Letter to the citizens of Cresskill from Linda Hofmann
Linda M. Hofmann
11 Lexington Avenue
Dumont, NJ 07628
201-384-5444
June 10, 2005
A Letter to the citizens of Cresskill.
I am writing in response to articles that recently appeared in The Record and the North Jersey Suburbanite regarding the troubling situation facing the residents of Cresskill, NJ. I am not a resident of Cresskill and I am not an EMT, however I am the mother of three volunteer EMT’s from Dumont.
Over the course of 14 years my kids have accumulated nearly 36 years of service to the Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps. They have volunteered approximately half their lives to helping others in need when the “call” rings out. I can attest to countless dinners left cold on the counter; holiday celebrations interrupted and cut short; and entire weekends lost, all in the name of helping others in need. Just because it’s Christmas Eve and a mound of gifts still need wrapping doesn’t mean that that EMT can stay home and ‘ignore’ the call – somebody’s life is on the line. The gifts have to wait until the call is complete – paperwork and all.
On any given night my kids might go out on call, after call, after call; five, six or more calls in a row. Let’s do the math – 5 calls @ approximately 2 hours each = 10 hours. Now, each one of my children has a job that starts no later than 7:00AM. Hmmmm when did they get their forty winks so that they could go to work the next day and perform their duties at their respective jobs. Jobs as a Registered Nurse in an area hospital Trauma Unit, a Patient Care Assistant in an area hospital Cardiac Unit, or the mother of 3 very young children wanting and needing specific attention starting just as the sun peeks over the horizon? Special plans to spend a little quality time as a family together are often dashed due to a community emergency that Mom and/or Dad must respond to. Try explaining that to a 4 year old.
Not only do the volunteer EMT’s serve their own community, but often they are called upon to perform mutual aid in a surrounding community. Whether it’s a mutual aid call because a rig is already out and no one else is available to cover an additional call; or the emergency is just too big for one town to handle – there’s always someone to answer the call. Imagine it’s late morning, the corps members from your town are at their respective jobs which are out of town. Your husband, wife, or child goes into cardiac arrest or is gravely injured or ill. No members are available in your town to answer the call. If Cresskill can’t get a rig out – Dumont might be called upon to take the aid call and if Dumont members are available they surely do.
All the citizens of Cresskill need to know what effort and sacrifices your “fired” EMT’s have put forth over the years. I know some members who have served the Cresskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps for nearly 25 years. Twenty-five years! Talk about loss of knowledge and experience! It takes at least six months of schooling in order to become a certified EMT in the state of New Jersey. Even after passing state exams the experience isn’t there yet. Bare in mind that just because someone is a ‘licensed registered nurse’ doesn’t automatically qualify him or her as a NJ State Certified EMT either. That registered nurse is subject to the same requirements as any other prospective EMT.
Training to become a New Jersey State Certified EMT-B takes place at either the Bergen County EMS Training Center located in Paramus or the Law & Public Safety Institute - EMS Academy in Mahwah. The course requires that students complete or pass 100 class hours, 10 hours of hospital time, written exams, practicals, a final NJ State examination, and a Nation Registry Exam. Students must attend all classes prior to taking the final exam. The coarse is offered three times a year, in the spring, summer and fall and you must be CPR certified in order to take the course.
In order to maintain EMT-B certification, an EMT must re-certify every three and a half years. Continued education is mandatory - a total of 24 core and 24 elective credits or CEU's must be earned during this time.
It seems to me that the ‘funds’ Mayor Romeo is squabbling over add up to nothing more than a mere pittance. Over a period of six years (1999-2004) Mayor Romeo is contesting an expenditure of $9,246.00 for dinners and entertainment. Let’s see – $9,246.00 divided by 6 = $1,541 per year. Seems like a lot, but let’s try and put this into perspective. Divide the $1,541 by members, plus their spouse/significant other, area ambulance corps officers, area hospital paramedics who assist on many calls, etc. I see nothing ‘inappropriate’ with this expenditure. Why would it be inappropriate for the Corps to reward their members once a year with a ‘special’ dinner to honor each other? Even if you had a minimum of 50 invited members, spouses and guests the inappropriate expenditure actually works out to less than $32 a dinner.
Does the Police Association use donated funds for their annual dinner? How about Cresskill Volunteer Fire Department or better yet, the Republican Club? We all know that ‘donations’ are made to each of these associations/clubs and we know that the very same associations/clubs have annual dinners; dinners to honor members for their hard work, loyalty and service. Mr. Mayor, you’re going to complain because the check note said, ‘filled bellies’? Some one has a peculiar sense of humor, however the notation was an honest one. Actually, the expenditure could have been hidden under the guise of a bogus expense more in keeping with what auditors would deem appropriate; but it wasn’t. Someone just found a sassy way to explain the expenditure.
