I'm sure everyone wants to know every word and how it came out. Well I don't type that well but I think it was a good exchange of information on how the fire department works and where the possible problems and opportunities are.
There was a lot of conversation on dispatch problems and fire fighter training. We talked about the fire on 49th street and the shooting. We talked about the Cole fire. I told the truth and left nothing out. I'm very proud of what our department has accomplished. I also told him where we needed to go from here.
I'll try to organize my thoughts and get more out in the morning.
Gonna eat dinner now.
Don
3 comments:
Don Torbet is doing his level best to change careers from fire chief to diplomat. He deserves a lot of credit for the effort. Now the only question is whether or not his information is falling on deaf ears. Are you listening, Mr. Albertson?
Chief Torbet is taking some heat for agreeing to answer Alberton's questions last night. I think Chief Torbet deserves credit for his willingness to answer these same questions yet again. He has put up with a great deal of pressure and attacks, both personal and professional. He has earned the right to proceed with these discussions in the manner he thinks will be of most benefit to the community.
Long before yesterdays meeting Chief Torbet has always expressed his willingness to meet with anybody regarding the Ruston Fire Department. He is accessible much of the time and a small group meeting such as the one that took place last evening could have been done long before this in a much more civil manner.
Unfortunately, a miscalculation was made. Some of the council members wanted a public forum where they could "question" the Chief. I think the purpose of the original meeting had to do with presenting a contract with Tacoma. The purpose of the meeting changed which still could have worked, but proper behaviour and etiquette is still difficult to practice.
If an exchange of ideas was wanted, it would have been easy to supply the Chief and the Fire Committee with the questions that the Council wanted answered and vice versa, and then set up a meeting when all could attend and be available.
There are obviously different ideas out there. If there is merit to the ideas and broad support can be garnered, then discuss these ideas along with the ideas of the Fire Committee and Fire Chief.
Then the depth of thinking, the logic and reason of the different ideas can be explored. Some of the Council Members have given the strong appearance of ignoring or discarding the Fire Committee Reports. After spending nearly a year on this project, Fire Committee members fully wanted and expected a study session to answer questions from the Council and the Public and to engage in dialogue with the Council and Public so that those with different ideas could express themselves. Remember, the Ruston Town Government asked for the valuable time of firefighters, and citizens (both retired and working) and it was given. The presentation was made to the Ruston Town Government and its citizens. The proper next step and the polite next step would have been to have a discussion. Instead the Council voted themselves negotiating power without public comment and proceeded to act upon this power. This did not go unnoticed. When the next opportunity for public comment came, there was no way to suppress it.
Asking and answering questions can be an appropriate way to exchange ideas. Doing it in public can be. But it needs to be fair and appear fair. Yesterdays public meeting did not really pass the smell test and it was difficult to see that some individuals not recognize this or pretend not.
When a hammer is your only tool, then all the world is a nail.
Post a Comment