HERE'S CONFIRMATION OF A NASTY STORM !!

This just came in to me today by "carrier pigeon", and it totally confirms what I have been posting about this meeting. It also backs up EVERYTHING I have said on this matter, and much more. i urge you to read this carefully, and come to this meeting tonight, and decide for yourselves who is lying. All I can say, is that tonight, it looks like the S@@@ is going to hit the fan!!

We have obtained the following information from sources within the Bensalem Township government complex and members of the township volunteer fire service. Many have recently come forward due to a growing sense of embarrassment by the conduct of the Director of Public Safety, Deputy Director of Public Safety and members of the Fire Marshal's office and paid fire department. There is also an increasing concern for the safety of the rest of the volunteer fire service due to the Mayor's continued failure to act.
1. Union Fire Company began the process for obtaining a marine unit capable of safely operating on the Delaware River in 2005. This included a survey of current marine units and their capabilities on the Delaware River north of Philadelphia.
2. It was noted that the marine units north of Philadelphia had no fire suppression capabilities and very limited rescue/EMS capabilities. Union Fire Company's marine units were 25 years and 40 years plus in age and were very limited in response capabilities. It was also noted that there was no crew protection on either vessel.
3. In 2006, the Union Fire Chief notified then Deputy Director of Public Safety Harran of the project. There were no objections or concerns raised by Deputy Director of Public Safety Harran.
4. In 2008, Union Fire Company located funding available to support the project through the Port Security Grant Program.
5. The Union Fire Company Chief continues to update Director of Public Safety Harran regarding the progress of the project. This was confirmed by several current and former township fire chiefs that attended meetings where the project was discussed. Other than a few inappropriate remarks made by the Director of Public Safety, there were no objections or concerns stated.
6. In 2009, the Union Fire Company Chief informed the Director of Public Safety and Deputy Director of Public Safety that the fire company had been approved through the grant program to obtain the new marine unit.
7. In 2009, the Union Fire Company Chief met with the Mayor and Director of Public Safety Harran regarding the project. Director of Public Safety Harran stated that he was afraid that the Union Fire Company grant would negate a grant that the township had applied for the new training center. The Union Fire Company Chief stated that he would withdraw the grant if that was true. The fire company contacted the Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association to confirm that their grant would negatively affect the township's application for funding. The fire company was told that the township HAD NOT applied for any funding. When the Union Fire Company chief advised the Mayor of the findings, the Mayor HAD NO OBJECTION to the marine unit project proceeding.
8. In 2009, a member of the Fire Marshal's office approached the Mayor in the hallway and told the Mayor not to let Union Fire Company obtain the new marine unit. When the Mayor asked why, the employee said "because they don't need it". The Mayor (with witnesses in the hallway) stated that the Union Fire Company project would not affect the rest of the fire service and to leave it alone.
9. In 2009, the Union Fire Company Chief met with the Director of Public Safety, the Deputy Director of Public Safety and several fire chiefs from the township and reviewed the general specifications for the new marine unit. One of the specifications was that the new marine unit has a draft of less than two feet. Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli stated that the vessel would require four feet of draft. When the Union Fire Company Chief explained that a manufacturer who provided initial specifications stated that it could be done with less than that, Deputy Director of Public Safety stated; "I have owned boats for years that is impossible". It should be noted that the new marine unit has a draft of 22 inches. There was no objections or concerns raised at this meeting other than the one stated by Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli.
10. In 2009, Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli contacted the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and told them to cancel the Union Fire Company grant. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency advised Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli that they had nothing to do with the grant. The grant is administered through the Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association.
11. In 2009, Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli contacted the Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association and told them to cancel the grant. The Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association contacted the Union Fire Company regarding the request to cancel the grant. The Union Fire Company Officials met with the Director of Public Safety and the Mayor regarding this request. The Deputy Director of Public Safety was instructed to stop interfering with the project.
12. In 2009, Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli again contacted the Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association and advised them that the township did not have the matching funds for the grant and to cancel the grant. The Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association advised Deputy Director of Public Safety Ponticelli that the township was not a party to the application and was not required to supply the matching funds. The Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association contacted the Union Fire Company about the second request to cancel the grant.
13. In 2009, the Union Fire Company met with the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety regarding the second attempt by the Deputy Director of Public Safety to cancel the grant, and his continued interference with the marine unit. The Mayor assured the representatives from the fire company that the interference would stop. At this time, Director of Public Safety Harran raised concerns regarding the costs of insuring the new marine unit. The fire company asked for the current figures for the insurance of their two marine units. They were not available.
14. In 2009, the Union Fire Company contacted the township finance department to obtain the costs for insuring their current marine units. The Union Fire Company was informed by the finance department that the township had not been insuring the marine units. The Fire Company immediately notified the Director of Public Safety regarding the township's failure to insure the units. No corrective action was reported back to the Union Fire Company.
