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February 2007 Supplement
Jul 19, 2007
Feederline
Supplement
February 2007
 
There were many items that I could not include in the first issue because it became too big to transmit electronically, therefore I have created this supplement. Thank you for your patience.
 
 
Letter from President Coubrough:

                                                                                                                    2/1/07

Brothers,

 

            I attended the public meeting the Wednesday night regarding the funding of Other Post Retirement Benefits or (OPBED).  The long and short of the meeting was that this is a federal mandate requiring all state and municipal agencies to devise a plan to account for the monetary cost of these benefits, which are mostly health care and life insurance for retirees.

            Currently the city pays for these benefits in an “as you go” method.  This system is more expensive to the city than a fund option.  The city still has the option of maintaining the established system.

            The powers to be in the City of Milford are looking at a system similar to the one currently used to fund our pension plan, where monies are put into a fund, which over the next thirty (30) years will hopefully become self funded.  This is the front-runner of the plans that were mentioned at the meeting.

            The big question is how the “Trust Fund” will be funded.  The question was asked about utilizing the surplus in the pension fund. The state actuary, legal advisor and the finance director all agreed that it would be a huge mistake to decrease the surplus.  It was also questioned whether it could be legally done based on how our Pension Trust Fund was set up.   

            Some preliminary information was that the un-funded liability to the city regarding the OPBED was around 180 million dollars.  The city needs to fund that by contributing approximately 20 million a year for the next 30 years.  Most cities that have started planning this funding are using a 5-year escalating plan. Milford would start by contributing a figure of around 8 million and increasing that amount over the subsequent years up to around 20 million.            

            This is the first step in a process that we will be monitoring.   It was mentioned that there may be other meetings and possibly meetings in which the public would be allowed to speak, and meetings with the individual Unions. 

            I hope this explains in brief what is planned and alleviate some of the concern surrounding this matter.

 

 

Clarification:
 
In the first issue there were some photos in the "Remember when" section. They listed Bill Healey, even though I'm considered "old" they are not of me. They are of my Father when he was a Firefighter. Believe it or Not!
 
 
Local 944 Officers 2007
 
President Jim Coubrough                                      Vice President Paul Geer
Secretary Mike Dunn                                            Treasurer Dave Heenan
Executive Board Dave King                                    Executive Board Todd Ricci
Executive Board Gil Hoyt
 
Negotiator Bill Healey                                            Workers Comp Ron Wetmore
 
Grievance Clint LaPlant                                         Safety Rob Lynch
Grievance Nick Holinko                                         Safety Scott Tummins
Grievance Marty Halprin                                        Safety Brian Colwell
 
Pension Rep Dave Eisenhandler                            Alternate Gary Baker
 
 
The Local is still looking for members wishing to serve on the Committee to study the "DROP Plan" for the Pension Contract. If you are interested, please contact President Coubrough as soon as possible.
 
Stratford:
 
A special note from our neighbors to the West. Retired Firefighter Ron Morse's son Ron Morse Jr. was promoted to Lieutenant in the Stratford Fire Dept. on February 1. He joins other legacies in the Stratford Department; Retired Captain Bill Holdsworth's son Bill is a Lieutenant, and Retired Firefighter Jim Becker's son Jim is a Firefighter. It has also been learned that Retired Firefighter Phil Ucci's son Jeff has been appointed a Firefighter. Family traditions carry on even if its in our neighboring towns. Good luck men and Be Safe!
 
Year end Stats:
 
Thanks to Danny Worroll for providing the following numbers:
 
Runs per Company:
 
Engine 1          2053                                        Rescue 1    3119
Engine 7          2014
Engine 4          1303                                        Rescue 2     634
Car 4               1135
Engine 6          1099
Engine 3          1095                                         Canteen    4
Engine 5          1089
Tower 1            1037   
 
Runs per member: (Top 20)
 
Chris Brown                981                                Jack Edmonds            567
Tom Piskura               795                                Bill Healey                  557
Pat Nolan                   792                                Tom Connors              549 
Jason Dombrowski      783                                Jeff Luciano                542
Frank Geer                 738                                Gary Guilmette           524
Eric Ouellette             714                                 Clint LaPlant               511
Mike Hudd                  666                                Tim Geer                    510                         
Carlos Rios                 654                                Brian Colwell              492
Nick Holinko               635                                Gary Baker                 485
Jason Hall                  578                                John Slyman               484
 
Total runs:
 
2006    6,944
2005    7,014
2004    6,526
2003    6,668
2002    6,567
 
 
The following article appeared in Fire Engineering about the largest fire in Milford History that occurred in March 1970:
Thanks to Bob Healey for finding the info in the archives at the University of New Haven Fire Science Library.
 
 
 
 
 
Until next time keep the pictures and information coming. You may contact me at MFD1610@aol.com , WHealey@ci.milford.ct.us , Station 1 "D" Shift, or at home. As important information becomes available it will be posted in "Flashovers" or routine email.
 
BE SAFE!
 
Bill

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MILFORD FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 944
55 Wheelers Farm Rd
Milford, CT 06461
 

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