I have to address the cable bill. $ 3,758.00 divided by 6 years = 626.33 divided by 12 months in a year = $52.00. Gee, that’s considerably less than what I pay for my own home cable. Do you mean to tell me that the Fire Departments in town don’t have televisions; let alone cable? Who pays for that – town tax money or donations? What in the world are members supposed to be doing while they are on duty for 12 hours, sitting at the building waiting? Oh, I guess they should read a book.
Cell phones are very important, especially considering the climate in which we have had to become accustomed to since 9/11. We’re in a whole new ball game now. There is a need to be able to communicate with each other immediately and walkie-talkies just do not cut it anymore. I know of only a few who can function without a cell phone readily and immediately at hand. I am sure that this includes Mayor Romeo, the Fire Department, and the Police Department; even the DPW. As for the instance involving ‘abuse’ of the privilege? What was the reason surrounding this so-called abuse and how was the situation resolved? Was the call to an out of town Corps Officer regarding urgent Corps business?
LOSAP - Length Of Service Award Program. Does anyone out there really understand what this is about? I doubt the general public has any idea. It’s money that is awarded to members for years of service to be received upon retirement at age 64 if, and only if, that member has met the requirements set forth by the borough and the squad. The ‘service award’ is not money doled out as a bonus each year; as I said, a member must wait until he has reached retirement age and has met the specified criteria – i.e., number of calls, meetings, drills, etc. If a member has met all the criteria, good for them, they deserve the LOSAP.
A $600.00 ‘uniform’ stipend is for what is says – uniforms. How many times has one of Cresskill’s EMT’s responded to a call only to have a disorderly drunk spit on them, or a very sick patient vomit or bleed all over them. Gross isn’t it? How about responding to a motor vehicle accident? In the process of tending to the immediate needs of the injured they have gotten oil, dirt, and/or grime on clothing or ripped them. I believe the fire department gets a ‘clothing’ stipend also.
A wedding gift for a squad member; a bouquet of flowers or a fruit basket for a sick member, family member, deceased member or deceased family member, I can’t for the life of me figure out what is wrong with that expenditure.
As for the statement by Mrs. Rooney suggesting donations be used for purchasing cotton balls. Well that’s just ridiculous. Mrs. Rooney said that she was thankful for the care and compassion administered to her daughter and to show her appreciation she sent a check and a thank you card. Does anyone actually believe that these selfless, compassionate volunteers don’t deserve an annual dinner, cable for their donated TV, or to be able to send flowers to their fellow comrades who are ill or worse, have passed away? Cresskill Ambulance Corps is owned and operated by the Borough of Cresskill – thus any equipment/supplies required for the day-to-day operation of the Corps is the responsibility of the town through tax funds budgeted. This includes wheel chairs, crutches, bandages, oxygen, defibrillators, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and, yes, cotton balls.
I believe that because Cresskill’s Ambulance Corps is financially supported through the town with budgeted funds derived from residential property tax payments any donations to the Corps should be managed by the Corps in a manner that they deem fit and appropriate. How much could the donations amount to $10,000, maybe $15,000 a year? The Corps does not solicit ‘donations’, as does the Fire Department annually. The ‘donations’ they received are donations, gifts of appreciation.
Without a working ‘volunteer’ ambulance corps, Cresskill administrators have contracted the services of a paid ambulance at a rate of $500 a day. Should the Mayor and Borough Administrators not be able to enlist enough new volunteers, and this is a distinct possibility as volunteerism is at an all time low, it is possible that a paid ambulance service would be imminent. Once again, do the math - $500 for a period of 365 days equates to over $185,000; and should there be a need for 2 ambulances the figure jumps to a whopping $370,000. All paid for by Cresskill tax funds in addition to the normal day-to-day operation expenditures of the ambulance building. I think your auditors should consider this expenditure as a misappropriation.
Mayor Romeo, I cannot understand why in light of recent events in surrounding municipalities where true misappropriations have occurred you wouldn’t be more concerned as Mayor, with your own administration and be careful not to waste valuable time, tax payer’s money, and resources on a conceived misappropriation of funds.
Mayor Romeo, I believe you have let a bargain slip through your fingers at the expense of an entire community. Shame on you Mr. Mayor, shame on you.
Fine citizens of Cresskill, remember that the money Mayor Romeo is questioning is from donations (gifts) to the Corps, not funds from the borough budget.
I am sure that given the opportunity any one of the “fired” volunteers would all come back to serve their community. Pretty amazing considering the grief the current borough administration has seen fit to hand these selfless volunteers. That’s because volunteer EMT’s are a special breed of people. Their hearts are in the right place and they are dedicated to helping those who require immediate medical assistance – no matter how serious or minor the problem may be, no matter what time of day or night. Now they need your help and support to fight to bring them back.
