UFOA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
November 9, 2006

President's Report

Table of Contents

I want to thank all our members, both active and retired who turned out on Election Day. We had over 300 Fire Officers at seven locations. The Republican Senate has held their majority and when the last vote is counted will probably only lose one seat. All our Democratic statewide candidates also prevailed. Your work for this union will reap benefits for you and your family.

A special thank you to John Dunne, the Legislative Committee, Marty Steadman, Executive Board and our Delegates for mobilizing the membership. All volunteers are listed at the end of this report.

 

Flu Shots

The Executive Board would like to thank Dr. Charles Dutkowsky and Nurse Justine Lashkow for donating their time to administer your Flu shots. The Doctors and Nurses at the Bureau of Health Services have always gone out of their way to help our members and giving these Flu shots is just one example. Thank you.

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EEO Issues

We had a long meeting with the new EEO Commissioner to discuss compliance inspections. Inspections will be conducted approximately two to three times a week. This will show DCAS and the Department of Justice the Fire Department is complying with all Federal EEO laws and regulations. Be prepared for a visit .

As per our discussions with EEO, the inspectors will usually arrive in a Fire Department vehicle with EEO written on the side. They will show I.D. and sign the company journal. The firefighter on housewatch should notify only the Officer on Duty that EEO is in Quarters. The Officer on Duty should accompany them on their inspection of quarters and the Company shall remain in service. If the Company gets a run and is the only unit in quarters, the inspection shall stop and the inspectors will wait outside quarters until the company returns. If there is more than one unit in quarters the inspection will continue.

EEO now uses a printed compliance form. They will record which areas of the firehouse have been checked, photographed and/or any items that are confiscated. They will also check that the Equal Employment and Sexual Harassment Policy Statements are conspicuously posted. The Officer on Duty and the inspectors will sign the form and a copy will be given to the Officer on Duty. They agreed to address our members by their appropriate rank. Please show them respect and expect the same in return. Sometimes it's hard to accept that a room we have built, painted and clean every day is a work place, but by law it is exactly that.

The UFOA strongly recommends that every company and battalion perform due diligence and immediately remove all inappropriate materials from walls, tables, bathrooms, etc. and make every effort to prevent such material from entering the firehouse in the future. A good rule of thumb is that if you would not post an article, picture or other item in your home, don't post it in the firehouse. The UFOA also strongly suggests every Company and Battalion Commander frequently remind all members of Department's EEO policy and use it as a topic for company drills.

Recently, objectionable materials have been confiscated by EEO and regardless of who brought it into quarters; Lieutenants and Captains have paid the price . If you have a question about the appropriateness of a certain item, please call the UFOA office and speak to a member of the EEO Committee or send it to the Fire Commissioner for his recommendation. Be prepared for a visit.

 

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Labor Management

The following are some of the issues to be discussed at the next meeting of the Labor Management Committee:

•  unit availability following signals 10-18, 10-92;
•  clarification of the EMS Command order regarding ‘carry downs';
•  conflicts regarding Department Regulations, AUCs, etc.;
•  the status of the rank SFM level II in regard to uniforms and alleged ‘in-house' title;
•  clarification of Department policy regarding the suspension of outside activities.

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Apparatus MDT

At last month's GMM, members mentioned that the MDT's on certain apparatus suddenly and without warning malfunctioned while responding. If you experience this, please call the UFOA office and speak to a member of the Safety Committee. We have been in contact with the Dept. on this issue and will try to resolve it as soon as possible.

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Spare Apparatus

Just a reminder that the officer on duty is responsible for the decision of accepting the apparatus. If there is any question about the serviceability of a spare apparatus, DO NOT ACCEPT IT . Your safety and the safety of your firefighters come first.

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Officer Transfer No. 3/06

The Bureau of Personnel is currently accepting CD-30's. Cut-off date for receipt of CD-30's at the Bureau of Personnel is November 13, 2006. Transferred are scheduled for December 16, 2006.

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White House Fellowship Application

Available online for the 2007-08 class, www.whitehouse.gov/fellows . The application along with supporting documents must be submitted by February 1, 2007. For further information, contact Jacqueline Merveil at 718-281-8465 or refer to Department Order No. 84, dated October 17, 2006

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Charles H. Revson Fellows Program

Applications available for the Fellowship year September 2007 to May 2008. For an application and/or additional information, contact Jacqueline Merveil at 718-281-8465 or www.columbia.edu/cu/revson .

