The police union said that it will not be used as a scapegoat for Mayor Art Ward's decision to cancel plans for fireworks during the city's 225th anniversary celebration next month.
According to a press release sent out by the union last night, neither Police Chief John DiVenere nor any other city officials talked with the union before the mayor announced he would cancel the fireworks show on June 12.
"The membership of the Bristol Police Union was never even offered the opportunity to work the event," according to the release from Peter Kott, the union president.
When the police union learned of the supposed staffing problems, it expressed a willingness to talk with city leaders to find a solution, the union said.
"Whatever the real reasons behind the cancellation of the event, "we can assure the residents of the city of Bristol that the Bristol Police Union is not the impediment here."
"We have a long record of community involvement and we recognize the historic nature of this event," the release said. "The union will not be used as scapegoats."
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
50 comments:
Did Ward mispeak?
Is that becoming contagious?
Mayor Ward better have a better excuse now! Lets see he raised Taxes in the worst economy since the great depression and now just when you think the city is about to do something to get peoples minds off their troubles - he rips the carpet from under the feet not once this month but twice now! Whats next?
Sadly, this is not a surprise. I can't wait for halloween - maybe Art Ward can masquerade as a leader.
Tom Dickau for Mayor.
How is it that all of a sudden we are seeing such animosity between the administration and so many groups in the city: volunteers, committee members, bargaining units?
We keep going like this and we will self destruct
11:28:
"all of a sudden"?? there's nothing sudden about the animosity that has existed between the mayor and other city entities. maybe the blinders have just been pulled off.
If this was a Veterans event Art Ward would find the money for it.
The police only care about the big bucks screw the tax payers. Changes should be made to stop the greed.
2:39
Only if he was the center of attraction!
Typical Ward blame others for his short comings and ba@%less choices.
So sad Ward that the public can see right through you.
12:12
It wasn't like this with previous administrations.
"May 28, 2010 2:39 PM says: If this was a Veterans event Art Ward would find the money for it."
You got that right. Too bad there wasn't any investigative reporting being done on how Artie the Party is using the arts and tourism money now that he has disbanded the committee that used to give the grants to non-profits. Word on the street is that the veterans groups are getting cash without filling out the applications.
I blame Ward and his micromanaging.
I blame the greedy union officals. Its never enough. People in bristol are going in the hole every day. They try to blame others. Its time Bristol made changes. Get rid of all Unions.
8:30
Who is minding the store?
John,
Just more of your typical ball-less, anonymous comments.
So sad that the public can see right through you (or maybe not so sad).
"Word on the street is..."
If you know this for a fact 8:30 PM, please step forward with your proof. If not, then save your gossip for bingo night.
Don't blame anybody, don't hold anyone accountable for anything. Poor vision, poor planning and complete lack of fiscal responsibility. But hey you are right if people wanted change, more than 23% would have turned out to wote these clowns out of office. 5%(and I think that is being generous, I actually think it will be much more) tax raise JUST TO KEEP THE CITY IN THE SORRY SHAPE IT's IN NOW. Way to go voters. I won't argue with you. I voted for change, this is what ou voted for. I DO NOT want this to be my city.
The Chief is a liar. This man is probably the biggest misfit in bristol.
Bring back Stortz!
In BRISTOL anything goes no leadership just a bunch of jerks in controll. Working for the unions. Thats right the UNION SCUMBAGS.
Mr. Kott:
I blame you (for your part) in the unsutainable cost of public safety and (to a lesser degree) the inability of the PD to control crime.
I, and I think most, couldn't care less about your statement on the fireworks.
9:08
Keep in mind that all contracts are negotiated by the Mayor and a greed to by your elected officials.
Ward must have voted on at least four police contracts: how many did he approve?
The city should buy a bunch of DUMMIES dress them up in cop uniforms holding a dunkin donut cup give them cell phones. Place them around town and you would have a better police dept. Then our chief would fit in.