15. In the beginning of 2010, the Director of Public Safety and the Mayor called the presidents and chiefs of the six volunteer fire companies to the township building for a meeting. They would not tell them what the meeting was about. When they arrived, they were told the township would be taking funding away from them to pay for the new paid fire department. At this point, we would like to point out, that the Director of Public Safety REFUSES to provide a copy of the township SAFER grant to the fire service or the public, nor will he or any member of the township Fire Marshal's office discuss the contents of the grant with the fire service or the public.
16. In 2010, the Director of Public Safety and Deputy Director of Public Safety contacted the following agencies and reported that the Union Fire Company grant was fraudulently obtained; the Delaware River and Bay Maritime Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security. All these agencies conducted extensive investigations and found that the grant was legitimate and not fraudulently obtained.
17. In 2010, the Director of Public Safety and Deputy Director of Public Safety contacted the FBI and claimed that the Union Fire Company grant was fraudulently obtained. The FBI conducted an extensive investigation which was completed in November of 2011 when no charges were filed and the investigation was closed.
18. In 2011, Director of Public Safety Harran initiated an investigation into a fire on State Road where he claimed that the Union Fire Company refused to provide water to the paid fire department. The Union Fire Company Chief and several members of the fire company were interviewed by a Detective who confirmed that the investigation was given to him by Director of Public Safety Harran. When witnesses came forward from other fire companies that stated the Union Fire engine immediately gave water to the paid fire engine, Director of Public Safety Harran REFUSED to discuss the evidence. Even when the witnesses said, that they had video and still pictures of the incident HE REFUSED TO LISTEN!! When the Union Fire Company chief asked who made the allegations against him, Director of Public Safety Harran threatened to have him arrested for interfering with a police investigation!! When it was proved unfounded, Director of Public Safety Harran refused to provide any information to the Union Fire Company. They were not permitted to clear their name and no retraction nor was ANY apology was offered by Director of Public Safety Harran.
19. During the same incident, the Union Fire Company provided photo evidence of a member of the rescue squad entering the building fire without protective equipment and not being accountable to the incident commander. The Director of Public Safety responded; "he is a firefighter, he knows what he is doing". When it was pointed out, that this was not a safe practice and was dangerous, the Director of Public Safety refused to address the issue.
20. In 2011, Director of Public Safety Harran with the Mayor standing with him, closed the Union Fire Company for "safety issues" that were a danger to the public and the fire service.
21. The Director of Public Safety, the Mayor and a councilman had a public meeting trying to explain why they closed the fire company. They would not provide any specific information to the fire company or the public.
22. Shortly after this meeting, the Director of Public Safety and the Mayor stated that the fire company could re-open if the Chief stepped down. The Chief did resign for the good of the organization. The Mayor also stated that he would appoint an oversight advisory board to look into the safety issues.
23. It took the fire company more than three months and a threat to attend a council meeting to obtain the "18 safety issues" publicly announced (without the specific issues being released) by the Director of Public Safety. When the "18 safety issues" were provided to the fire company the Director of Public Safety and the oversight board REFUSED to discuss them with the fire company! One of these issues was the fire company's delay in locating a fire in a building on Camer Drive. When it was discovered that the building in question, which was two businesses away from the one that the fire company was dispatched to, had had a previous arson attempt, the fire company was concerned that they were not notified of the incident. The Union Fire Company felt that its personnel had been placed in danger by not being notified of the previous arson attempt. The Director of Public Safety stated he does not release information regarding on going police investigations, EVEN IF IT PLACED THE FIREFIGHTERS IN DANGER. When it was pointed out that a mutual aid fire company had been given the information, the Director of Public Safety had no answer.
24. The oversight committee was put in place in July of 2011. With the exception of the meeting at the township building and requests for information from the fire company accountant (which has nothing to do with safety), the oversight board did not meet with the fire company again until mid-January 2012. The fire company was instructed to go through the advisory board to address their concerns regarding the conduct of the Director of Public Safety and the Deputy Director of Public Safety. The fire company issues were not addressed and the Mayor refused to meet with the fire company!
25. The Union Fire Company provided its own insurance for the new marine unit. The day of the Special Olympics Polar Plunge the Director of Public Safety demanded that they raise the coverage from $1,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00 because that is what the township has on the vehicles they insure! At great expense to the fire company, the coverage was raised from $1,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00.
26. The Union Fire Company was advised that all special events such as the Special Olympic Polar Plunge would be coordinated by the Department of Public Safety. After the polar plunge where members of the police department were photographed for the township quarterly magazine the Department of Public Safety failed to coordinate any additional special events at the Neshaminy State park (which is where the polar plunge is held).
27. The Director of Public Safety and the Mayor contacted Congressman Fitzpatrick's office and asked his staff to assist them in having the new marine unit removed from the Union Fire Company.