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WTC Bill

As written, the WTC Bill does not include retirees who were active on 9/11/01 and are also retired on ‘Accidental' Disability Pension. The Bill states that it only applies to those members who were active on 9/11/01 and retired for ‘Service' or for “Ordinary Disability”. The UFOA is advising all members, including those who have received an ‘Accidental' Disability, to submit a WTC Participation Form. The WTC Task Force will be seeking to amend the Bill to include these retirees.

 

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Notice of Participation in the World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery or Clean-Up Operations

If you have not received your affidavit from the FDNY and you may qualify for the provisions of the WTC Bill, please call 718-999-7041 or 718-999-0148. The form must be completed, notarized and filed with the Fire Department Pension Fund, Subchapter II by June 14, 2007 . It is highly recommended that you send this form by Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested, as verification of filing and keep a copy of the form for your records. There is a copy of this Affidavit and instructions on our website, www.ufoa.org. If you are unsure if you qualify, you should still fill out and submit the form.

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Workers' Compensation Law for Retired Firefighters who worked at Ground Zero

Members who retired prior to 9/11/01 and worked at the WTC site between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002 are eligible for benefits under this legislation. The site location is defined as anywhere in Manhattan south of Canal Street, the Staten Island Landfill, barge operations or the NYC morgue. All retired members who worked at the site should register even if they are not sick of have symptoms at this time. The deadline for registering is August 14, 2007 . Our retirees worked as volunteers, although the law is vague on defining exactly who is a volunteer, we are urging our members to register.

To register on the internet, go to www.nycosh.org and click on the link near the top of the page. Or call 212-227-6440, ext. 23 to request a form. On the form, you must write the dates and locations of the rescue, recovery or cleanup work you did and the name of your employer, or the organization you volunteered with. If you did rescue, recovery or cleanup work for no pay, you should register as a volunteer, even if you were not a part of an organized group of volunteers, giving the details of the work you performed. The registration form must be a sworn and notarized statement, so it is very important to make certain it is accurate and complete.

This information will be mailed to our retirees.

 

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Social Security & Medicare Tax Refunds for LOD Injuries

The City has reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) involving FICA (i.e. Social Security & Medicare) tax refunds to both the City and eligible uniformed members of the City's Correction, Fire, Police and Sanitation Departments. The years covered by this settlement are 1989 through 2005. Eligible uniformed members of these departments who were on authorized Line of Duty Injury (LoDI) leave at some point during the years 1989 through 2005 will likely be eligible for a refund of the FICA taxes paid on LoDI payments received for a period of six months or less. Correction, Fire and Police Department members are eligible from 1989 while Department of Sanitation members are eligible from 1992.

Please note that LoDI payments received for a period of greater than six months have previously been deemed to be exempt under a separate statutory provision and thus are not part of this refund.

In order to collect a refund in connection with this settlement, eligible uniformed members must submit a signed consent form to the City allowing the City to collect the refund on the employees' behalf. Once the IRS refunds the monies to the City, the City will then remit the money to the employee. In the absence of a signed consent form from an employee, that employee will not be able to participate in this settlement. Moreover, that employee may be forever barred from collecting a refund of these amounts since his/her time for filing an individual refund claim will likely have expired.

Deadlines :
The Office of Payroll Administration (OPA) is in the process of gathering the data it needs to reach out to every affected employee. OPA anticipates that letters explaining the refund process and the years for which that employee may be entitled to a FICA refund will be mailed out to each employee by the end of the year. Enclosed with the letter will be the consent form employees will be required to sign and return to the City in order to collect their refund. This consent form must be returned within sixty (60) days from the date of the letter or that individual will be precluded from obtaining a refund. The deadline date will be printed in the letter. Time will be of the essence . We urge all employees who believe that they may be eligible for a refund and whose address has changed to update their address.
How to change your address:
OPA has obtained mailing addresses from the City's Payroll Management System as well as other sources. If you believe that your address must be changed complete the Change of Employee Address for LoDI FICA Refund Claim form. The form can be found at OPA's website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/opa/html/home/home.shtml

After completing it should be sent to:

The City of New York Office of Payroll Administration
FICA Refund Claim Unit
One Centre Street Room 200N
New York, NY 10007

It can be faxed to 212 669-3377.

