Monday, March 28, 2011
Mar. 27, 2011- For the Sixth season Wolfeboro Firefighters competed in the Sunday River Firefighters Ski Race/ Chili Cook-off. Wolfeboro's team this year consisting of Ret. Lt. Dave Brackett, Lt. Frank Bellefleur, FF Chris Stevens, FF Daryl Morales, Call FF Bob Shilo, and Call FF Robbie Black. Wolfeboro was proud to take home First Place. All the funds and team registrations go to the Maine Handicapped Program.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Mva on South Main St
Mar. 20, 2011- Grp. 3- E4 responded to an MVA (Truck into a River) on South Main St. 1 Person was Transported.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wolfeboro firefighters tell their side of the story
BY CATHERINE BROADBENT
D'AMBRUOSO
Communications Director Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire [Editor’s Note: In the interest of fairness we asked the Professional Fire Fighters of Wolfeboro to present their side of the dispute with the Town of Wolfeboro that led first to the town’s decision to rescind recognition of the firefighters union and then a decision by Carroll County Superior Court Judge Steven Houran upholding the town’s action – a decision that Judge Houran has agreed to rehear on March 31. The following account was submitted in response to that request.]
On June 21, 1996, the Wolfeboro New Hampshire Fire Fighters became affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters. This move provided them with better education, fraternal benefits and instant relationships with fire fighters locally and nationwide. In the mid-1990s the Professional Fire Fighters of Wolfeboro, IAFF Local 3708 decided to begin the process of acquiring the right to collectively bargain. Today, more than a decade later, members of IAFF Local 3708 are still not able to collectively bargain, and they have no current contract. The current president of the local union, Jim Dearborn, who has been a member since the beginning of the fight, says the question regarding the right to collectively bargain was on the ballot three times; in 1999, 2001
and 2002. In 2002, the measure passed by more than 100 votes. Between 2002 and 2007 Local 3708 and the town enjoyed a period where they agreed on working conditions. The
firefighters were employed under a contract and could count on pay and insurance, which, in turn,provided predictability for the town. In 2007 the contract expired, but both parties were still honoring the previous contract agreement. Attempts in 2008 and 2009 to negotiate a successor agreement failed as both parties could not agree on the other’s concessions. In early July 2010 the parties met and signed an agreement for "Negotiation Ground Rules" for the conduct of further negotiations, agreeing among other things that either party could request mediation after Oct. 1, 2010. A negotiation
meeting scheduled for July 28, 2010 was canceled by the town without explanation. On Aug. 4, a Board of Selectmen meeting was held without proper notice to the public, a violation of the ground rules. At this meeting the board voted to rescind recognition of the collective bargaining rights of the local. The Board of Selectmen breached the contracts when they restructured the firefighters’ compensation plan and granted the town the ability to terminate a firefighter at will rather than having to show just-cause and negotiate. These wholesale changes failed to observe the status quo doctrine
pending a new contract. Dearborn and several taxpayers eventually sued the town of Wolfeboro in September 2010 requesting injunctive relief, including an order that the collective bargaining agreement between parties remain in effect, requesting a writ of mandamus requiring that the town negotiate in good faith and asserting claims for breach of contract violations of the right-to-know law among other things.The suit arose in response to the failed renegotiation of the Wolfeboro Firefighters’ contract with the town. The Board of Selectman moved to dismiss the contract, the firefighters objected and a hearing was scheduled. At the time of the selectman’s meeting in August 2010, the Fire Fighters Union had a contract. The result of the meeting left the firefighters
with the health plan they had under the previous contract, and a pay plan outlined in the same document. Since the injunction was granted the court held another hearing and has since found in favor of the town of Wolfeboro in which the contract was voided for numerous legal reasons.
A motion for reconsideration was filed by the firefighters in superior court on Jan. 14. In February the same judge that decided on the previous hearing granted the firefighters a rehearing on the facts and arguments made in the motion. This meeting is scheduled
for March 31 at 9 a.m. If you want your elected officials to keep their word and follow the demands of the taxpayer, you should call your elected officials to let them know you, as a voter, support the firefighters.
http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/pdf/GSN.2011.03.10.pdf
D'AMBRUOSO
Communications Director Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire [Editor’s Note: In the interest of fairness we asked the Professional Fire Fighters of Wolfeboro to present their side of the dispute with the Town of Wolfeboro that led first to the town’s decision to rescind recognition of the firefighters union and then a decision by Carroll County Superior Court Judge Steven Houran upholding the town’s action – a decision that Judge Houran has agreed to rehear on March 31. The following account was submitted in response to that request.]
