Thursday, February 02, 2006

 

TWO LEAD STORIES - Is that allowed ? Great MooseMilk Rocky !


Silent night, towers not right
Signals are dead
It’s not in my head
Our equipment wasn’t the problem so let’s not fight

Bear Cave Out
Phone line was down
Verizon was the clown
Couldn’t find the route

But that’s not all
There’s plenty more
We do not have phone line backup - that's for sure
Only the facts, you make the call


HEADLINE UNO

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT ? Not my poem, but after everything I have been writing about concerning the PHONE LINES that CONTROL our RADIO CYST-EM, TWO TOWER SITES were down recently because of exactly that and one has a really squirrelly twist to it !

Last week the Bear Cave Tower Site was down for well over 40 hours. That means that police, ems and fire units that depend on that tower site for communications didn’t have any or very little !


- mostly affected were the Fire Departments in the Ligonier Valley.


I did notice a lot more activity on the old frequencies during that time frame however it was confused communications as a number of the companies have removed their older equipment prior to knowing how poor this newer system operates.

They were promised the sun and got mooned !

Seems the actual equipment at 911 and the tower site was working properly however the INTERCONNECT SYSTEM (T1 phone line) was out.

Here is the twist.

VERIZON COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO THE SITE due to snow covered roads. It took a four wheel drive vehicle to get there and Verizon didn’t have one.

In comes Director Danny Stevens with his bright green jacket and OUR 4WD truck we purchase for him. He came to the rescue and hauled the Verizon Phone Company workers (while on our time) to the Bear Cave Site so they could fix it. Does Verizon have to pay us back as Dan is paid by OUR Tax Dollars and Verizon doesn’t have a 4wd vehicle ?

Westmoreland County ISN’T Enterprise Rent A Car, we don’t pick you up !

Dan has another title now at Westmoreland County 911, Chief Taxi Driver and Honorary Verizon Patsy (HVP).

The 40+ hour down time now is the longest down time this Blah-ger has recorded since that of the New Ken Tower Site #20 that went out for over a day on July 5, 2005 over the big 4th of July weekend.

Now let’s go to NEW FLORENCE, their Radio Tower Site #3 was Out Of Service for well over SIX HOURS this last Sunday ! 911 Equipment Problems ? NOPE. Again a Verizon T1 Line Problem !

Remember what I've been saying, OUR RADIO SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF FIFTY PERCENT PHONE LINES ! VERIZON OWNS HALF OF OUR SYSTEM AND MOTOROLA OWNS THE OTHER HALF, or it would appear that way.

In theory you could actually say that our radio cyst-em is made up of more than 99% phone lines because if those phone lines are not working our COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE POLICE, EMS, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE SHUT DOWN, PERIOD. ( I’m not ranting yet, just the facts. )

Dan’s services were not needed during that Verizon Service Call as New Florence, PENDOT and GOD had cleared the snow away for them to get to the tower.

I’m just glad the phone lines do not actually go UP the tower to a box mounted 300 feet above ground, we would NEVER get the damn thing fixed or they would have to have Mark Brammell climb the tower, Dan drive the truck, Joe run the 911 center and Richard to take another vacation or tell lies to the media.

At least the 911 center would be in good hands.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN THAT MARK BRAMMELL DID NOT ORDER ANY BACK UP T1 PHONE LINES TO ANY OF THE TOWER SITES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, which has been reported for ALMOST A YEAR on this Blah-g but still nothing has been done about it.

Again I ask, who is monitoring Mark Brammell ?

Over 46 hours system down time in the last few days. Unacceptable folks. Is there anyone that reads this Blah-g that has any influence with-in our county that is NOT an elected official. Perhaps YOU might be able to get something done about this. There is such a thing called CHECKS AND BALANCES and we lack that here in the county.

I’m wrong, the county writes out Checks to the 911 Management through our money so that their personal check books Balance.

Moving on…

HEADLINE TWO


I had mentioned a long time ago that from all the information gathered, it was in this Blah-ger's opinion that Dan Steven’s would not be a good replacement for the retiring Bob Ceroni’s position of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. Dan’s current position is Addressing Coordinator and Honorary Verizon Patsy.

In Dan’s position it is up to him to make sure all the addresses are correct and the computer aided dispatch system’s computer maps are up to date and correct.

I have already reported that the computer maps that the dispatchers depend on are not correct and up-to-date. If it is NOT Dan’s fault then he had better start pointing the finger at someone else because it is pointing at him right now.

That is probably the second biggest complaint that receive in emails. Ambulance and Fire Companies going to the WRONG LOCATION because the Computer Maps are wrong. That is DAN’S PROBLEM and I’ve seen no progress in getting that issue fixed in the LAST YEAR.

It is my opinion that because of the mapping issue and other problems the Blah-ger has received from several Fire Chiefs, that his promotion would NOT be a good idea. So to that end, here is HEADLINE #2 !

Welcome
MR.
WILLIAM REESE !


It appears now, and word has it that Bill Reese will be Bob’s replacement and fill the job of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.

Bill was Hempfield Township’s Fire Marshal, the biggest township in Pennsylvania, for many years and was also successful with his own private business within our county. I have personally know Bill for about 20 years and it is my opinion that he WILL GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT !

In my past life I installed Fire Alarms through-out the Westmoreland County Area and Hempfield Township was one of those areas. Not only did Bill (as fire marshal) make me keep up to date with all of the current NFPA Codes, he also made all of the installers follow them. HE WAS GOOD TOO.

