NEAFC 32nd Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

ENGLAND ASSOCIATION O1~ FIV, E CHIEFS
unfortunate drowning, which took place in New Jersey. Is Bill Eckman
here, by any chance? ...Again, he is missing. So ’we will forego that question.
The first question today is: What-is; being done to protect the drivers
of fire apparatus, with insurance?
Now, that is a pretty broad question, and the question is not signed, anal
I do not know what state it may come from. Perhaps it would call for
variety of opinions, and I think that perhaps we can start on our left,
with Chief Frates of Maine. Will. you kindly give us your opinion on that
one, Chief?
CHIEF FRATES: Well, down at Bath, they carry insurance, on the driver’s.
But, did you mean a sub-driver, a spare driver, or just a regular driver?
MODERATOR W’OOLLEY: I imagine, Chief, that what is meant there
possibly the questio.n of volunteers, rather than the paid municipal drivers, i[
CHIEF FRATES: We don’t have any volunteer drivers.
CHIEF ScAI~I~O~: That comes from a Massachusetts city, and it is
large city.
MODERATOR WOOLLEY: Then, l~erhaps we will hold it to our Massachusetts
representatives. This man is asking for information, which .may come
from that State, so I am going to ask Chief Flynn to tackle that one.
¯ CHIEF FLYI,~I~: I imagine that is a good Massachusetts question. As we
know, in this State, we have the demerit system, and some of the drivers, are
a little apprehensive as. to the application of the demerit system, and they do. not
want to have their driving gauged by any accidents that may occur either by
their fault or somebody else~s while they are driving municipally owned apparatus.
We can’t blame them for that. But, I believe that they have come up with
a decision in Massachusetts, where the drivers of a police and fire apparatus,
are not subject to that demeri~ system, in their response to an emergency.
However, that does bothe~ some of the drivers, regardless of the fact
that a decision has. been rendered.
In the City of Salem, all of our apparatus and the drivers are insured,
and we have been ];or the last year and a half. So that we have no difficulty
on that score. .~,, ~.- ~
But, I can just see where, in a good mariy l~l~ces, it would be hard to get
adequate automobile drivers, because they are a little scared, of the demerit
system, and any penalties that may come from an accident.
MODERATOR Woo~LEV: May I interrupt you to this. extent? Do all Of
you understand the demerit system that the Chief has mentioned? Is any one
in Massachusetts. not clear on this method? They evidently fir-e.
Have you received your informa.tion, then, Mr. Questioner? Then, let
us go on to the next questiori.
I just wish that we had time to ~ cover all of these States., for a regional
opinion. But, it is hard to. have a question that pertains, only to one State.
Nov¢, taking the next question, will the Chief from Bellows Falls., ,Vermont,
tell us if the 10ss on the Church structure caused by lightning was
ever paid?
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