Mayor Bill Finch says he has reduced the number of take-home vehicles to three–limited to himself, and the chiefs of police and fire. The mayor’s news release below does not include the number of non-uniformed city employees, if any, who drive a city vehicle during working hours.
City’s Take-Home Vehicle Fleet Reduced to Three
Mayor Bill Finch today announced that the City has reduced its take-home vehicle fleet to three cars–one each for the Mayor, Police Chief and Fire Chief.
“When I took office there were 82 take-home vehicles. I’m proud to say that today there are only three,” said Mayor Finch. “Bringing greater efficiency and lower costs to City government has been one of the highest priorities for my administration.”
The city’s vehicle fleet encompasses nearly 400 cars, mostly in the police, fire and public works department. Take-home vehicles have been the subject of collective bargaining agreements over the years. Negotiations with the city’s police department, and other city unions, have led to the reduction of take-home cars.
As a part of a policy created by Mayor Finch in 2009, the City auctioned off surplus vehicles and stopped purchasing additional take-home vehicles.
Finch continued, “Cost-saving measures like the reduction of our take-home vehicle fleet have helped the City reduce spending three consecutive years.”
Mayor Finch along with Police Chief Joseph Gaudett and Fire Chief Brian Rooney have been assigned the only remaining take-home vehicles in the City’s fleet.
In addition to reducing the number of take-home cars and auctioning city vehicles, other major Finch administration cost-saving measures include: elimination of more than 200 positions; millions in cost-savings through union concessions, e.g.: furloughs, zero-percent pay increases and, most importantly, increasing employees’ health care premium cost share to 25 percent in almost every union contract; trimming departmental budgets by 10 to 20 percent across the board; reducing the police overtime budget; reinstituting the Bootfinder program to collect more than $500,000 in delinquent car taxes; undertaking a health care enrollment audit; voluntary furloughs taken by nearly 200 employees, including all non-union employees; imposition of a travel ban, and sale of city-owned surplus buildings, such as the former Mechanics & Farmers bank building.
Gee! Just think of all he won’t be able to accomplish if we give him four more years.
“When I took office there were 82 take-home vehicles. I’m proud to say that today there are only three,” said Mayor Finch. “Bringing greater efficiency and lower costs to City government has been one of the highest priorities for my administration.”
I guess he’s off his cleanest, greenest and safest kick while in campaign mode. Interesting how Mayor Green Jeans can morph into the Green Lantern with one press release.
Hey, Where’s My … $600.00 Tax Cut?
Does the city pay for Gaudett’s flashy Escalade? And when is he gonna move to Bridgeport like he’s supposed to? And does that include police cars?
Gaudett’s Escalade/pimp mobile wastes more gas than any other car in their fleet, yet he drives it home every night to somewhere near Danbury I believe. He won’t move back to the city anyone soon, ’cause that would take cojones.
I think Gaudett lives in Newtown.
Pimp my Ride! Check out the place on Fairfield Avenue just up or down and across the street from the Post Office.
Awesome Cars!!!
I’m just waiting for Finch and Company along with Paul Timpanelli to take credit for this one. The place has brought great curb appeal to the building. Bill Finch and his peeps are not very appealing to the owner as they had zero assistance from the mayor with inspection issues.
Hopefully Finch won’t hurt himself while patting himself on the back. Silly Bridgeport voters will now re-elect him because of B.S. election time wool pulled over the eyes tricks like paving Madison Ave. or taking away cars. I’ll take politics for $100 Alex … The answer “Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.” WHAT IS BRIDGEPORT POLITICS?
PAVE THIS!
How the hell can this City afford to pave 50 streets at a cost $30 million, and not fund Fire & Police Pension Plan A?
Rob from Peter to pay O.G., While Sal DiNardo Salivates.
Who’s running this City … Mario? Madoff?
Alex, I’ll take Dumb as dirt Taxpayers for $400.
A little background on city vehicles from the Bridgeport Code of Ordinances:
2.44.020 Storage.
All motor vehicles owned by the city and not exempted by the director of public facilities shall, when not in actual use for city purposes, be stored in the city’s garages.
2.44.030 Lettering.
Each motor vehicle owned by the city shall be permanently and conspicuously lettered with the design adopted by the director of public facilities in letters not less than one inch in height, with the name of the department to which it belongs.
