What's New at IAFF 2376

48-96 Announcement

L2376 Brothers and Sisters,

Those of you who are not on the line today may not be aware but Chief Staley has sent out a memo stating that we will be implementing the 48-96 schedule. I have spoken with the chief and been assured that Jack Ethridge has informed City Council of the Fire Department’s plans to change to this new schedule; this was the latest hurdle we were waiting to get past.

The chief also informed me that the department has been given the go ahead to begin implementing the schedule in whatever timeline he saw fit. With that in mind the memo states a January 2012 effective date. Many of the steps necessary to actually perform the schedule change have been in progress since the start of 48-96 Committee meetings back in July. However, due to the number and the extend of delays we have experienced with this process the Fire Department needs more lead time to execute the changeover than the initial January 19^th changeover date will allow. For this reason Fire Administration is proceeding with a February 15^th changeover date. That being said I don’t know personally that Jack has signed the official memo but I have been assured that it is just a formality at this point.

A February 15^th changeover will allow our members a more appropriate amount of time to handle potential custody issues or plan around other family members’ schedules. This change over date will also prevent the need to switch shift names.

I’d like to personally thank the following people. Thank you Dave Gregory, Nate Kamin, and John Mahan for your hours of work as members of the 48-96 committee and attendance at numerous meetings with Chief Staley. Thank you to the Executive Board and members of the Negotiations Team for your last minute availability to attend a meeting during which you provided invaluable support and advice. We wouldn’t be where we are now in this process to change schedules without the work of all of these individuals, so take a minute to say “Thank You” next time you see them.

Last but not least, thank you to everyone on the line for your patience with the ever-changing “final date” for an official announcement, and thank you for your perseverance to see this proposal to its conclusion.

Fraternally,

AJ Tomich

President IAFF Local 2376

Just in Time for Christmas: Firefighter.com!

Looking for a new IAFF sticker or that special fire themed gift for the family? Check out Firefighter.com. The website carries a wide variety of products including t-shirts, stickers, collectibles, and IAFF themed items.

http://www.firefighter.com/

If you want to purchase an IAFF sticker or other IAFF licensed product, find the Thornton Professional Firefighter ID and password on the "Member Home" page once you log into the Local 2376 website.

Christmas Idea: Colorado Fire-Fighting Vehicles

A new book entitled Colorado Fire-Fighting Vehicles is available. It's written and produced by H.C. "Chuck" Dodson. Don't be surprised if the name sounds familiar, the author is father to Dave Dodson who teaches "The Art of Reading Smoke." The large paperback book contains 100's of color photos, history, and information about Colorado fire apparatus. This book would make a great Christmas gift. If you're interested in purchasing the book contact Chuck Dodson.

Price $20 Fire and $30 Non-fire

Email: I2fireinvest@aol.com

Phone: (303)254-6722

It's a Sweep! L2376 Endorsed Candidates Win!

Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel

"Little turnover in Thornton"

by Tammy Kranz
Staff Writer

Although an existing City Council member didn't win the mayoral race, voters did favor the incumbents for the ward contests.

Eva Henry, Ward 2, and Beth Humenik, Ward 3, beat out their opponents to retain their seats on the council.

"I think the voters see the need for experience – people who are really out there pounding the pavement and working hard for them," Humenik said while celebrating her victory with fellow Republicans at Outback Steakhouse Tuesday night. She added her reelection was a vote of support. "It shows people think our city is headed in the right direction."

Humenik garnered 63.79 percent of the vote (2,799) while her opponent, Sam Nizam, received 36.21 percent (1,589).

Nizam, who originally hails from Syria, was gracious for the chance to run in the election.

"It's an honor to be able to run," he said. "I really appreciate the opportunity to be on the ballot."

This was Nizam's first, and more than likely last, time he'll run for office.

"I am a lot more appreciative for people who run for office – it's a lot of work," he said, adding he met a lot of great people during his campaign.

Henry won in a landslide against her opponent – she received 73.73 percent (2,374) of the vote. Her reaction could be summed up in one word, she said Wednesday morning – "Whew!"

"I think people can take an actual lesson from people in Ward 2 – they didn't vote the party line, they voted for issues that mattered to them," Henry said. She added that municipal elections were becoming partisan and she didn't run her campaign that way. Instead, she said, she went out and met people and got support from both parties in her district.

Henry's opponent, Richard Gianzero garnered 26.27 percent (846) of the votes, which he thought was pretty good his first time around.

"(Henry) had four years and a year to run her campaign," said Gianzero, who was also at Outback with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night. "I got in the race in September and did fairly well as a newcomer."

He said he was seriously considering running again for council.

Ward 1 will see a new face as its representative – Jenice "JJ" Dove edged out opponent Lee Cantu with 68.18 percent, or 1,461, of the votes.

"I think I had more name recognition than Lee and voters are ready for a change," said Dove on Wednesday morning. "I don't have an agenda. I want to work with the City Council we have. We face a lot of issues, bringing in businesses to the city, FasTracks. I want to jump right in there."

This was Dove's second time running for the seat. She and her supporters gathered at Old Chicago in Thornton to watch the results come in.

Cantu received 31.82 percent (682) of the vote. He congratulated Dove on her victory, saying, "I hope she does well with the running of the government."

This was Cantu's first time running for office and he said he would probably run again in the future.

Eric Tade, who ran unopposed for the Ward 4 seat, received 3,530 votes.

The newly elected council members will be sworn in at the next regular council meeting on Nov. 15.