Greater York Professional Fire Fighters

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City of York looks to York Area United Fire and Rescue

Posted On: Jan 10, 2012 (18:10:05)

A recent conversation between officials of York City and York Area United Fire and Rescue has sparked interest on both sides about the possibility of a future merger of some fire services.

York City Mayor Kim Bracey said she has been encouraged by the willingness of York Area United representatives to consider the city as a potential partner.

Regionalization of services -- even if the departments do not fully merge -- could mean significant cost savings for the cash-strapped city, Bracey said.

"We need to really, really explore that. It's going to take a lot of conversations," Bracey said. "Whatever could be shared ... I'm open to exploring that conversation and those options."

In 2012, pursuing regionalization will be a top priority, the mayor said.

"We're more than interested to sit down and talk with (Mayor Bracey) about them potentially joining us in the future," said Robert McCoy, chief of York Area United Fire and Rescue.

York Area United formed in 2008 with the merger of fire departments in Springettsbury and Spring Garden townships.

While formal decisions would be left to the organization's five-member commission, McCoy said the city's financial issues are not necessarily an impediment to a merger.

But, he added, "these aren't things that just happen over-

night," as each municipality comes with its own set of issues.

Timing: The talks come at a crucial time for the financially troubled city and its professional fire department.

To balance the 2012 budget, Bracey has proposed an 11 percent property-tax hike and the elimination of three vacant firefighter positions, among other revenue-generating and cost-cutting ideas. The York City Council has until the end of the year to approve a budget.

Meanwhile, Councilman Henry Nixon has publicly proposed abandoning the Rex/Laurel fire station on South Duke Street. The 1878 building -- which is on the National Register of Historic Places -- is "in desperate need of major repairs," Nixon said.

"Even if we were willing to spend millions of dollars on it and get it into excellent condition, we still have an antiquated fire house," Nixon said. "It's taking good money and throwing it after bad."

Bracey said she likes Nixon's idea, except for the possibility of another vacant, blighted downtown property. She said she plans to meet with representatives of the volunteer fire companies that own the station.

"We need to talk about it," she said. "We don't own it. Yes, we've been using it and we should have maintained it."

The station is owned by the Rex Hook and Ladder and Laurel fire companies. City business administrator Michael O'Rourke said the city pays the station's expenses in exchange for allowing the companies to use the facility.

"Why would we continue to try to make improvements or try to shore up a building that is not ours?" Nixon said. "The whole thing just doesn't make sense, and we need to get out of it."

Earlier this year, city administrators proposed a fire services modernization plan that included closing the city's two oldest stations and building a new one. However, the proposal was later omitted from a long-term financing plan.

Nixon said he is not proposing to build a new station.

"What I'd like to see happen is exploration with some sort of intermunicipal affiliation with some other fire companies," he said.

Erin James, York Dispatch

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Manchester Township to join York Area United Fire and Rescue

Updated On: Jan 10, 2012 (18:03:00)

Bill Schenk, chairman of York Area United Fire and Rescue, said Monday that Manchester Township's request to merge its fire services with YAUFR "is really just a matter of working out the details."

The township's board of supervisors voted to go forward with the request after more than a year of considering if its Department of Fire Services should formally align with York Area United Fire and Rescue.

Tim James, township manager, said Monday the next step would be to enter formal negotiations with YAUFR to determine if the merger is feasible and what issues need to be addressed to make the merger happen.

Page said he expects "an extended period of negotiations" to take about the same amount of time that led to the creation of YAUFR from the fire departments of Spring Garden and Springettsbury townships. Those townships merged fire departments in May 2008 after discussions proposing the redistricting began back in 2003.

Page said negotiations would include predicted costs to the township and how to merge the different unions involved.

Schenk said negotiations should go smoothly and "a lot faster." He said the merger between the fire departments of Spring Garden and Springettsbury townships created a blueprint for future mergers.

"All the groundwork is laid," he said. "The charter agreement already exists."

Schenk said the merger would give YAUFR and Manchester Township "a greater pool" of trained firefighters" that "works out to everybody's advantage," predictable "long-term costs" and "a reduced budget."

"That's been the history with the merger between Spring Garden and Springettsbury," he said. "I would expect that to continue with Manchester Township as a member."

Page said there is no intent to close the township fire department or cut the number of firefighters. He also predicted there will be cost benefits to the township and YAUFR in the long term.

He said the township already has shown financial benefits with its arrangement contracting YAUFR Chief Robert McCoy as chief for Manchester Township DFS. Schenk said that contract was renewed in December.

Other county fire department agreements include the following: North York contracting fire services from York city; Hanover and Penn Township fire departments sharing the services of a fire chief; and Lewisberry Borough contracting fire services from Fairview Township.

Cancer Presumption Bill Passed

Posted On: Jan 04, 2012 (18:47:55)

Pennsylvania Cancer Presumption Law Signing Caps 25-Year Fight

July 8, 2011 -- For 25 long years, the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA) has urged state lawmakers to enact legislation to protect fire fighters from exposure to dangerous toxins released from fires. Finally, the PPFFA has declared victory for its members.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed the bill June 30, easily clearing both legislative chambers, making fire fighters eligible to received workers’ compensation if they can demonstrate exposure to carcinogens found in fumes. The legislation, HB 797, passed the Pennsylvania House by a vote of 200-1 and the Pennsylvania Senate approved the bill by a vote of 50-0.

Outgoing Governor Ed Rendell vetoed a cancer presumption measure in November 2010, that – despite overwhelming support in the legislature – some municipal officials said was too broad and could overwhelm drum-tight local budgets.

Rendell’s veto marked a bitter, though temporary setback in the long struggle to provide must-needed financial protection to the many fire fighters who develop life-threatening cancer in the course of their careers.

Under the new law, fire fighters may file a claim if they have been on the job for four or more continuous years and have established a previous clean bill of health. Fire fighters also must establish exposure to a leading carcinogen, including asbestos, benzene and wood dust, among many others. Fire fighters can file claims up to six years after leaving the fire service.

Carcinogen exposure must be documented in a report filed with the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System.

Municipalities will have an opportunity to rebut claims that the cancer was not caused by fire fighting, though the burden is on municipalities to provide “substantial competent evidence” to rebut a fire fighter’s claim that his or her cancer was caused by workplace exposure to toxins.

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger hails the new law, but says it is too long in coming. “Men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect the people and property of Pennsylvania should not have had to wait 25 years for lawmakers to acknowledge the very real dangers of carcinogens in fires,” he says. “But I am so proud of the leadership of the PPFFA for sticking with this fight on behalf of its brothers and sisters, and not stopping until victory was in hand.”

Though the new law is less broad in scope than the measure Rendell vetoed, Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association President Art Martynuska says he is pleased that members will finally have this added layer of protection.

“The PPFFA has made cancer presumption its number-one priority for the past several years. The PPFFA pledged to get this done, and I am proud to say mission accomplished,” he says. “This momentous piece of legislation will now afford our brothers and sisters much needed protection if they are stricken with one of several different types of cancer as a result of their exposure(s) on the job.”