Linda M. Hofmann
Mother of Three Outstanding Members of the Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps
11 Lexington Avenue
Dumont, NJ 07628
201-384-5444
June 10, 2005
A Letter to the citizens of Cresskill.
I am writing in response to articles that recently appeared in The Record and the North Jersey Suburbanite regarding the troubling situation facing the residents of Cresskill, NJ. I am not a resident of Cresskill and I am not an EMT, however I am the mother of three volunteer EMT’s from Dumont.
Over the course of 14 years my kids have accumulated nearly 36 years of service to the Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps. They have volunteered approximately half their lives to helping others in need when the “call” rings out. I can attest to countless dinners left cold on the counter; holiday celebrations interrupted and cut short; and entire weekends lost, all in the name of helping others in need. Just because it’s Christmas Eve and a mound of gifts still need wrapping doesn’t mean that that EMT can stay home and ‘ignore’ the call – somebody’s life is on the line. The gifts have to wait until the call is complete – paperwork and all.
On any given night my kids might go out on call, after call, after call; five, six or more calls in a row. Let’s do the math – 5 calls @ approximately 2 hours each = 10 hours. Now, each one of my children has a job that starts no later than 7:00AM. Hmmmm when did they get their forty winks so that they could go to work the next day and perform their duties at their respective jobs. Jobs as a Registered Nurse in an area hospital Trauma Unit, a Patient Care Assistant in an area hospital Cardiac Unit, or the mother of 3 very young children wanting and needing specific attention starting just as the sun peeks over the horizon? Special plans to spend a little quality time as a family together are often dashed due to a community emergency that Mom and/or Dad must respond to. Try explaining that to a 4 year old.
Not only do the volunteer EMT’s serve their own community, but often they are called upon to perform mutual aid in a surrounding community. Whether it’s a mutual aid call because a rig is already out and no one else is available to cover an additional call; or the emergency is just too big for one town to handle – there’s always someone to answer the call. Imagine it’s late morning, the corps members from your town are at their respective jobs which are out of town. Your husband, wife, or child goes into cardiac arrest or is gravely injured or ill. No members are available in your town to answer the call. If Cresskill can’t get a rig out – Dumont might be called upon to take the aid call and if Dumont members are available they surely do.
All the citizens of Cresskill need to know what effort and sacrifices your “fired” EMT’s have put forth over the years. I know some members who have served the Cresskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps for nearly 25 years. Twenty-five years! Talk about loss of knowledge and experience! It takes at least six months of schooling in order to become a certified EMT in the state of New Jersey. Even after passing state exams the experience isn’t there yet. Bare in mind that just because someone is a ‘licensed registered nurse’ doesn’t automatically qualify him or her as a NJ State Certified EMT either. That registered nurse is subject to the same requirements as any other prospective EMT.
Training to become a New Jersey State Certified EMT-B takes place at either the Bergen County EMS Training Center located in Paramus or the Law & Public Safety Institute - EMS Academy in Mahwah. The course requires that students complete or pass 100 class hours, 10 hours of hospital time, written exams, practicals, a final NJ State examination, and a Nation Registry Exam. Students must attend all classes prior to taking the final exam. The coarse is offered three times a year, in the spring, summer and fall and you must be CPR certified in order to take the course.
In order to maintain EMT-B certification, an EMT must re-certify every three and a half years. Continued education is mandatory - a total of 24 core and 24 elective credits or CEU's must be earned during this time.
It seems to me that the ‘funds’ Mayor Romeo is squabbling over add up to nothing more than a mere pittance. Over a period of six years (1999-2004) Mayor Romeo is contesting an expenditure of $9,246.00 for dinners and entertainment. Let’s see – $9,246.00 divided by 6 = $1,541 per year. Seems like a lot, but let’s try and put this into perspective. Divide the $1,541 by members, plus their spouse/significant other, area ambulance corps officers, area hospital paramedics who assist on many calls, etc. I see nothing ‘inappropriate’ with this expenditure. Why would it be inappropriate for the Corps to reward their members once a year with a ‘special’ dinner to honor each other? Even if you had a minimum of 50 invited members, spouses and guests the inappropriate expenditure actually works out to less than $32 a dinner.
Does the Police Association use donated funds for their annual dinner? How about Cresskill Volunteer Fire Department or better yet, the Republican Club? We all know that ‘donations’ are made to each of these associations/clubs and we know that the very same associations/clubs have annual dinners; dinners to honor members for their hard work, loyalty and service. Mr. Mayor, you’re going to complain because the check note said, ‘filled bellies’? Some one has a peculiar sense of humor, however the notation was an honest one. Actually, the expenditure could have been hidden under the guise of a bogus expense more in keeping with what auditors would deem appropriate; but it wasn’t. Someone just found a sassy way to explain the expenditure.
