with the project as
it would have no effect on funding for the township.
On August 31st, 2010 Union Fire Company was awarded a grant with a total possible funding of $787,950.00.
Within a month of the award, Chief Troisi was contacted by the
Fiduciary agent for the grant stating that Deputy Director of Public
Safety Ponticelli called the agency and tried to cancel the grant. When
agent advised Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli that the
township was not a party to the grant and he could not cancel the grant
the conversation ended.
A second call was made by Deputy Director
of Public Safety Ponticelli to the fiduciary agent advising them to
cancel the grant because the township does not have the matching funds. A
representative of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay
contacted Chief Troisi and advised him of the phone conversation with
Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli. Chief Troisi advised that
the township WAS NOT supplying the matching funds.
Chief Troisi
contacted Director of Public Safety Harran and Mayor DiGirolamo
regarding the interference by Deputy Director of Public Safety
Ponticelli. The Director of Public Safety and the Deputy Director of
Public Safety were instructed not to interfere with the project by Mayor
DiGirolamo.
At a Bensalem Township Fire Chief's meeting in the last
quarter of 2010, Chief Troisi advised the group (which included
Director of Public Safety Harran and Deputy Director of Public Safety
Ponticelli) that the preliminary specifications were almost complete.
The basic dimensions of the new marine unit were reviewed. Deputy
Director of Public Safety stated that the 22" draft requirement was not
possible; the new marine unit would require a 4' draft. When told that
the manufacturer confirmed the 22" draft, Deputy Director of Public
Safety Ponticelli stated the manufacturer was wrong. In addition to its
increased capabilities for rescue, EMS, fire suppression, law
enforcement and hazardous materials containment, the new marine unit
would be capable of supplying land based fire operations with 5200 GPM
of water. This system would act as a back-up water supply system in the
event of disruption of water supply from land based systems.
During
the course of the development of this project Chief Troisi and members
of the Union Fire Company had been in contact with the Pennsylvania
Yacht Club regarding docking the boat there. The Pennsylvania Yacht Club
was willing to assist the Union Fire Company.
When the Union Fire
Company met with representatives of the Pennsylvania Yacht Club in the
spring of 2011 the members of the Pennsylvania Yacht Club advised the
group from the Union Fire Company that they had been contacted by
Director of Public Safety Harran regarding cooperation with the Union
Fire Company. Director of Public Safety Harran told them that Union Fire
Company would not be getting the new marine unit.
The Mayor was
made aware of this continued interference during a meeting between the
fire company, the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety. The fire
company was assured the interference would stop.
During the course
of the construction of the new marine unit there were several meetings
between the Union Fire Company, Mayor DiGirolamo and Director of Public
Safety Harran. At one meeting, Director of Public Safety Harran stated
that he was concerned with the cost of insurance. When the fire company
checked, they discovered that the township had failed to insure the two
boats the Union Fire Company currently utilizes.
President
Carmichael met with the fire company treasurer and developed a funding
plan to insure the marine unit. To this date (7-11-2012) the Union Fire
Company has not been informed if their two small boats are insured by
the township.
The Director of Public Safety next informed the fire
company that he was concerned that the new marine unit would increase
workman's compensation claims stating that the fire service and the
crossing guards are the two biggest draws on workman's compensation for
the township. How this was going to happen, the Director of Public
Safety could not explain.
The Director of Public Safety next claimed that he feared the new marine unit would run over Jet Ski operators on the river.
It should be noted at no time did the Director of Public Safety, the
Deputy Director of Public Safety or any member of the Bensalem Township
government asked to view the marine unit or see what its capabilities
are.
The Director of Public Safety and/or the Deputy Director of
Public Safety filed complaints regarding the Port Security Grant Program
proposal submitted by the Union fire Company with the following
agencies:
1. Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay
2. Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (which has nothing to do with this grant program.
3. Federal Emergency Management Agency
4. The Department of Homeland Security
5. The FBI.
All of these agencies conducted investigations and closed the complaints out as unfounded and/or no action taken.
This caused the Union Fire Company unnecessary legal fees. Again no
action taken to correct the behavior and conduct of the Director of
Public Safety or the Deputy Director of Public Safety.
The Union
Fire Company developed a financial and operational plan for this project
which came in UNDER budget and required no additional funding from the
township to support it. This means that the Union Fire Company INCREASED
its capabilities to serve the public on and along the Delaware River,
REDUCED the safety risk to its members operating on the Delaware River
all at NO ADDITIONAL costs to the taxpayer.
The Director of Public
Safety went on TV and stated that the U.S. Coast Guard handled fire
emergencies on the Delaware River. There was no need for Union Fire
Company to have the new marine unit. The Maritime act of 1974 states
that the Federal government no longer carried out marine firefighting
operations.
The Director of Public Safety and members of the Fire
Marshal's office accused the former chief of was accused of failing to
supply water to the paid fire company. When the chief attempted to
address the issue, the Director of Public Safety threatened him with
arrest for interfering with a police investigation. This allegation was
proven false. It should be noted that when independent witnesses came
forward to provide evidence in favor of the chief (including video and
still pictures) the Director of Public Safety refused to view the
evidence. Though he was publicly accused, he was not publicly
exonerated.
In June of 2011, the fire company was shut down by the
Director of Public Safety for 18 safety issues. The Fire Company was
refused access to the list to take corrective action. When the Union
Fire Company was finally given the list of 18 safety issues (months
later), all items were proved unfounded. There was no public
exoneration.
The Director of Public Safety has been permitted to
make false and damaging statements without any consequences. Despite
written complaints to the Mayor asking for an investigation into the
conduct of the Director of Public Safety's conduct, no response has been
received from the Mayor.
We find added this information
The Mayor wants the President of the Fire Company removed because he can't control the Chief.
If that is the case, shouldn't the Mayor be removed because he can't control Harran?
Failed to control McCauley after two hit and run accidents in township
vehicles! The third hit and run resulted in yet more injuries and a DUI
arrest.
Harran and his inner circle designed a $5,000,000.00 fire
training center that they can't have fire in! Has Harran been removed
from office?
Harran authorized a SAFER grant which includes so much
false and misleading information that he continues to refuse to release
it to the fire service and the public! Has Harran been removed from
office?
The paid fire company which is still in violation of
township ordinances and the information contained in the SAFER grant.
Has Harran been removed from office?
Where is the oversight
committee for the over $6,000,000.00 in wasted and fraudulently obtained
funds by the Public Safety Department and the Fire Marshal's office?
TRY EXPLAINING THIS ONE HAMAN!!
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