Res. No. 548
Resolution calling upon the New York Board of Fire Underwriters and its Board of Directors to reconsider the decisions to discontinue funding the Fire Patrol at the end of the year and cease Fire Patrol operations on October 15, 2006 and asking the Mayor and the Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department to join the Council in urging them to reconsider these decisions and delay implementing their plans to discontinue the operations of the Fire Patrol until the end of 2006.
By Council Members Avella, Martinez, Comrie, Dickens, Felder, Fidler, Gennaro, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Liu, Mealy, Nelson, Seabrook, Weprin, Gerson, Foster, Lanza and Oddo
Whereas, The New York Fire Patrol, which provides salvage services at fires, has operated under the New York Board of Fire Underwriters since 1867, traces its history back to 1803 when 63 merchants and residents formed the Mutual Assistance Bag Company; and
Whereas, The Fire Patrol mission statement indicates that the New York Fire Patrol is committed to providing the highest level of service to the people of the City of New York and member organizations of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, through the safe and efficient use of modern salvage techniques and fire safety instructions; and
Whereas, The Fire Patrolmen's Association estimates that the Fire Patrol responds to approximately 10,000 alarms per year, preventing tens of millions of dollars in property damage each year; and
Whereas, In its proud history, the Fire Patrol has lost 32 men in the line of duty; and
Whereas, The Fire Patrol is comprised of approximately 98 employees, including 22 Officers and 76 Patrolmen who are on the verge of losing their jobs; and
Whereas, On January 31, 2006 the New York Board of Fire Underwriters voted to discontinue funding the Fire Patrol at the end of 2006; and
Whereas, In August of 2006 notice was given to the Fire Patrolmen's Association that the operation of the Fire Patrol would be discontinued on or about October 15, 2006; and
Whereas, The New York City Council Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee conducted an oversight hearing on October 4, 2006 at which extensive testimony was given that highlighted the importance of the Fire Patrol to the City of New York and called into question the appropriateness of and rationale that led to the decisions to discontinue funding and cease the operations of the Fire Patrol; and
Whereas, The New York City Fire Department and the Mayor of the City of New York have an obligation to insure that damage caused both by fires and the efforts to extinguish those fires in residential and commercial buildings is mitigated; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York Board of Fire Underwriters and its Board of Directors to reconsider the decisions to discontinue funding the Fire Patrol at the end of the year and cease Fire Patrol operations on October 15, 2006 and asks the Mayor and the Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department to join the Council in urging them to reconsider these decisions and delay implementing their plans to discontinue the operations of the Fire Patrol until the end of 2006.
RCC
LS # 1914
10/10/06 8:00