Please note: Completing this form will not change the City's Payroll Management System address. Should you choose to change the City's Payroll Management System address, you must contact Uniformed Personnel and forward a CD-6.

Contact Information:
For inquiries regarding the FICA Refund Claim you can use any of the following options.

By mail:
The City of New York Office of Payroll Administration
FICA Refund Claim Unit
One Centre Street Room 200N
New York, NY 10007
Online:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/opa/html/home/home.shtml

Fax: (212) 669-3377
Telephone: (212) 669-2333

Use the fax number or the mailing address above to send us your Change of Employee Address for the LoDI FICA Refund Claim.

The Fire Department notes that members should be aware that LoDI FICA refunds may have a minor impact on your future social security benefits. For further information, please check Department Order No. 87, Supplement No. 69.

 

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Overtime Average
as of November 8,2006

Lieutenant Hours Captain Hours
SOC 186 SOC 157
Div 1 308 Div 1 251
Div 3 282 Div 3 209
Div 6 187 Div 6 143
Div 7 222 Div 7 176
Div 8 381 Div 8 316
Div 11 323 Div 11 316
Div 13 203 Div 13 176
Div 14 294 Div 14 216
Div 15 306 Div 15 299
AVERAGE 269 AVERAGE 226

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Uniform Vacancy Report
  (Effective November 9, 2006)

   
Last # reached
Lieutenant
27
158
SFM
-01
018
Captain
02
396
Battalion Chief
00
078
Deputy Chief
01
DAC
00
  
AC
-01
  
Asst. Ch. FM
00
  
Chief Fire Marshal
00
  

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Legal Proceedings

VSF Action - We remain in the case. Our appellate brief was filed on May 31, 2006, and we await scheduling of the oral argument.

1127 Federal Litigation -On September 20, 2006, Judge Barbara Jones adopted and confirmed the report of Magistrate Judge Mass. Judge Jones ruled in favor of the City. The plaintiffs (the unions) have filed a notice of appeal in order to preserve our rights should we decide to appeal. A meeting will be held in December with our attorney, David Singer, so we can explore our options.

 

Administrative Proceedings

EMS IP - Our reply is pending.

Off-Chart Assignment Arbitration - We have scheduled hearings for January 18, 2007, before Arbitrator Al Viani.

Comp Time Arbitration - We have scheduled hearings for December 6, 2006 before Arbitrator Maurice Benewitz.

Political Action Volunteers - On behalf of the entire Executive Board, I would like to thank the following members, both active and retired, for turning out for the candidates that the UFOA endorsed.

Senator Caesar Trunzo    
Senator John Flanagan    

Lt. Dennis Stefanak
DC Richard Travers (ret.)
Lt. James O’Hara
Capt. Bill Fitchett
Capt. James D’Avolio
Capt. Larry Nostramo
Lt. Frank Aughavin
BC Dan Martinetion
Lt. Fred Atkin (ret.)
BC Tom Danz
Lt. Joe Fable
Capt. Bob Spencer
Capt. Rudy Weindler (ret.)
Lt. Paul McKie
Capt. Pat Reynolds
Capt. Bill Hydo
Capt. James McMahon
BC Kevin Sullivan
BC Craig Matera
BC Bill McCrane (ret.)
Lt. Brian Kearney
BC Tom Martin (ret.)
Lt. Bill Maynard (ret.)
Lt. Bill Roberts
BC John Esposito
Lt. Mark Zimmermann
Capt. Jim Doherty
Capt. Terence Walsh (ret.)
BC Joe Anzalone
Lt. Jim O’Donnell (ret.)
Lt. Dan Conway
Lt. Brian Clarke

BC Mike Halderman
BC W. Worontzoff (ret.)
Capt. George Finnin (ret.)
BC Tom Richardson
Capt. W. Falkenmayer
Capt. Ron Russomanto
Lt. Paul Wachter
Lt. James Zodkowic
Lt. Sean Michael
Capt. Steven Calzolano
BC Jim Ginty
Lt. Tom Keys
BC Bob Keys
BC Jim McDermott
BC Frank Ross (ret.)
BC Dixie Duggan (ret.)
Lt. Jim Duggan
Lt. Stephen Cristello
Lt. Kevin Albert
Capt. Mike King
Lt. Brien McGuire
Capt. Mike Legge
BC Jay Fischler
Lt. Mike Sawula
Capt. Rich Parenty
Lt. Mike Capasso
Lt. William Roberts
Capt. Tom Albert
Capt. Steve Hintze
Capt. Chris Messana
SFM Brian Grogan
DC Wayne Cartwright