2.44.070 Use of vehicles restricted–Penalty.
Motor vehicles owned by the city shall be used only for the purposes of the city and operated only by city employees. Any violation of this provision shall constitute grounds for immediate suspension from office.
So, is this more BS from BF? Seems like they were violating city ordinances all along.
A little birdie, that I hope will jump ship, told me the harbormaster still has a car. It must be one of those amFIBious vehicles Mayor Fibber is telling us about, how it runs on water. Bill has become so holier than thou he probably thinks he walks on water.
Hope to see everybody at the parade on Sunday!
The residents of Bridgeport should have a chance to bid on them before selling them to out-of-towners or fleets. The ones that are passed over by our citizens can than be offered (at a reasonable cost) to others at auction.
Promises, promises …
Hey Dollar Bill,
Please consider this simple proposal. Why don’t we leave the mucho-macho gas-guzzling Escalades in Bridgeport? You now have a fleet of more “Green” vehicles at your disposal. There are many cars that are less fuel consumptive that are available for take-home vehicles.
If Bill Finch had brains he’d be dangerous …
Kid,
Then I guess he’s not dangerous. This is another example of too little too late. Three months before the primary he fulfills a promise he made three years ago. In the event he gets re-elected, the take-home fleet will return to an armada.
Bar owner claims Red Sox-lovin’ mayor yanked liquor license after objecting to name, Buck Foston’s.
MJF has a serious shot at defeating One Term Willie in the primary.
If the primary were held tomorrow, Finch would win. MJF/John Gomes must combine forces to defeat him. They must put their personal egos aside to beat Finch. This is not a beauty contest, it is a fight for the very survival of our fair city.
Get a load of this!!! To City Employees! Does that include City Council Members who might otherwise forget or ignore their tax bills???
And they offer five days of EXTENDED HOURS 8:00AM to 4:00PM! Eight hours are considered extended hours. Give me a break! Only one Saturday. But they will have extended hours on August 1st as a convenience to collect one day’s worth of interest on your unpaid balance.
AND THEY HONESTLY THINK THEY ARE PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH A GREAT SERVICE BY DOING THIS!!!
from: Kelly-Lenz, Anne Anne.Kelly-Lenz@bridgeportct.gov
to: “City.BOE.Employees”
date: Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 2:43 PM
subject: Tax season
mailed-by: bridgeportct.gov
The tax bills were sent out yesterday June 30th 2011. Below you will find the various tax bill payment options that the City offers during tax season for your convenience to avoid waiting in line at the Tax Collector’s office at the end of the month.
Current Tax Bills:
* Any Fairfield County Branch of People’s United Bank – You do not need an account there and they will issue you a receipt. Service ends July 29th
* Mail payment in return envelope included with tax bill – Processed within 24-48 hours upon receipt.
* Drop off box in tax office beside ATM – No Cash. If you need a receipt, please include a return envelope with your department clearly marked on it.
* On-line payment at http://www.bridgeportct.gov/TAXCOLLECTOR/Pages/BillLookup.aspx or at the counter in the Tax Collector’s office
Delinquent Tax Bills:
* On-line payment at http://www.bridgeportct.gov/TAXCOLLECTOR/Pages/BillLookup.aspx or at the counter in the Tax Collector’s office
* Mail in payment with updated information from on-line tax bill at http://www.bridgeportct.gov/TAXCOLLECTOR/Pages/BillLookup.aspx
* The due date for delinquent taxes is July 30th t to avoid additional interest
* You will need to come into the office if you have to register a vehicle at DMV.
We will have extended the hours of operation at the end of the month:
July 25th through 29th–8.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday July 30th–8.00am through 3.00pm
Monday August 1st–8.00am through 4.00pm
Please note that back office staff do not take payments and will not answer the back office door for security reasons.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Tax Office (203) 576-7271 or e-mail us at collector311@bridgeportct.gov
Thank you,
Anne Kelly-Lenz CCMC
Tax Collector
City of Bridgeport
45 Lyon Terrace.
Bridgeport CT 06604
Maybe Anne Kelly-Lenz will do me the favor of coming by my home to pick up my tax payment. I mean “No one ever asked before,” right?
