Comments for Mayor Jim's Weblog http://jimfior02.wordpress.com A blog about the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:46:23 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by followtherules http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-109 followtherules Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:46:23 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-109 Mayor why don't you just follow the rules that you agreed to and signed??? Negotiate in good faith and resolve the problem the right way. Please please reply and tell me why you have decided to not follow the contract? Mayor why don’t you just follow the rules that you agreed to and signed??? Negotiate in good faith and resolve the problem the right way. Please please reply and tell me why you have decided to not follow the contract?

]]> Comment on City finances by chippy2 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/city-finances/#comment-108 chippy2 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:13:31 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=69#comment-108 While I sympathize with city employees with the rise in expenses, the same problem exsists throughout the community. As a retiree, living solely on Social Security, I have the same problem. I live from month to month and hope I have enough to cover expenses. I can assure you the kitty is empty until my next check comes in and I worry, knowing there will be an increase in the property tax next year. I think our city employees do a great job, but there are a lot of folks working three jobs just to meet expenses. I guess they'll just have to get in line with the rest of us. While I sympathize with city employees with the rise in expenses, the same problem exsists throughout the community. As a retiree, living solely on Social Security, I have the same problem. I live from month to month and hope I have enough to cover expenses. I can assure you the kitty is empty until my next check comes in and I worry, knowing there will be an increase in the property tax next year. I think our city employees do a great job, but there are a lot of folks working three jobs just to meet expenses. I guess they’ll just have to get in line with the rest of us.

]]> Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by bobmc http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-106 bobmc Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:39:24 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-106 Reenie, all our fire fighters are union. We belong to a local with our own E-board and bargaining committee. They get paid nothing. There is a very small stipend for a couple of members who do a special job. But I assure you it doesn't cover any real costs. Reenie, all our fire fighters are union. We belong to a local with our own E-board and bargaining committee. They get paid nothing. There is a very small stipend for a couple of members who do a special job. But I assure you it doesn’t cover any real costs.

]]> Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by bobmc http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-105 bobmc Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:35:25 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-105 The city council said you couldn't live in this city on 60k, about 6 years ago. And I think times have changed a little since then, Jacko. I know there's alot of people making less than that if anything at all, just walk down How St. Tell me you haven't received a raise in 5 years. I've always lived well within my means, but can still feel the pinch because of no cost of living increase. Ask your parents if they could afford to live now on what they made 50 years ago. It's a simple fact of life. Some people get it, some don't, kind a like playing music I hear. The city council said you couldn’t live in this city on 60k, about 6 years ago. And I think times have changed a little since then, Jacko. I know there’s alot of people making less than that if anything at all, just walk down How St. Tell me you haven’t received a raise in 5 years. I’ve always lived well within my means, but can still feel the pinch because of no cost of living increase. Ask your parents if they could afford to live now on what they made 50 years ago. It’s a simple fact of life. Some people get it, some don’t, kind a like playing music I hear.

]]> Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by reconrob http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-104 reconrob Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:21:54 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-104 Hey nice to see you back on here shot down sun. Did you find a new band to play with since being replace for your old band. I saw them with you and without you in the band and i think they are much better without you. Good luck and again welcome back. Hey nice to see you back on here shot down sun. Did you find a new band to play with since being replace for your old band. I saw them with you and without you in the band and i think they are much better without you. Good luck and again welcome back.

]]> Comment on Controlling Sick Time and Overtime by reenie88 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/controlling-sick-time-overtime-errors-in-tribune-story/#comment-103 reenie88 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:56:49 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=29#comment-103 The information needs to be provided to the department heads so they can do their jobs. The information needs to be provided to the department heads so they can do their jobs.

]]> Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by sdsguitar310 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-101 sdsguitar310 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:17:12 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-101 Anyone who says they can't live in this city on $60,000 a year is stupid. You think $60,000 a year is peanuts? This is a very affordable city. Look at your daily expenses. What kind of car do you drive? How much electricity are you wasting? How much are you spending on groceries that could be cheaper at another store? What kind of house do you live in? Anyone who can't live in Haverhill for $60,000 a year is living beyond their means. Most people in this country drive an SUV, live in a big house that is twice as big as they need, waste elctricty, and then complain about the "high cost of living". You need to make sacrifices, like everyone else. When times are tough the first thing you do is reduce expenses, not increase income. Anyone who says they can’t live in this city on $60,000 a year is stupid. You think $60,000 a year is peanuts? This is a very affordable city. Look at your daily expenses. What kind of car do you drive? How much electricity are you wasting? How much are you spending on groceries that could be cheaper at another store? What kind of house do you live in? Anyone who can’t live in Haverhill for $60,000 a year is living beyond their means. Most people in this country drive an SUV, live in a big house that is twice as big as they need, waste elctricty, and then complain about the “high cost of living”. You need to make sacrifices, like everyone else. When times are tough the first thing you do is reduce expenses, not increase income.