DC Pete Campbell
Capt. Timothy Riordan
BC Jake Lemonda
BC George Gabriel
Lt. Gerald O’Shea
Lt. Jim Ryan
Capt. Michael Waters
Lt. Ken Mundy
BC John Papa
BC Anthony DiPaola
BC Paul Mannix
Lt. Jim Leonard
Lt. Tim Carroll
Lt. Brian Farrell
Capt. Bob Winckler
BC Pete Leicht
Lt. Jerry Farrell
Lt. Bob Kirschberg
BC Gene McGowan (ret.)
Capt. Joe Matthews
Lt. Pete Wolf (ret.)
BC Richard Alles
Lt. Ted DiPasquale
Lt. Mike Sialiano
Lt. James Saccente
Lt. Larry Montrose
Capt. Ed O’Donnell
Lt. Bob Mosier
Capt. Mike DeRudder
BC Tom Manton (ret.)
Lt. Kevin Anderson
Capt. Ray Lambdin
Senator Andrew Lanza    

BC C. Gussmann (ret.)
BC John Podlucky
BC Brian Lanci
BC Martin Ford
BC Phil Gaetani
Capt. Chris Ginocchio
Capt. Rich Mc Cluskey
BC Steven Bernius
Lt. Roger Pfleging
BC Keith Andersen
BC Steven San Filippo
Capt. Tom Coleman
BC Jim Ciulla (ret.)
Lt. Tom Campanelli (ret.)
Lt. Joe Rimassa
DC Gene Dockter
BC Joseph Omeste
Capt. Bob McCarthy

Lt. Jim Sechiano
Lt. Sal Marcello
Capt. Bill Gates
Lt. George Farinacci
Capt. Bill Simpson
Capt. Peter DeFeo
Lt. Gerard Chipura
Lt. Mike Galletta
Lt. Mike Vindigni
Lt. Charles Entrieri
Lt. Peter Daniti
Capt. Pat Sobota
Nick Volpe
BC Brian Foley
BC Albert Petrocelli (ret.)
Lt. Victor D’Amato (ret.)
Lt. James Harris
Lt. Albert Petrocelli

Lt. Tom Fitzpatrick
BC Jim Bossert
BC Rich Wesiar (ret.)
Lt. Tom Bradley
Capt. Neil Ferro
BC James McGrath
Lt. James Ahrens
Lt. Joe Morro
Lt. Andrew DiFusco
Lt. Brian DiFusco
Lt. Paul Cinquemani (ret.)
Lt. Anthony Iesu (ret.)
Lt. Dick Montana
Lt. James Ferencz (ret.)
BC Rich Wesiak (ret.)
Lt. Fred Schwarzrock (ret.)
BC Bob McGrath (ret.)
Capt. Mike Burns (ret.)
Senator Vincent Leibell    

Capt. Mike Moran
Capt. Ed Davis
Capt. Pat Gleason
Capt. Domenick Caleri
BC Bill Hines
BC Dennis Munnelly
Lt. Rudy Goop
Lt. Michael Hadden
Lt. John Hands
BC John Vaughan (ret.)
Capt. Denis McCool
Lt. Thomas Curran
BC Bill Moore (ret.)
Capt. Pat Jirak

Lt. Chris Walsh
Lt. Lou Cresci
Lt. Greg Prial
Capt. Joseph Principo
BC Brian Sheehan
BC John Gudat (ret.)
Lt. Jerry Sillcocks
Lt. Bill Schneider
Capt. Jim Mills
Lt. Dan Finegan
BC Mike Telesca (ret.)
Capt. Jim Sheerin (ret.)
BC Phil Delvecchio
BC John Donnelly

Lt. Mike Schmidt
Capt. Mike Buckheit
Lt. Robert Schmidt
Lt. Patrick Colgan
Lt. Theodore Krowel
BC Rich Blatus
Lt. Ken Kearney (ret.)
Capt. Glen Rohan
Lt. Robert Jones
Capt. Joe Patriciello (ret.)
Lt. Larry Mack
BC Mike O’Brien (ret.)
Lt. Denis Harrahan
Lt. James McClusky
Senator Nick Spano    