Stratford has ‘Smart Cars’ that they purchased in Bridgeport. BPT should do the same. They are cheap, fuel efficient and can only carry one person.
It would never work here. You’d need room for Finch and his ego.
Lennie, I think I found your car:
www .ctpost.com/news/article/Car-on-I-95-south-bursts-into-flames-1447203.php
*** Don’t believe the political hype! *** CHANGE ***
Does this include the take-home cars WITHOUT municipal plates?
People like Tom Sherwood, Andy Nunn, Adam Wood, etc. never should have had take-home cars to begin with. Now for those 3-1/2 years, the value of the car has been added to their income thereby increasing their pension benefits. What a scam. Watch these cars slowly come back IF Finch wins re-election.
What will the Contracts Committee do on Tuesday night? Will they rubber stamp Bill Finch’s special deal with AFSCME even though the state budget is uncertain? If I were on that committee I would move that the item be tabled until the state budget is finalized. Too bad the committee members don’t have the balls to oppose Finch.
city hall smoker // Jul 2, 2011 at 8:54 am
To your posting
CHS,
Bingo …
When is Ms. Curry going to weigh in? She’s overdue with the spun-dry rhetoric and campaign propaganda.
So my barber told me starting next week there will be tax on hair cuts, all I can do is smh. I regret the day I voted for Dan Malloy. Hey Malloy instead of taxing working-class people who got you elected why don’t you tax the hell out of the rich Fairfield gold coast people who did not vote for you? I am heated with the Malloy administration. He would never get a vote from me taxing the living hell out of working-class people. If you want to cut spending eliminate food stamps to those lazy people who don’t want to work. I have had it up to here with Democrats and Republicans, they’re all the same at the end of the day.
Just saw Marty McCarthy’s pizza truck parked on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock. Does anyone know if he’s paid the taxes on that vehicle?
hahaha Bridgeport Kid I was saying the same thing, went to the Mexican store right next to where he was serving pizza. Where the hell did he get that fire truck from, did he pay taxes for it and wonder if that worker he had baking pizza is a legal immigrant!!!
If the guy is an illegal immigrant he’s not the only one in the city of Bridgeport. I do have to wonder if he is paid under the table.
Fire Chief Rooney must be fired, it was his failed leadership that lead to the death of two city firefighters.
Finally the city is ready for change. Anyone but Finch.
DonTito, although the topic was City take-home vehicles I use some of your words, leadership and the death of two city firefighters. Now that the OFFICIAL REPORT is out concerning the death of two city firefighters, where is the LEADERSHIP of the Bridgeport City Council and the Bridgeport Fire Commissioners, what actions are they going to take or are they just going to sit on their hands saying nothing and doing nothing after the death of two brave Bridgeport firefighters.
That Chief, an old belligerent line mule who knows nothing about leading men and women, suffering from dementia I’ll bet, was so focused on other BS in the BFD he completely lost site of the important tenets of running a fire department. One, that cost the lives of two of the men, was not making sure the companies were out doing their surveys in their districts. If this would have been monitored, that illegal three-family around the corner from the firehouse would have been discovered and reported to the fire marshal and corrected!!! “That,” people, is the responsibility of the fire chief. He is a huge liability to the men and women of the fire department and to the taxpayers of Bridgeport. How he was ever chosen for Chief is beyond me.
BARF, Chief Rooney has accomplish what he was hired for, to make sure firefighters kept their mouths and opinions and comments out of the media or else, and to babysit the department. If you notice the only once speaking on the problems of the fire department are those who are off the fire department. Nothing from the membership or the union. Why? They are all scared.
BARF, if you are going to blame Rooney at least get it right. The dwelling was listed as a two-family dwelling and thus not inspected during mobile inspections. Mobile inspections are the responsibility of the company officers who in essence work for Rooney. The question you should be asking is why wasn’t the dwelling owner arrested.
Ron I disagree with you in this respect. The union is no different than the other city unions, they suffer from NBA, no balls at all.
There is enough blame to go around for the loss of these two brave men. Everyone involved in this fire owns a piece of it including the two lost heroes.
tc, I did get it right. The companies I mentioned are, by “Operating Procedural Guidelines,” or OPGs, commanded by the Chief to inspect the dwellings in their district, as you know. They are the front line troops … especially when it comes to two-families, over which the fire marshal has no jurisdiction unless there is a complaint or a known violation of smoke detectors and fire alarms. Without a complaint from a civilian, or from a line Lt or Captain, those two-families changed to three-families are undetectable.
