Letters to the Editor

Gaming the system

After reading the article about the top three fire and police administrators [Westport News, July 23], all I've got to say is you've got to be kidding, someone is gaming the system here.

I don't mean to be critical, but retired is retired. They effectively got 100 percent raises by coming back. We are now paying three officials $20,000 per month for what they were doing for $10,000 a month -- wish I could do that in a recession.

They have done a great job. I have no problems there, but if they are just looking to relax and take retirement, why wouldn't a municipality either get younger, more progressive blood in that position, promote from within or, if they made a mistake and really didn't want to retire, just hire them back and defer their pension to when they actually leave their job?

If they are enthusiastic, vital and able to work and bring something good to the table every day then great, do it, continue their legacies.

As a last thought, if they retire again how does that work, they get another pension? I guess based on this precedent it seems right doesn't it?

John Brewster

Westport

Out of touch

John Laurino's letter to the editor (July 26, "Board of Finance doing its job) shows just how out of touch the former Board of Finance member is.

He calls the Westport Fire Department the most "aggresious" of all. (Suspect he probably meant "egregious.") In any case, he asserts that "there is no acceptable reasoning" why our department is "so different" in its cost structure "other than the lack of volunteers in our active fire-fighting mix." He goes on: "It is inconceivable that every other neighboring town to Westport has active volunteers while none exist in Westport."

The facts: Westport has had a history of active volunteer firefighters going back to the early19th century. The Westport Volunteer Fire Department is the active overall umbrella volunteer organization today. Recognized by their red helmets, members respond to small and big calls alongside the paid firefighters.

In order to become an active volunteer, all members must meet the minimum state Firefighter I certification (as I did when I joined the volunteer ranks in 1991). They then undergo regular training throughout the year under the guidance of Westport Fire Department officers.

At the recent fire at 1655 Post Road E., volunteers, their faces blackened and their bodies soaked from sweat from the intense heat, worked side-by-side with Westport's paid firefighters to keep the fire damage to two units. And they do it 24/7 day in and day out.

We may not have as many active volunteers as neighboring towns -- about 15 -- but they are dedicated and put their lives on the line just like the paid members do. In 2000, volunteer George Cardozo died of a heart attack after a house fire.

The volunteers welcome new members, even though many Westporters say they don't have time for firefighting duties. Now that Mr. Laurino knows we in fact do have fire volunteers, maybe he'd like to join the ranks. And bring along a few friends.

Gordon F. Joseloff

First Selectman

Westport