The state Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Allentown firefighters, finding that their union can negotiate the minimum number of firefighters on a shift because it has a direct impact on safety. In a unanimous decision Tuesday that affects municipalities with professional fire departments across Pennsylvania, the court rejected Allentown's argument that shift staffing was an issue for managers to decide because of its impact on city finances.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Allentown Morning Call

FirstNet board members today voted unanimously to authorize FirstNet CEO Mike Poth to finalize the 25-year contract this week—an award to AT&T, although the carrier was not mentioned during the special board meeting—to build and maintain the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN). “This is a very, very special day,” FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson said during the board meeting.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgent Communications

A recent "forensic audit" ordered by the selectmen and conducted by the town account found nothing substantial against Fire Chief Peter Martell. He had been placed on paid administrative leave for 10 weeks awaiting the results of the audit. On Jan. 10, Chief Martell was chastised for spending $33,814 of town money, funds approved by town meeting, for a 2017 Ford Expedition without consulting selectmen and for submitting an electric bill from his home address along with two Fire Department bills.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Palo Alto’s four battalion fire chiefs will get pay raises of 15.5 percent under a labor deal the City Council approved Monday. Three council members, Eric Filseth, Lydia Kou and Greg Tanaka, objected to the raises. Filseth commended the Fire Department’s good work, but characterized the raises as “excessive” especially because of escalating fire service costs.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mercury News

Fire officials across Ohio are backing a proposal by Gov. John Kasich to abolish the industry-controlled agency that regulates manufactured homes, saying the commission does too little to protect manufactured home residents from deadly fires. The Ohio Fire Chief’s Association last week sent a letter to Ohio lawmakers expressing support for a provision in the state budget that would do away with the Manufactured Homes Commission and fold its responsibilities into the Ohio Department of Commerce.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dayton Daily News