Ron, the union has stepped up and explained to the mayor that after the NIOSH report, and violation from OSHA, and also the matter I am trying to explain, and some new issues with a faulty radio system that the Chief was warned about, Local 834 is pleading that the Chief’s contract not be extended. Expect to hear more on this in the media. Recently, the mayor has been kind to the BFD, but he was blind to the everyday workings of the FD. Now he knows, so he should take care to rid himself of this liability.
Lennie, feelings are running strong on this thread, maybe you should look into it. Oh yeah, I do believe the mayor IS going to eliminate the take-home cars as he says. He has, too. Already department heads who have allowed some to exist, the Mayor has found out and stopped them!
Andy–I would urge you to take caution when attempting to lay blame for the tragic events of July 24, 2010. You have no clue as to what happened that day and have even less of a clue when it comes to the series of irresponsible decisions made by Chief Rooney leading up to that awful day. I realize you fought a couple of fires many years ago and then retreated to desk duty but please realize much has changed since then. I always had you pegged as a self-righteous blowhard, and your attempt to lay any of the blame on these two heroes is all the confirmation I need to reaffirm my opinion. You’ll know who I am when we cross paths again … trust me!
park city fan take your threat and stick it up your ass. I am in the book, stop by tough guy. First off 14 years on Squad 5 encompasses more than a few fires, match that.
Get some experience in firefighting and fire investigation before you mouth off.
It is my understanding equipment is checked by on-duty personnel before, during and after use. However, the report points out the failure was at the physical/mechanical testing of equipment because testing didn’t occur prior to being given to on-duty personnel along with a host of other CRITICAL failures. I.e. chiefs/division heads. Another Rooney failure … the buck starts and stops at his desk, and a politically appointed Fire Commissioners Board that rubber stamps anything Rooney tells them.
Any jury that reads this report and hears sworn testimony would award a minimum of 3 million dollars in a lawsuit for each the families of these brave men. How do you sleep at night, Rooney?
There needs to be a Rooney, Deputy Fire Chiefs and Board of Fire Commissioners all need to be fired THREAD. Show those brave men and women of the BFD that others will speak up if they don’t and are afraid to.
This is your board of Fire Commissioners and according to the city’s website all the terms are expired. The plaintiff’s attorneys are going to have a field day with this group. Gotta love it. They have allowed Rooney to do whatever he wants with impunity. The facts don’t lie, but Rooney does.
James Meszoros Expired 1/2010
Mary Lee Expired 1/2006
Jonathan Klein Expired 1/2007
Stuart Rosenberg Expired 1/2007 (Pres. useless)
Edgar Rodriguez Expired 1/2011
Doris Gaskin Expired 1/2008
Ana Garcia Expired 1/2008 V.P. (useless)
Andy–
Just to be clear, my earlier post was not intended to be a threat of physical harm. I wouldn’t waste my time on some sawed-off little shit like yourself. Not to mention you’re like 70 years old and I’m pretty sure there are laws on the books which allow old jerks like you to run their mouths without consequence.
With that being said, I don’t care how many years you spent on the squad and how many fires you claim to have gone to before retreating to a desk. You are a disgrace to the fire service.
There is a term used in the fire service to describe guys like you … and that term is shitbag! Of course you probably know that from all your years on the squad.
Do you know what a shitbag is? It’s someone who posts threats under a pen name and does not have the balls to identify themselves. Don’t let my age get in the way. BTW the arson squad was not a desk job but think what you will!!! When you call someone a shitbag look in the mirror first. Sure, you don’t care how many fires I went to because you can’t match it. Read the report objectively and not with your heart on your sleeve.
Now go get your f**king shine box!
Little racist here? NO.
*** Blame for everything associated with the tragic death of the two BPT firefighters must be shared by all @ the BFD & the cuts affecting them by this admin, no? *** RIP ***
park city fan, you know you have the right to say what you want, but tc is not the problem in the Bridgeport Fire Department. Chief Rooney, Mayor Finch and David Dunn are the problem and in my opinion are where any attack should go.
tc–As a current member of the BFD, I find your comments as a retiree very troubling and disappointing.