I have to address the cable bill. $ 3,758.00 divided by 6 years = 626.33 divided by 12 months in a year = $52.00. Gee, that’s considerably less than what I pay for my own home cable. Do you mean to tell me that the Fire Departments in town don’t have televisions; let alone cable? Who pays for that – town tax money or donations? What in the world are members supposed to be doing while they are on duty for 12 hours, sitting at the building waiting? Oh, I guess they should read a book.
Cell phones are very important, especially considering the climate in which we have had to become accustomed to since 9/11. We’re in a whole new ball game now. There is a need to be able to communicate with each other immediately and walkie-talkies just do not cut it anymore. I know of only a few who can function without a cell phone readily and immediately at hand. I am sure that this includes Mayor Romeo, the Fire Department, and the Police Department; even the DPW. As for the instance involving ‘abuse’ of the privilege? What was the reason surrounding this so-called abuse and how was the situation resolved? Was the call to an out of town Corps Officer regarding urgent Corps business?
LOSAP - Length Of Service Award Program. Does anyone out there really understand what this is about? I doubt the general public has any idea. It’s money that is awarded to members for years of service to be received upon retirement at age 64 if, and only if, that member has met the requirements set forth by the borough and the squad. The ‘service award’ is not money doled out as a bonus each year; as I said, a member must wait until he has reached retirement age and has met the specified criteria – i.e., number of calls, meetings, drills, etc. If a member has met all the criteria, good for them, they deserve the LOSAP.
A $600.00 ‘uniform’ stipend is for what is says – uniforms. How many times has one of Cresskill’s EMT’s responded to a call only to have a disorderly drunk spit on them, or a very sick patient vomit or bleed all over them. Gross isn’t it? How about responding to a motor vehicle accident? In the process of tending to the immediate needs of the injured they have gotten oil, dirt, and/or grime on clothing or ripped them. I believe the fire department gets a ‘clothing’ stipend also.
A wedding gift for a squad member; a bouquet of flowers or a fruit basket for a sick member, family member, deceased member or deceased family member, I can’t for the life of me figure out what is wrong with that expenditure.
As for the statement by Mrs. Rooney suggesting donations be used for purchasing cotton balls. Well that’s just ridiculous. Mrs. Rooney said that she was thankful for the care and compassion administered to her daughter and to show her appreciation she sent a check and a thank you card. Does anyone actually believe that these selfless, compassionate volunteers don’t deserve an annual dinner, cable for their donated TV, or to be able to send flowers to their fellow comrades who are ill or worse, have passed away? Cresskill Ambulance Corps is owned and operated by the Borough of Cresskill – thus any equipment/supplies required for the day-to-day operation of the Corps is the responsibility of the town through tax funds budgeted. This includes wheel chairs, crutches, bandages, oxygen, defibrillators, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and, yes, cotton balls.
I believe that because Cresskill’s Ambulance Corps is financially supported through the town with budgeted funds derived from residential property tax payments any donations to the Corps should be managed by the Corps in a manner that they deem fit and appropriate. How much could the donations amount to $10,000, maybe $15,000 a year? The Corps does not solicit ‘donations’, as does the Fire Department annually. The ‘donations’ they received are donations, gifts of appreciation.
Without a working ‘volunteer’ ambulance corps, Cresskill administrators have contracted the services of a paid ambulance at a rate of $500 a day. Should the Mayor and Borough Administrators not be able to enlist enough new volunteers, and this is a distinct possibility as volunteerism is at an all time low, it is possible that a paid ambulance service would be imminent. Once again, do the math - $500 for a period of 365 days equates to over $185,000; and should there be a need for 2 ambulances the figure jumps to a whopping $370,000. All paid for by Cresskill tax funds in addition to the normal day-to-day operation expenditures of the ambulance building. I think your auditors should consider this expenditure as a misappropriation.
Mayor Romeo, I cannot understand why in light of recent events in surrounding municipalities where true misappropriations have occurred you wouldn’t be more concerned as Mayor, with your own administration and be careful not to waste valuable time, tax payer’s money, and resources on a conceived misappropriation of funds.
Mayor Romeo, I believe you have let a bargain slip through your fingers at the expense of an entire community. Shame on you Mr. Mayor, shame on you.
Fine citizens of Cresskill, remember that the money Mayor Romeo is questioning is from donations (gifts) to the Corps, not funds from the borough budget.
I am sure that given the opportunity any one of the “fired” volunteers would all come back to serve their community. Pretty amazing considering the grief the current borough administration has seen fit to hand these selfless volunteers. That’s because volunteer EMT’s are a special breed of people. Their hearts are in the right place and they are dedicated to helping those who require immediate medical assistance – no matter how serious or minor the problem may be, no matter what time of day or night. Now they need your help and support to fight to bring them back.
Linda M. Hofmann
Mother of Three Outstanding Members of the Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps
posted by SaveCresskillFirstAid at 10:56 AM
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