GET R5ID OF THIS UNION
12:46
Same thing for our council: all SEVEN of them!
"The city should buy a bunch of DUMMIES"
Why buy them when we have so many of them here making comments on the blog. What are you and 4:55 PM doing this week?
May 30 12:18 poster: PROVE IT!!! I'm sick and tired of people blaming the unions for everything. It's disgusting. The unions are also there to protect the workers and give them rights. Yes, I know we are in the "union bashing" mode, but it's time that Ward CUT spending, CUT, CUT, CUT and that the state CUT spending and all these programs for people who are more than capable of working but they've been on the dole so long all they know how to do is hold their hands out and demand what they feel that are "entitled" to! That's where the money is going. If I see one more young adult hanging out all day long walking the streets of Bristol, I'm going to scream! Hey, lazy bums, get off your duffs and WORK!!!!!!!
June 1, 2010 1:50 PM:
You're right the fact that the unions are out of control and are too powerful is not the fault of the unions. It's the fault of the people who elect the Democrats that gacve them all this power and let them get out of control.
7:27
I'm working so that I can pay my taxes!
How about you?
June 1, 2010 1:50 PM:
Cut spending? It's the unions that won't let him! Get your head out of your ___ man!
Send the union a message. Start the layoffs
May 31, 2010 11:25 AM:
It's called binding arbitration. The unions have us and the elected (or erected, depending on what side they're on) officials bent over a f___ing barrel.
hey 1:50, you said "Hey, lazy bums, get off your duffs and WORK!!!!!!!"
You should be screaming that at our union city workers! At least the kids aren't getting paid for sitting around on their arses like these city union workers are. It's hard to cut spending when so much of it goes toward union employee salary and benefits.
Dear police officers:
While I can respect your point of view and can accept most of it, I do disagree with some of it. I respect your intestinal fortitude and courage for choosing this profession but having said that, that is exactly my point.
You choose this profession so you know and understand the risks that are inherint to law enforcement. Do I think a police officer should make $20,000 a year? Of course not. Do I think a police officer should make 80K 90K or 100K plus with overtime? Absolutely not and here is my reason. If all you are doing is claiming on your side that you are in "harm's way" on a daily basis, is not it my right to believe that someone that works so many hours working overtime certainly will not be "at thier best" should a real crisis occur. I spent 13 years in the Marine Corps and I refuse to believe a cop that is working 70, 80 or 90 hours a week is an effective police officer and able to serve the public at the top of his game.
The crux of the problem is this. Unions that revolve around jobs that are generated by taxpayer dollars just don't work. Yes they were severely needed at one point in time to get working conditions fair for you guys and up to par. But as it stands now, 1 Bristol police office plus benefits equals what almost 5 taxpayers earn. Do I think $1,000 for a uniform allowance is crazy? Absolutely. Say what you want but most know that money rarely gets spent on new uniforms.
So what do you do? Police, Fire and Teachers outweigh what the average Bristol single taxpayer makes by almost 5 to 1. It's simple economics that a budget will get turned upside down eventually. I believe we are almost at that point. Simple equation everyone always uses. If my household bills are 5x greater than my income, well we all know what happens. Why is not the same principle held to taxpayer generated workers? Some of you that post and say that we have no right to whine or gripe, the rebutt for that is well, you are jsut as free to seek jobs in better managed municipalities also. Yes there are plenty of cuts that can be made elsewhere, but in all fairness, most of you vote Democratic and have let the chicken raid the hen house, now when the time has finally come to pay the piper becasue we are broke, we have every right as tax paying citizens to put you under a microscope and call you guys for what you are.
Our education until recently was seriously flawed, with many schools on probation, but yet we have administrators retired and active making 100k plus. We can't teach them, it's the parents...Again you take the job you know the risks and demographics.
How many days a month do firefighters actually work. What is the shift rotation, 1 on 3 off? If that is the case then you are working 8 days a month. Teachers work what 190 days a year? What happened to the days when a teacher had to take a second job liek a lot of us? That is beneath you, but it is ok for me to do it as long as I pay for you? I think not.
