Horne shouldn't expect fire chief to solve all
Letters to the EditorPublished July 8, 2004
Re: Next fire chief needs skills, ability to lead, editorial, June 30.
Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne's revelations made it clear we need a fire chief with firefighting experience. What an epiphany! Good thing we didn't slip further into the abyss before that was realized.
I couldn't agree more and am sure my fellow firefighters would say the same. A strong, confident and capable leader is long overdue. The department is starved for strong leadership.
According to the St. Petersburg Times editorial, "(Rowland) Herald has not been able to exert enough influence in the department to control it, and the relationship between city government and the local fire union has been toxic for two years." Controlling a department and an individual's beliefs are two separate issues. Any chief could control the department with experience, an education, confidence and people skills if he chooses to. Bill Horne is sadly mistaken to think a new chief is going to put heated (contract) negotiations to rest. That falls in his lap.
The editorial mentioned that Horne's biggest challenge has been the Fire Department. I disagree. It is his ego that challenges him. With respect for his position, my brethren will not cower to his heavy hand tossing out pathetic contract offers. What is missed here is that we are not a group of firefighters who want to run a fire department, but we want to be compensated for the hazardous work we do. Bill can hide behind a veil, but he knows he alone could end the bitter dispute.
How? For a start, show up at a negotiating session. He has been to ZERO! Had he been to the past one, he would have witnessed a very simple offer. Any and all items not currently agreed on we suggested be brought to an arbitrator to decide. Both the union and city would let an unbiased party hear both sides and render a decision we all would live with. Sounds simple and fair and would easily put to rest 21 months of tumultuous negotiations. The response: No.
If Bill Horne would just make an effort to show up at negotiations without the ego, and as adults talk, then slowly work into the issues, this could all end. Nothing to date has worked; maybe it's time for change there, too.
To the five finalists for fire chief, congratulations. I look forward to a new day in the Fire Department, with strong leadership and the visual presence of our leaders, applicants who again want to work for the department, and an end to the exodus of employees returning to their prior departments out of frustration.
-- Michael Aleksa, Riverview
Something's toxic about these decisions
Re: County: Fluoridation forum would really be a protest, story, July 3.
County Commissioners Calvin Harris, Bob Stewart, Susan Latvala, Karen Seel, John Morroni and Ken Welch decided that 600,000 people in Pinellas County will drink and bathe in water tainted with toxic waste from Florida's phosphate industry. They call it fluoridation. These commissioners believe they have the power to do this. (Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd voted no.)
Pinellas County has a charter that describes the power of its people and limits of its government. A Charter Review Commission, whose members were appointed by the County Commission, has been formed to identify changes to the charter. The objective is to put proposed amendments on the ballot in November. Residents were invited to offer opinions on needed changes. They offered this Safe Water Amendment:
"The county shall not have the power, under any circumstances, to add any medication or substance to the public drinking water supply other than those substances necessary to purify or make said public drinking water safe for human consumption and use."
The Charter Review Commission refuses to bring the Safe Water Amendment to the voters.
Citizens for Safe Water has scheduled "The Great Fluoride Debate" at the Harborview Center in Clearwater at 7 p.m. today. Pick Talley, the county's utilities director, and Dr. John Heilman, county health department director, were invited to debate. They declined.
So, let me summarize. The County Commission put toxic waste in our water. Latvala's Charter Review Commission refuses to let the people vote on the Safe Water Amendment. The county's top advisers on fluoridation refuse to debate the basis for their advice. Something is wrong.
-- David Plyer, Clearwater
Some people are just paranoid
Re: Fluoride isn't harmful at this level, utility says, letter by utilities director Pick Talley, July 4.
Talley has finally burst the bubble of the Flat Earth Society folk who have been clogging the letters column for weeks. Every reputable scientific agency has declared fluoride, at proper levels, to be safe and beneficial. But then, paranoia must have some focal point to validate an existence.
-- Norman A. Peterson, Clearwater
Fireworks gazers need wider exit
Re: Clearwater July Fourth celebration in Coachman Park.
The fireworks display at the park was magnificent - one of the best ever. The thousands of adults and children seemed to enjoy the event. As the show ended, those thousands picked up their belongings and headed for the exit on Drew Street.
It could have been a disaster as the crowd reached the bottleneck near the entrance at Osceola Avenue caused by metal fences and temporary inspection stations. Thousands took one step at a time, stopped, another step, and waited again.
Thank God there had been no reason to panic or riot from gunshots, accidents or terrorist attacks. I suggest a practicable, wider exit be installed.
-- Jack Bjornberg, Clearwater
Array of filth follows the Fourth
Re: litter after July Fourth celebration.
After kayaking around Caladesi Island and taking a run on Dunedin Causeway, I was appalled and disgusted to see the amount of fireworks detritus and beer bottles in the water and left on the beach. The next tide was sure to carry all the debris into the water - the same water those folks came to enjoy and swim in. It was more than an eyesore; it was a hazard to marine life.
With the trash bins nearby, it would have been easy to throw trash away, but hardly anyone bothered.
We sure don't show our treasured parks and waterways any love by not picking up after ourselves, and it lets the next generation believe "someone else" will pick up after us.
Please show some responsibility and don't litter!
-- Nita Ostermann, Tampa
Reading gives so much pleasure
Re: Reading trends portend more D's, story, June 28.
I have been reading and hearing about articles and comments regarding students' results on their test scores. It sounds as if nothing much is improving.
All students now have the same teachers and books, but it seems some do well while others fail. Perhaps the ones succeeding are "buckling down," studying and doing their homework. Also, I think parental participation and guidance are important.
I am particularly sorry that reading scores are not good. Reading gives so much pleasure in addition to enabling one to gain knowledge. Books are important to me and a daily joy. Young people don't know what they're missing if they don't enjoy books.
-- Dorothy E. Karkheck, Dunedin
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