Capt. Jim Walsh
Lt. Kevin Burke
Lt. Jim McCaffrey
Lt. Bill Spinelli (ret.)
Lt. Jim McGlynn
Capt. Gerry Moreau
Capt. Abe Haiman (ret.)
Lt. Bill Horan
Lt. Dan Murphy
DC Bill DeDonato (ret.)
Lt. Mike Fahy
Capt. Jim Faller
Capt. Steven O’Brien
Capt. Lance Patrouch
DC Tom McKavanagh
BC John Sullivan
Capt. John Frawley
Capt. John Bendick (ret.)
Capt. Rich Johnson (ret.)
Lt. Patrick Colgan
Capt. Mike Laporta (ret.)
Lt. Patrick O’Sullivan
Capt. Charles Buser
BC Joseph Bryant (ret.)
Capt. Jim Duffy (ret.)

BC Gene Dowling (ret.)
Lt. Noel Heffernan
Lt. John Keaveny (ret.)
Capt. John Houlahan
Lt. Paul Dunne
Capt. Tom Evans
BC Steve McDonald
Lt. John Leonard
Lt. Mike Smithwick
DC Ed Dennehy (ret.)
BC Steve O’Donnell
Lt. Harry McMaster
Lt. Ed Fealy (ret.)
Lt. Frank Montera
Lt. Larry Ryan (ret.)
Capt. Jim Curran (ret.)
Capt. John Corcoran
BC Kevin Blaine
Lt. Vincent McMahon
DC Kevin Butler
Lt. John Finucane (ret.)
Lt. Jeff Fleischmann
Lt. Kevin Murphy
Lt. Tim McCarvill
BC William Mundy

Lt. Kevin Minogna
AC Stanley Dawe (ret.)
Capt. K. Hollywood (ret.)
Capt. Patrick Murphy
Capt. James Rallis
Lt. Robert Mosier
Lt. Patrick Dunn
Lt. Stephen Blancato
Lt. Bob Keating
Lt. Pete Archer
Capt. George Schaaf
Lt. Peter Kearney
Capt. C. O’Sullivan (ret.)
BC Kevin O’Keefe (ret.)
Lt. Brian Currid
Lt. Jack Ginty (ret.)
Lt. Tom Simmons (ret.)
Lt. Bill Henderson (ret.)
Capt. Thomas Roche
Lt. Dan McCarvill
BC Jim Slevin (ret.)
Lt. Kevin McGovern
Capt. John Flynn
Senator Frank Padavan    

Lt. Chris Hogan
Lt. Bruce Stuart
BC Rod O’Connor
Lt. Mike Kozak
Capt. Brian Neville
Lt. Rich Carbo
Lt. Eddie Coakley
DC Jon Malkin
Lt. Ken Burbulak
DCFM Joe DeGeorge (ret.)
BC Howard Carlson
BC John Gulotta
Lt. Dave Valentine
Capt. Pete O’Donohue
BC Bruce Groth
BC Cecil Southern
DC Ray Goldbach
BC Tom McCarthy
BC John Postel
Lt. Tom Faherty (ret.)

Lt. Liam Guilfoyle
Capt. Tom Thompson
Lt. Nicholas D’Alessandro
Lt. Steven Reisman
Lt. Gerald Rocco
Lt. Thomas Wojcik (ret.)
Lt. Joseph Brosi (ret.)
Capt. Anthony Catalanotto
Lt. Frank Manetta
Lt. Robert Mungiguerra
Lt. James Hayhurst (ret.)
Lt. Kevin Rice (ret.)
DC Mark Ferran
Lt. John Duffy
Lt. Charles Ehni
Lt. Pete Feeney (ret.)
Lt. Bill Pickett
BC Michael Canty
BC George Eysser (ret.)
BC Stephen Raynis

BC Dan Melia
Lt. Carlo Soranno (ret.)
BC Jack Corcoran (ret.)
Lt. James Donohue
Capt. E. Kananowicz
Lt. Paul Shannon
Capt. Al Hagan
Lt. Susan Blake (ret.)
SFM R. Thomson (ret.)
BC William Mundy
Lt. Jim Corcoran
BC Gene Kelty
Lt. Tim O’Conoor
Lt. John Zollner
Lt. Joe Brosi
BC Frank Lomuscio (ret.)
Capt. Jim Ellson
Lt. Derek Harkin
     

 

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