28. To this date, the congressman has failed to contact anyone from the Bensalem Fire service outside of the township building regarding the marine unit.
29. The new marine unit addresses six critical areas on the Delaware River locally for Bensalem and regionally for the river. No one in the Bensalem government will discuss these issues or the benefits of the unit.
30. Bensalem Township paid $21,000.00 for a fire service study which included a study of Bensalem emergency medical services. This study claimed that all marine operations were contracted to outside agencies. It further stated that there were no issues concerning Bensalem EMS. Shortly after the study, it was pointed out that the Union Fire Company has provided marine services for the township for over 80 years. There was no comment from the Director of Public Safety or the Fire Marshal/ paid fire department. After the study, Bensalem EMS received a tax increase, an additional $85,000.00 from Parx Casino even though they are paid for their services and then REDUCED the number of ambulances it provides to the community. No comment or corrective action from the government of Bensalem, including the council or the Director of Public Safety
31. The only way that Union Fire Company would be bankrupt is if the township continues to take funding away from the fire companies. In fact, Union Fire Company has the SMALLEST vehicle payment of the six fire companies. The Cornwells Fire Company alone pays out $93,000.00 a year for vehicle payments! That is more than half of what they receive from the township. No questions asked. Even the members of that fire company admit that they have less people qualified and certified to operate their new rescue truck then Union has for the new marine. Why no questions Director?
32. So far, the Director of Public Safety and the Mayor have demanded that two chief's step down from the Union Fire Company, the president step down from the fire company and now the son of the former president is told he cannot be an officer because he is the son of the former president! We just learned, and still cannot believe that a female firefighter who is the fiancée of the son of the former president is not permitted to be the secretary for the fire company because she is engaged to the son of the former president! These are NOT safety issues Mr. Mayor!
33. We admit that the Union Fire Company chief raised concerns about the construction and location of the township training center and these concerns annoyed the Director of Public Safety and "the unofficial township fire chief with his name on the building". We also admit that we did not pay attention to his concerns. Now we have a $5,000,000.00 training center that we cannot burn in and has very limited use for the fire service. Issues concerning qualified instructors for the center, and written training guidelines are also not being addressed.
34. We also are aware of structural problems with the facility and no idea or funding as to how these issues are to be corrected.
35. Now we learn that they are planning to have a meeting on Wednesday, 8-22-2012 at the township building to close the fire company! Yet, besides the false, slanderous and unfounded accusations, there is no reason to shut them down. In fact, if the Director of Public Safety, Deputy Director of Public Safety and the "unofficial township fire chief" were held to half the standards they claim the Union Fire Company have violated (again there is no proof of any wrong doing), they would have been fired years ago!!!
36. How about employees of Bensalem intimidating and harassing the victim of an assault not to press charges against a paid firefighter in the township!! Can you imagine if the victim had assaulted the paid firefighter? Do those in charge really believe they can keep this from becoming a public issue?
37. How about giving out political jobs in the paid fire department without advertising them or at least permitting people who are qualified for the job for applying? We understand that one particular family made a nice contribution to the election fund for this job.
38. The good news is we will be at the meeting tonight. Along with firefighters from throughout the County and the area to address issues with the government of Bensalem.
39. How does a person who had to leave his job with the school district for falsifying attendance records, remain as a fire chief in the township? WHY HAS HE NOT BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE THEFTS?
40. It seems that a non-politically connected school district employee can get arrested. Just read the paper today.
41. The conduct of the Director of Public Safety and Deputy Director of Public Safety towards the Union Fire Company is truly APPALLING. The fact that the other five fire companies have remained silent because they are going to get a payout from the closing of the Union Fire Company is SHAMEFUL AND DISGUSTING. All the claims of a close knit fraternity within the volunteer fire service in Bensalem are a lie. All we have to do is look at history to discover what happens when groups submit to a dictator. People suffer services to the community decline and one by one the rest will be picked off.
Does anyone really believe that a paid fire department is the answer in these economic times? It is more critical than ever to do what is necessary to maintain our volunteer fire service. Even an accountant can figure that out.

I am glad to see some of you FINALLY waking up and taking a stand on this. I pray that your courage does not waver, and that you support Union Fire Company to the end. Don't let up,and don't let anyone intimidate you into keeping silent ever again. As for the naysayers, have been repeatedly saying the truth, and yet you doubted, and ridiculed me. Now when this occurs, are you still going to continue to drink the Joey D Punch, and sniff the Little Dictator Cologne?? Wake Up and face reality!! You volunteer firefighters of Bensalem, who have sat idly by, and done the "hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil" bit, need to know that despite all the promises in the the world, sooner or later, the same thing will happen to you, and when it does, THERE WILL BE NO ONE LEFT TO STAND UP FOR YOU!!