Comments on: PRESS: FOLEY RESIGNS, FACES DUI CHARGE

By: concerned

concerned — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:16:41 +0000

Took less than 2 days to find out who skull was problem

By: Captain Nemo

Captain Nemo — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:45:04 +0000

Get over it everyone – this issue too shall pass under the rug – like so many other necessary topics for public discourse. Simply put, “the rest of us in the tax paying public” have no time to deal with this volunteer-favoritism debate. We are too busy trying to make ends meet, or dealing with sick children, or jogging on our treadmill lifestyles, who has time to help one who tried to help others?

By: notsureanymore

notsureanymore — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:15:02 +0000

There is a problem here. We all know it. Some choose to defend the defensless. Others want to explode out of anger that a pass is given to people who are supposed to be front line rescuers.

This small debate should be explored and not ignored by our elected officials.

The greater good requires answers to this situation and the ones I have described. If not I fear we will be on the road to the loss of respect for the heros we used to salute.

By: noname

noname — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:05:59 +0000

Mike, tomatosauce, your questions are valid ones. Often times, the best person for the job is elected chief. However, the selection process is basically decided by election. Nominations are either usually made from the floor or a nominating committee. In some fire companies, there are so few members, the nominating committee is made up of the officers who nominate themselves for the positions–how is that for a conflict of interest? There tends to be a bit of politics and favoritism in the selection/election process, and sometimes the best qualified people are not nominated or elected because they are not part of the in crowd. I have no knowledge of how it works in Fair Haven, but if the statements above about the past Chief are true, it speaks volumes about the common sense and judgment used in the selection and retention of the chief officer. Some fire chiefs have interpersonal and leadership skills equivalent to a third grader. Sad but true.

By: Voice of Reason

Voice of Reason — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:43:28 +0000

Your assumption is wrong, tomatosauce.

By: tomatosauce

tomatosauce — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:01:33 +0000

Since the FD serves the Borough of FH I would assume that final approval of FD chiefs are reviewed and approved by the Borough, headed by Mayor Halfacre who is an affiliate member of the FH Fire Dept as well. Since Ansel is moving to change venue from Rumson court (to avoid conflict of interest?) did he also demand Halfacre to recuse himself since the mayor is the prosecutor for Rumson as well as being the mayor and an affiliate Fire fighter of FH?

By: problem

problem — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:49:11 +0000

Wait till you see who the fire dept is nominating for life member!

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:24:11 +0000

That is the question that I keep on asking tomatosauce. It is shocking that somebody so irresponsible was put into a position of authority.

If the system is not broken and this guy really was the best person for the job, what does this say about the rest of the department and the future? The next guy could even be worse.

-or-

If it is in fact that the system that is broken (the job is too much so people only do it for a year, the job is passed around like a gold old boys clubs so everybody gets a chance, or whatever), what is being done to fix this?

It has to be one or the other.

Again, I appreciate the efforts of all of the local VFDs. This incident brings about a few questions . Perhaps somebody with a little background could help explain what went wrong and how this guy became chief.

By: tomatosauce

tomatosauce — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:44:48 +0000

None of the posts answer the one glaring question; how does a 27 year old with a serious drinking problem (2 DUIs) get to be a fire chief? It is not a question that relates to one that has made a simple mistake, it is a question that relates to one who could jeopardize the public and a whole Fire Dept and it’s firefighters with a “simple mistake” in a fire fight. This incident shows there is an obvious problem in the selection process of volunteers in some fire stations. Would anyone here volunteer to join a combat unit who’s leader is a drunk? Honor code loyalty applies to to your brethens who could be harmed by such leadership as well.

By: Why not volunteer?

Why not volunteer? — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:40:37 +0000

Who ever is saying that Volunteer’s don’t save tax payer money needs to stop using the bottle themselves! Even if you went to a paid fire department, you would have to make renovations to the firehouse to include bunk rooms, etc.

Many people have stated on here that if you don’t like it, Volunteer!, Why are you not volunteering for your local first aid squad or fire company. There are more positions on these agencies than front line responders, cook for their meetings, help with their fundraising, etc.! Being a Volunteer first aider, or firefighter is not like volunteering for a hospital foundation, it’s a lifestyle! Whether you like it or not, Your sitting down for thanksgiving dinner with your family, somebody else in town burned their turkey, you get up and go. It’s your son’s family’s birthday party, your neighbor is having a heart atttack, you get up and go. These VOLUNTEER firefighters, first aiders, and fire police officer’s are your neighbors! Remember that!

Did Shawn make a mistake, yes! Does he need to pay the consequence’s, yes! Does this mean there shouldn’t be alcohol or bars in any firehouse, No! It’s one of the VERY FEW benefits for the volunteers. I am not saying, drink and get on the truck, It doesn’t happen! But there is nothing wrong with having 1 drink after a call, or drill, or meeting, or maybe after doing CPR on your neighbor for an hour with an unsuccessful result! It happens! There is probably a bar in every firehouse in Monmouth County. Thats the way it is!

So, Think and answer, Why don’t you volunteer in one way or another for the fire company or first aid squad, I don’t care about the hospital or any other cancer or whatever agency, thats a few hours here and there, this is a lifestyle, that if you are not willing to committ to, or assist with, don’t complain!