]]> Comment on Mayor Orders Restrictions on Take Home Vehicles by personwithanopinion http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/mayor-orders-restrictions-on-take-home-vehicles/#comment-100 personwithanopinion Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:22:08 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-100 Hi Jim: Can we have an answer to our questions? An update would be awesome!! Hi Jim: Can we have an answer to our questions? An update would be awesome!!

]]> Comment on The High Cost of Union Time Off by reenie88 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/the-high-cost-of-union-time-off/#comment-99 reenie88 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:31:48 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-99 PLEASE re-read my previous message and allow me to clarify.........my comment was in NO way referring to the Firefighter's salaries or your firehouse.........it was regarding the Unions having gone BIG business NOT the firefighters. And my point was simply that it might be wise to rethink the Union.........you might do far better with your negotiations dealing directly with your employer. Take a minute one day and see what the Union guys earn a year. Please know every citizen in this city should feel that 'all' city employees deserve to earn a living wage and should have decent benefits, as well. If positions are not filled thereby requiring the use of overtime by any city employee, then there should be no comment made about that either. The question would then be..........why are positions not being filled and why are city employees expected to go to work each day with no current contract in place? I would pose that question to the Mayor. Surely when a group of adults communes.......an agreement can be reached. I believe it is time for every citizen to start paying attention to what's going on in this city and listening to the valid grievances of our employees and on the other hand perhaps every city employee might also keep in mind that those of us who do work and pay our taxes-(including all of you)-would just like to feel that the negotiations that take place are fair and, of course, beneficial to all. That way......everyone wins! And in closing..........please know how much gratitude there is in my heart for the life threatening work you guys do on a daily basis~ PLEASE re-read my previous message and allow me to clarify………my comment was in NO way referring to the Firefighter’s salaries or your firehouse………it was regarding the Unions having gone BIG business NOT the firefighters. And my point was simply that it might be wise to rethink the Union………you might do far better with your negotiations dealing directly with your employer. Take a minute one day and see what the Union guys earn a year.

Please know every citizen in this city should feel that ‘all’ city employees deserve to earn a living wage and should have decent benefits, as well.

If positions are not filled thereby requiring the use of overtime by any city employee, then there should be no comment made about that either. The question would then be……….why are positions not being filled and why are city employees expected to go to work each day with no current contract in place? I would pose that question to the Mayor. Surely when a group of adults communes…….an agreement can be reached.

I believe it is time for every citizen to start paying attention to what’s going on in this city and listening to the valid grievances of our employees and on the other hand perhaps every city employee might also keep in mind that those of us who do work and pay our taxes-(including all of you)-would just like to feel that the negotiations that take place are fair and, of course, beneficial to all. That way……everyone wins!

And in closing……….please know how much gratitude there is in my heart for the life threatening work you guys do on a daily basis~

]]> Comment on More on sick leave by 4truthnjustice http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/more-on-sick-leave-and-kudos-to-the-police/#comment-98 4truthnjustice Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:22:17 +0000 http://jimfior02.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-98 Mayor, I reviewed your numbers again today and realized you referred to the total number of hours used by both the police Department and the Fire Department from 2005 to 2007 and then converted the per person usage to days. I can't follow your math when you make your conversions. For example; 801.5 hours in 2007 for the Fire Department equates to 7.56 day per employee? My math was less than 1 day per employee in 2007 and increased to 1.34 in 2008. Also the trend of sick time is rising, I agree, but could this be the result of fewer personnel being required to do more and work longer hours to provide all services the citizens of Haverhill require? Mayor,

I reviewed your numbers again today and realized you referred to the total number of hours used by both the police Department and the Fire Department from 2005 to 2007 and then converted the per person usage to days. I can’t follow your math when you make your conversions. For example; 801.5 hours in 2007 for the Fire Department equates to 7.56 day per employee? My math was less than 1 day per employee in 2007 and increased to 1.34 in 2008.
Also the trend of sick time is rising, I agree, but could this be the result of fewer personnel being required to do more and work longer hours to provide all services the citizens of Haverhill require?

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