On June 21, 1996, the Wolfeboro New Hampshire Fire Fighters became affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters. This move provided them with better education, fraternal benefits and instant relationships with fire fighters locally and nationwide. In the mid-1990s the Professional Fire Fighters of Wolfeboro, IAFF Local 3708 decided to begin the process of acquiring the right to collectively bargain. Today, more than a decade later, members of IAFF Local 3708 are still not able to collectively bargain, and they have no current contract. The current president of the local union, Jim Dearborn, who has been a member since the beginning of the fight, says the question regarding the right to collectively bargain was on the ballot three times; in 1999, 2001
and 2002. In 2002, the measure passed by more than 100 votes. Between 2002 and 2007 Local 3708 and the town enjoyed a period where they agreed on working conditions. The
firefighters were employed under a contract and could count on pay and insurance, which, in turn,provided predictability for the town. In 2007 the contract expired, but both parties were still honoring the previous contract agreement. Attempts in 2008 and 2009 to negotiate a successor agreement failed as both parties could not agree on the other’s concessions. In early July 2010 the parties met and signed an agreement for "Negotiation Ground Rules" for the conduct of further negotiations, agreeing among other things that either party could request mediation after Oct. 1, 2010. A negotiation
meeting scheduled for July 28, 2010 was canceled by the town without explanation. On Aug. 4, a Board of Selectmen meeting was held without proper notice to the public, a violation of the ground rules. At this meeting the board voted to rescind recognition of the collective bargaining rights of the local. The Board of Selectmen breached the contracts when they restructured the firefighters’ compensation plan and granted the town the ability to terminate a firefighter at will rather than having to show just-cause and negotiate. These wholesale changes failed to observe the status quo doctrine
pending a new contract. Dearborn and several taxpayers eventually sued the town of Wolfeboro in September 2010 requesting injunctive relief, including an order that the collective bargaining agreement between parties remain in effect, requesting a writ of mandamus requiring that the town negotiate in good faith and asserting claims for breach of contract violations of the right-to-know law among other things.The suit arose in response to the failed renegotiation of the Wolfeboro Firefighters’ contract with the town. The Board of Selectman moved to dismiss the contract, the firefighters objected and a hearing was scheduled. At the time of the selectman’s meeting in August 2010, the Fire Fighters Union had a contract. The result of the meeting left the firefighters
with the health plan they had under the previous contract, and a pay plan outlined in the same document. Since the injunction was granted the court held another hearing and has since found in favor of the town of Wolfeboro in which the contract was voided for numerous legal reasons.
A motion for reconsideration was filed by the firefighters in superior court on Jan. 14. In February the same judge that decided on the previous hearing granted the firefighters a rehearing on the facts and arguments made in the motion. This meeting is scheduled
for March 31 at 9 a.m. If you want your elected officials to keep their word and follow the demands of the taxpayer, you should call your elected officials to let them know you, as a voter, support the firefighters.
http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/pdf/GSN.2011.03.10.pdf
Judge grants firefighters motion for rehearing
http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/pdf/GSN.2011.03.10.pdf
OSSIPEE — Carroll County Superior Court Judge Steven Houran has granted a motion for reconsideration
by Professional Fire Fighters of Wolfeboro of his decision of Jan. 4 affirming the Town of Wolfeboro’s decision to rescind recognition of the firefighters union. The decision to reconsider was made on Feb. 11. The hearing on the motion is scheduled for Thursday, March 31 at 9 a.m. at the Carroll County Courthouse in Ossipee. Time allotted for the hearing is 30 minutes. Having come to an impasse in contract negotiations, the Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen voted on Aug. 4 to rescind recognition of Professional Fire Fighters of
Wolfeboro IAFF Local 3708 with the assertion that the original Town Meeting vote in 2002 did not refer to the proper state law and thus did not authorize a union of fewer than 10 members (the Wolfeboro union has nine members). The firefighters won a temporary injunction on Sept. 27 blocking the town from making the union members town employees. Judge Houran’s Jan. 4 decision ended that injunction. For a presentation on how this dispute between the town and the firefighters evolved from the firefighters point of view, please see article "Wolfeboro firefighters tell their side of the story".
Saturday, March 5, 2011
No Injuries, Minor Damage During Fire at Kingswood Regional High School Complex
March 1, 2011-(Group 2) No injuries were reported during a fire at Kingswood Regional High School complex this afternoon. Wolfeboro Fire Rescue was alerted to the incident at 1139. First arriving crews found a small fire in the area of the roof of the addition to the Middle School. A first alarm assignment was requested at 1146. The fire was declared under control at 1218. The fire was extinguished with the help of personnel from Northbranch Construction, the general contractor for the school addition/renovation project. Damage was confined to a small area of the roof and wall where the existing Middle School meets the new addition. Wolfeboro Fire Rescue Chief Butch Morrill said the cause was accidental and was the result of use of a cutting torch in the area. Students were evacuated to the nearby Kingswood Arts Center for the duration of the incident. Wolfeboro Fire Rescue Cleared the scene at 1256. Firefighters from Tuftonboro Fire Rescue and Ossipee Corner Fire Rescue assisted at the scene, as did Stewart's Ambulance. Wakefield Fire Rescue provided coverage at Wolfeboro Central Station.
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