Town of Braintree

education
if i may step in and clarify something for you. these ''new'' positions you speak of are far from new. as for the 7 firemen, these are the positions that the town SCREWED them out of( in addition to the layoffs). they were at 88 men, are now at 81 men, and simply are seeking those 7 men back. if the taxpayers were smart they would fully support any increase in public safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rufus mcdoofus
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question for rufus please

how significant is 81 or 88 men?is there a state mandated amount that are required?or does it have to do with amount of population,town land area?
any info would be helpful.thank you

police/fire

Both police and fire need to be
restructured. This is not to speak of
the men and women that work there day to day but we as a community need to evaluate how they can best serve today and tomarrow. You see in a certain which way they are stuck in yesterday.
The best i can see the fire mission has changed from the fifties. WE now have smoke detectors, sprinklers, and fire rated buildings. AS for the police dept
there is plenty of fat and cronisim
from within where fifty percent of the dept is doing ninty percent of the work
Bottom line there is a lot of room for improvment in both depts.

Only Guidelines Dictate

There are no required mandate of the number of police or firefighters for a community. The National Fire Protection Agency establishes industry guidelines, but there is nothing to say because of population, acreage, buildings, etc that we need ''X'' number. It is purely a local political comfort level decision and affordable decision and let no one tell you otherwise.
The thought of restoring 6 cops and/or 7 firefighters in one fell swoop budget that our Selectmen have supported is reckless abuse of the political process. What politician would ever say no to police or fire as it becomes political suicide. Where the funds come to afford such a staffing is another thing. To ask that one question to any of our five Selectmen - where's the money, honey - and you'll get such drivel types of answers you'll pee your pants!

By Suma

Not to disagree

I agree with most of what you said except for the opening (guidelines dictate). I am a firm believer in taxpayers dictating.