Fire Chief is fired for refusing to cut his budget

[Charlie Page]

Certainly a bold move in tough times by the Shaker Heights Mayor. Could this be a wake up call to City administrators everywhere (not just fire chiefs)? Either make necessary cuts or we'll find someone who can.

"We had prolonged discussions, but in the end, he refused to come up with anything," said Leiken. "We need a chief who can be flexible enough and creative enough to find the best plan."

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07 ... _dona.html

[Bill Call]

This post deserves more comment and attention than it is going to get.

The cost of pay and benefits for government employees undermines economic growth and starves needed development.

Some Lakewood firefighters will soon be retiring with pensions of $75,000 a year or more. Most of them are enrolled in the drop program which means they will be receiving a lump some distribution of up $250,000 on the day they retire with no reduction in benefits.

Their defenders will say, "They earned it". I say, "They have only earned the pension benefit that is fully funded. In the State of Ohio that means they have earned about half of what they are going to receive."

[Gary Rice]

Just my opinion, but I will continue to defend public employees and their pensions, as long as their pay continues to be (cough) somewhat less than what some of our CEOS make.

So, for those who risk their lives and health fighting our fires, protecting our own lives and properties, and for those who teach our children... (and yes, they too often risk both their lives and their health in doing so)

...they earned it.

Yes, they earned every dime of those pensions; if for no other reason than having to endure those meager scratch-gravel salaries that they receive for so many years during the first part of their careers.

A pat on the back is simply not enough for the important jobs they must do for our society.