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Home > Blogs > Hamilton News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > July > 10
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Firefighter blasts council
Steve Timmer, a captain in the Hamilton Fire Department, vocally criticized council for over-reacting to the Decosimo report and jumping too soon to make cuts.
“I don’t fully believe the Decosimo report is as valid a report as you give it credit,” he said.
Timmer backed up his claim by citing a financial forecast from 2002 that said in 2007 the city of Hamilton’s general fund would be $7 million in deficit. In 2007, the city had a $4 million surplus in the general fund. Timmer said that means the report was off by $11 million dollars and the Decosimo report could be too. He also read several, if not all, of the disclaimers in the report.
“You basically paid $50,000 for a financial department report,” he said.
Timmer isn’t just a fireman though, he’s also active in the community and the image chairman for the Vision 2020 Commission. Still, he scolded council for considering cutting police and fire departments. He said just a few years ago voters overwhelmingly approved levies to increase service to both departments. A cut now would keep residents paying the tax levy, but not getting the services for which they voted.
He also said that the city’s option of taking a fire station out of service was a “load of bull” and should be removed from their discussion menu completely.
“Engine companies are strategically placed around the city to get there while it makes a difference,” he said.
The audience, which was about 30 people including a few firefighters, gave Timmer a round of applause.
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Towing companies v. city of Hamilton
The four towing companies sent City Manager Mark Brandenburger their latest counter offer in the negotiations between the two parties. Though, Brandenburger did not ask council to vote on an impound lot Wednesday as he said he would.
Read the letter from their lawyer here: City of Hamilton Ltr re Agr 7-8-08.pdf
The letter doesn’t offer much to the city, but suggests it raises its revenue by raising release fees and impounding vehicles belonging to people who are in debt to the city. It does ask the city to allow the company to raise the fee it charges for accident tows from $90 to $125.
What do you think? Who is in the right here: the towing companies or the city?