Like I said I do not liek the direction that this town is going but again with 23% of the voters voting on the local election (which is the election that affects us most) most must be ok with it. I am not. What if we woke up one day and refused to pay our taxes, not jsut one, but thousands of us? Remember where you came from and who you work for.
7:17
All he (Ward ) has todo is cut the budget.
He chairs the Joint Board, he nominates the members.
Did ANY OF HIS APPOINTMENTS move to make line item cuts in the budget??
To June 2, 12:52 a.m.:
Get your facts straight. Firefighters in Bristol work 3 days, have 3 days off followed by 3nights. On average, they work 16 days per month (4 less than the average M-F worker), 42 hours per week at base pay (no OT for their normal 42 hour work week).
I'm a former Bristol public school teacher and I don't see any scholars or good students from high school becoming cops, but I do see many of the lower ranked students who were trouble makers and bullies that do become Bristol cops. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue behaving just like the did when they were in school, except now they have a badge.
June 2, 2010 1:12 PM:
It the bennies and pensions stupid.
June 2, 2010 2:54 PM:
If you really are a former educator, you're a classic example of what is wrong with our education system. You should be ashamed of yourself.
June 2, 4:19 pm:
Are you talking about the pension that is self funded by the firefighters? The one that the city does not contribute $1 to? And the same benefits that all other city unions and employees get and to which the firefighters and most other city employees co-pay for? It bears repeating...get your facts straight.
2:54 poster: you should absolutely be ashamed of yourself! I don't believe you are a teacher anymore than I am a police officer. Most, if not all, of the police officers on the Bristol Police Department are educated, caring individuals who maintain order ... not that are the cause of it. You speak so poorly of these brave men and women, but what disturbs me the most is if you are ever in need, and I'm sure one day you will be, you will not hesitate to pick up that phone and dial 911. Apparently they're not stupid enough for you to ask for help. You're a hypocrite!
June 2, 2010 7:40 PM:
Where do you think the "fund" came from? It's absolutely a farce that the taxpayers don't contribute to public safety pensions and benefits.
And you're probably the same person who constantly bashes "Wall Street", capitalism and everything that finances the pension and bennie "fund". What about the city and state deficits? What about the trillions of dollars in government debt? What's going to happen when the dollar gets devalued and the Dow drops with all these unsustainbale public commitments? You just don't get it. It's private enterprise that powers this country not the public sector!
1:12, cry me a river.
for the fire dept this town doen`t need full time firemen maybe just first shift. that`s what should happen this town doesn`t need all fire houses up at night that`s were the cut backs should be.
2:30 - but then they would have to get jobs, real jobs.
This town doesnt need a police dept this size.We need to make cuts and go non union.
Who is running this city?
Where is the Mayor?
3:51
What Mayor?
T0 2:55:
If the police union "traced" our URL websites as you suggest do you realize that would probably go down in history as one of the biggest 1st and 4th Ammendment rights violation in the history of this country. If they traced my URL to anything that was non-criminal as you are suggesting, I would sue the pants of this city and take it to Federal Court. I am not ungrateful to the men and women that choose to serve our communities and keep it safe, but it is people liek you that have no concept that the 4th Ammendment was written so that ordinary citizens maintain reasonable rights, even under "probable cause" You shoot the innocent until proven guilty theory right down the drain. Using your logic, I am not entitled as a taxpayer to wonder what the civil servants I am paying for are doing? You really should move to a socialist or communist country and get a grip on life then come back and tell me that I am not free to express my opinion.
Let them trace the blog - you will find that Ward is the biggest blogger, not to mention blogging for himself. What a loser he is.
Ward takes care of himself, his friends and family, afterall - his son had a city job, as his son-in-law, and all his friends. Yep - Ward taking care of those he wants and screw the rest.
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