By Matt Smith Fire Commissioner Candidate
The community of Lehigh Acres has a wealth of intelligent and articulate people. It is time that we use this wealth of knowledge to solve the issue of the fire board insolvency. I propose reduced spending and consider all other options before we start to even talk about layoffs.
These firemen are not just the districts; they’re our firefighters also and deserve the respect of all of our community.
When it comes to public safety, they “watch our backs” when we are all asleep with our families, as a community we should return the favor. It might be too little, too late, but we should try to save their jobs anyway.
The bad news: I presented a proposal to the last board meeting, a proposal to sponsor a Citizens Committee to come up with solid recommendations to make the fire district solvent, and they disapproved any consideration.
matt smith candidate to be maybe if u had been coming to the board meeting for the past or so u would have been able to help, like u said its to little to late, and the board said no to your proposal for its to late this is going to voters soon…they the articulate people of lehigh have not said boo over the yrs that i have been going to the meeting.. so putting anything on this blog will not get to many voters so u might not want to continue cutting down our good fire dept and rescue svc..
How does Mr. Robbins interpret a good Fire District? one that has slowly increased taxes since 2001, one that sends out a ladder truck anytime someone hiccups, one that disperses EMS ambulances out of the Districts protection Zone thus increasing response time to local emergencies, one that willfully approves use of tax payers money to hire a Public Relations firm to perform a functions that is duly the responsibility of the Board.
Our firefighters and EMS due their job and are especially commended for saving that kid two days ago, KUDOS, but the leaderships handling of public funds has created a financially insolvent District and now the Districts wants to ask the taxpayers to make up for their negligence. If they have problems properly handling the budgeted funds now, why would the taxpayers give them more funds to squander tomorrow?
As Mr.Robbins has stated you have just recently started to attend Fire Board meetings.I voted no to your proposal because “committees”,take quite awile for everyone to agree on the topic at hand and if you had been coming to the Board meetings you would have seen this for yourself. Time is of the essence before the Nov.4th vote.You were simpy too late with your plan.I always find it amusing that people who know the least seem to have found the magic key to “fix”all problems.Until you actually have to look at the actual budget and can see that we are doing the very best we can you had better do more homework,than just spreading negativity.
ED note: Commissioner Jacqueline Danis was not the last Fire board meeting. How many is that so far?
Also it’s NEVER to late to fix the issues. It’s people like Commissioner Danis that have a closed mind on items that would save the jobs and money.
Lehigh Acres Gazette Web team