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Hernando Today

A Few Good Reasons To Vote 'No' On SHFR Independence

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

Lawrence D'Acunto did little to set the record straight on the subject of Spring Hill Fire Rescue District independence as he purported in the Oct. 23 edition of Hernando Today. I will take his points separately.

On the subject of each and every vote being 4-1. This is quite true. I have attended many of the meetings where these 4-1 votes have occurred and most, if not all, were instances where the majority of four were attempting to gain a consensus on an issue where there was incomplete or misleading information available.

Two of the most recent issues that were 4-1 were the tabling of the communications issue, which would save the district $400,000 annually, to the next board after the Nov. 4 election. Another occurred at the last meeting when the board voted 4-1 to purchase a new ambulance with the county. This even though there is no rush and the county isn't ready to place the combined order until late November.

So yes, there are a lot of 4-1 votes, but each has to be looked at individually.

Second, his statement that the firefighters/EMTs deserve the salary they receive. Most employers require that the employee pay at least a portion of the health benefit costs. After a certain point is reached, the district will be faced with cutting services to match the ability of the taxpayers' wallet.

Yes, the station on Spring Hill Drive wasn't built to proper specifications, but on whose watch did this occur? I believe some current commissioners voted yes on that project and should bear responsibility for the shoddy construction.

The ladder truck is a moot issue. Yes, it can be used on certain fires and accidents, but since it is already purchased, we have it and might as well use it.

And lastly, Robert Giammarco was indeed appointed by county commissioners. He was appointed to fill the term of a commissioner who didn't realized that her term had expired and needed to run for re-election. And as a taxpayer in Spring Hill, I appreciate at least one dissenting voice on a board that seems to have an abundance of rubber "yes" stamps.

As for the taxing districts, Spring Hill Fire Rescue District is not going away with a "no" vote on Nov. 4, only the fire commissioners will ride into the sunset. The current taxing district will be administered by the county commissioners.

I have witnessed the intimidation of persons speaking before the fire commissioners who didn't agree with the majority of four's opinion. When people become this arrogant with power, it is time to send them on a permanent vacation. If one remembers that they were elected to represent the taxpayers of Spring Hill, the mere appearance of the fire commissioners would belie that fact. They sit on the dais with their uniform style shirts with "Fire Commissioner" on them. It certainly gives the impression that they are members of the department, not representatives of the public. I guess it could be worse; they could all sit there with full turn out gear on.

For these reasons and many others I am going to vote "no" and encourage every voter who cares about the district to vote "no" as well.

Harry Chamberlain

Spring Hill

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