I was called to take over many fire alarm systems from other companies when I was in business and in doing so Bill would look at each system and tell me in a heart beat what needed upgraded before the take-over was considered complete.

Yes, sometimes he made me do some things that I thought were funny and not needed however each and every request was within the NFPA codes except buying him dinner. I still can’t find that in the code book except where he wrote it in pencil ( JK Mr. Bill ).

CONGRATULATIONS BILL ! Perhaps you can show Mark and Rich how things are suppose to work. See you in April as word has it that Bob Ceroni will be retiring around April 3rd, but that is unofficial.

DAN, the reason you did not get the job is not because the job doesn’t pay enough money like you are telling everyone. It is because of the current position you are in now, perhaps if you can learn that job and learn to get along with others you might get promoted next time. BTW, lose the jacket, you look better in Blue. Lime snortin’ slimey green is for girly girls.

Next, please…


HAZMAT UPDATE !
I know I said 2 Headlines but...

It appears this new “repeater VAN” that Matason has ordered was purchased with money NEEDED by HAZMAT.

$250,000.00 was given to Westmoreland County by Region 13 to use EITHER for Emergency Management who already gets Millions and Millions of dollars through OUR TAX money - - OR - - to be used with HAZMAT, who is in great need of new vehicles and other test equipment.

This money was originally to be used ONLY for HAZMAT issues, however it has been reported from a very high source that RICHARD MATASON HAD THAT CHANGED FROM HAZMAT TO GENERAL USE, THEN GRABBED ALL THE MONEY FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT to buy newer vehicles, blackberry’s, jackets, and certainly nothing that will ever be used for SAVING LIVES.

ANOTHER MATASON BLUNDER. ( I’m not ranting yet… give me time. Just reporting from the fantastic insider tips that are forwarded to the Blah-g everyday with the Blah-ger’s Thanks ! )

Here is the problem. There has been a MAJOR breakdown of Hazmat’s new truck, and they do NOT have a back up. Had Richard Matason left that money alone it would have gone to the people that NEED it to SAVE OUR LIVES, HAZMAT ! They would have had their backup vehicle already.

Simple huh ?

I forget at what point I stopped giving out Good and Bad Boogie Awards however whatever BAD BOOGIES I can find left laying around under my desk or laying on the floor will all be given to Richard Matason for being such a greedy money hungry person.

This is not the FIRST TIME this has happened either. HAZMAT was suppose to receive a new truck even before this $250,000.00 grant, but again Matason decided to “replace the 5 year old command post with the abortion they have now” and get Mark a new car, Dan’s Truck, etc…

The last paragraph is the OPINION of a few people at HAZMAT, and not that of this Blah-ger however the Hazmat Team has the full support of the Blah-g.

I’ve already seen how Richard Matason and Mark Brammell can waste millions of our dollars so IMO this is would be classified as one of their smaller screw jobs. Whether big or small, each screw up usually puts peoples lives in harms way.

I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EITHER. THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED, AND THEY ARE NOT. TERRY MAROLT WOULD BE SO ASHAMED !

Moving on…

In one of the emails I received the sender was so nervous that they kept pleading for me NOT to use their name or give out their email address. My only response, and this goes to everyone reading this:

Oh Yea of Little Faith – Your personal information is safe here and will NOT be given out UNLESS YOU REQUEST that I do.

Some people are uncomfortable with the fact that I have a personal friendship with a few people in high places. That is mostly due to the fact that I use to service their radio systems when I was in business.

I can ASSURE you that I do NOT Discuss who emails me with anyone and that is a promise.

Just to give you a quick example, Bill Reese will be good for the county and if he isn’t you will read about it here. I knew that Bill Reese would be replacing Bob Ceroni back in November of 2005 however it was requested not to publish anything until I either received that emailer’s permission OR I received verification from other sources.

From November 2005 until February 2006 I have been sitting on that story waiting… and waiting until now when I got the OK.

I WILL NOT BREAK THAT PROMISE, OR ANY OTHER PROMISE MADE TO THE READERS OF THIS BLAH-G. Unlike the 911 Management, they take your hard earned money to the bank, you can take my promise.

RANT TIME:
I will make rant time extremely short this morning. DICK HUNGER made a name for himself in this county, being respected by all those under him and all those that count within the county.

TERRY MAROLT was loved and is dearly missed by this Blah-ger and may others he touched while he was with us here on Earth. Not only as a County Commissioner but by those of us that knew him for 5, 10, 20… or in my case over 40 years as a TRUE, LOYAL and CARING FRIEND.

Those two people GAVE OF THEMSELVES so others were safe and lived a better life. I speak more of Terry as I knew him much longer and I can honestly say I have never heard one bad word spoken about him (the Commish) however Mr. Hunger also falls into those same shoes.

In five years, or maybe even later this year when we are in such a big bad ugly HOLE, even worse than we are now and after Richard Matason and Mark Brammell are no longer with the Department of Emergency Management, what will we say about them when the radios continue to fail and the budget is drained because of their Motorola / Verizon and other deals we haven't heard about yet ?

I know what I will say. I know what I will think. And I’ll be damned if I’ll stand for anyone even speaking to me about it because I’M TELLING YOU NOW as I will say in the future, I TOLD YOU SO.

Decoded,
K3SAM

http://800.k3sam.com - #2 website in WC, everyone else claims to be #1
news@k3sam.com - #1 tips and comments email address, no one else claimed that yet !


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