As someone who claims to have done the job, and knows the job, you should have guarded your words a little better. Anyone who has ever been charged to perform a primary and search for extension on the floor above, particularly on such a hot, sweltering day, would certainly know better.
The job you claim to know and understand is long gone. I do not know who you speak with who is still on the job, but you are disillusioned and misinformed. There were many problems that day, there were many problems before that day, and by and large, they all still exist. I could be wrong, and I do not care for you to comment, but if I had to guess, you probably get your information from the same people who have created/perpetuated the problems that have become so prevalent in the BFD.
One thing people should understand. The “good old days” weren’t always so good, and when people leave something so long ago, they often forget all the bad things, including their own shortcomings. The negative doesn’t usually fit conveniently into who they want to be remembered as. One thing that was taught to me very early on this job–you are who you are, and not everyone is going to like you. The highest compliment anyone can ever place on you is you are/were a good firefighter. I am disgusted a retiree who claims to hold the BFD and all it represents in such high regard would smear those two men, but you are who you are. I have been told back in the day you were a good fireman. That I cannot take from you. But you, my friend, are clearly no “brother” to the current members of the BFD and particularly to those fallen men and their families.
Feel free to continue your self-righteous banter here. I’m not listening; maybe some people are but believe me when I say you do not speak for the current membership of the BFD.
The OSHA report didn’t even scratch the surface. The NIOSH report hopefully opened the door, and I pray the State Police report kicks it in. This is only the beginning, not the end.
Steve and Mich were great men–both in the department and in the community. I pray for your soul someday you will understand the gravity of your comments.
A measure of a man is not how smart, tough or witty they come across in some internet blog. It’s by real-life actions and the positive impact they leave on people and their community every day. That was Steve and Mich.
Good day.
What I said was not a smear on the two fallen heroes, it was a statement that mistakes were made by all. That’s not smearing anyone. Does it make them any less heroic? No it does not. Read the reports. I am sorry you thought what I wrote was a smear but you are wrong on that count.
If there are still problems in the FD as it relates to responses and firefighting techniques then it’s incumbent of the union and the membership to stand up and demand change.
parkcityfan, and HereWeGo, I don’t know who you are but there are some things you are saying I agree with and other things I don’t but now that you have had your complaints about tc we must move on and deal with the NIOSH report. Look, I met tc as a rookie in 1982 and had disagreement with him from the start until now. We agree on very little but if he said something I agree with I might make a comment but I catch hell from some in doing that. I do know who BARF, Come On Man and tc are and I have never called them names or attack them for what they say. I will address their comments.
We know what and who the real problems are in the Bridgeport Fire Department and it is NOT US.
RESIGN NOW ROONEY, YOU WERE OVER YOUR HEAD FROM THE TIME FABRIZI APPOINTED YOU AND NOW YOU HAVE THE BLOOD OF TWO GREAT MEN ON YOUR HANDS. BE ACCOUNTABLE, YOU ARE NO MORE THAN A NARCISSISTIC FAILED LEADER. BE A MAN FOR ONCE! AND MEMBERS OF THE BFD STAND UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD FOR ONCE. BE MEN AND WOMEN OF CONVICTION!
DAN TEPFER, GET A COPY OF ROONEY’S APPLICATION FOR FIRE CHIEF AND COMPARE IT TO THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES AND YOU’LL SEE THIS WAS A MAILED-IN APPOINTMENT BY FABRIZI AND THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS. ROONEY FINISHED IN THE TOP 3 BECAUSE HE HAD VETERAN’S POINTS ADDED TO HIS SCORE, OTHERWISE HE COULDN’T HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION. THE NUMBER-ONE CANDIDATE FINISHED 12 POINTS AHEAD WITH NO VETERAN POINTS.
ROONEY INSTEAD OF PAYING BOHANNON $800,000.00 IN LEGAL FEES YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING TO GET THE SCBAs TESTED OR BOUGHT NEW ONES. PIG!
Oh yeah … the other day, after the “new” rules, I saw a Bridgeport Fire Department SUV in Trumbull parked in a driveway on Wakely … is that where the Chief lives? Wait, no, the Chief lives in Monroe, next door to Mario, and the Chief doesn’t have an SUV!