Click on pictures to enlarge.
By Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer
Residential life in Woodside and Portola Valley and nearby communities is scenic if not always idyllic. It's also dangerous. The forests include highly flammable eucalyptus, acacia, pine, juniper, scotch broom, French broom and coyote brush. Tectonic plates meet along the San Andreas fault, which runs under both towns.
Protecting an upscale lifestyle in the midst of this, implanting in residents' minds the constant threats of wildfire and earthquake, is one significant task for Fire Chief Armando Muela and the members of the Woodside Fire Protection District's governing board.
For Chief Muela, 54, it won't be a daily issue for much longer. He has announced plans to retire on April 29 after 33 years in firefighting, including 17 years with the Woodside district, the past four and a half as chief.
In late March, the district governing board will pick a new chief from among the five battalion chiefs in the Woodside district, Chief Muela said.
Chief Muela isn't going anywhere. He lives in Emerald Hills and said he plans to volunteer with the area's disaster preparedness programs and to remain associated with the district's foundation advisory board. The Woodside-Portola Valley Fire Protection Foundation raises money through donations for community-oriented expenses such as renewing firefighting equipment and facilities and funding fire prevention and training initiatives.
With retirement, Chief Muela's day-in-day-out tether of a cell phone and pager will be left behind. "There's not a day when I'm not actively engaged (in district activities)," he said in an interview in his simply furnished office at the fire station in downtown Woodside. "I think it's time for me to kind of take on some new challenges and reinvent myself."
He said he looks forward to his 13th year as a chaperone for middle school kids on a 22-mile hike into and out of the Grand Canyon, to improving his golf game, and perhaps to college classes on subjects such as religion and political science.
Chief Muela began with two years as a firefighter for the state, then two more in the private sector as an ambulance paramedic, he said. The next 30 years included 14 with the fire department in South San Francisco and the rest with Woodside, where he instituted a paramedic program that put advanced-life-support crews on fire engines. Ambulances at the time had a response time of 15 to 20 minutes, he said.
Chief Muela retired under a rule for public safety employees that at age 50, they can retire with 3 percent of their current salary for every year of service up to 30 years. Chief Muela will receive about $162,000 a year, he said. Cashing out his unused vacation and sick leave should add up to $90,000 and he will have lifetime health care coverage for himself and his spouse, he said.
Generous benefits. Asked to comment, Chief Muela replied: "My guess is that we will be managed down," meaning that the state Legislature will act to "claw back" some benefits of retired public employees, including firefighters and police.
"Government will shrink to a size that will be the new normal. I believe there's a movement afoot by labor to understand this," he added when asked to comment on the very public dispute in Wisconsin over bargaining rights for unionized public employees.
A peaceable district
That movement has apparently been afoot for a while in the Woodside fire district. Unlike their counterparts in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, Woodside firefighters have not seen their labor negotiations roil out into public and make news. Why?
For one thing, the district is relatively small, which allows it to be "nimble," he said. But the key, he added, is being open and transparent with firefighters because "it sets them up for change." Everyone sees the financials and he said he e-mails the entire staff on how other fire districts respond to their own financial issues. Firefighters also help in the details of choosing new fire engines.
"Every member in this organization contributes," he said. "That gives them ownership. They have a piece of it. When change does come, it's not as hard to go through."
"We all sacrifice," he added. No one in the district has seen a raise or increase in benefits in three years, he said. "The labor body has been unbelievable, has been great to the fire district," he said. "Everybody in this organization is giving back. ... It's a pill that you have to take. We all swallow the pill and we move forward."
Cooperative by nature
Among his accomplishments, Chief Muela noted the fire district's improved and improving relations with the towns of Portola Valley and Woodside.
Asked to comment, Portola Valley Town Manager Angie Howard said in an e-mail that the relationship with the district "has evolved and is very good. Armando is good to work with, is proactive, he is responsive, and keeps Susan and I informed when something important happens in town."
Woodside Town Manager Susan George struck the same note. "The town's relationship with the fire district has been very positive since Armando was named as chief," she said. "He is very open and collaborative and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. ... I'll really miss Armando."
"Working in Woodside is such a unique feeling," Chief Muela said. His daily commute is not interrupted by even one traffic light and visiting fire chiefs regularly comment on the serene settings of the fire stations and the lower tensions of working in such an environment, he said.
Comments
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 18, 2011 at 5:26 pm
on Mar 18, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I am sure Chief Muela is a nice guy, sounds like it from the comments. And it also looks like he performed an admirable job. However, a $162K a year at age 54, plus the $90K "funny money" bonus? This is simply outrageous. This type of plan for an individual, in this type of position, defies logic. I'm sure Chief Muela has at least 10 good years left in him to add to this income. I see what the article says, and it sounds like he'll be doing volunteer work, fine he can choose to do whatever he wants, he's retired. However, he again can go get another job, maybe an easier job to add to this income? With health benefits, for the rest of his, and his wife's life?
This is only one small example, this is why California is in trouble, this is why the rest of the country is trying to take action. All the garbage the media is throwing around regarding Wisconsin trying to incite some type of wrong doing is hogwash, Wisconsin has it right. We HAVE to establish a better program than what some of our state officials and federal employees have at this time. Again, this is simply outrageous, and again Chief Muela, this is not personal, I'm just pointing out that we need to reconstruct this type of plan, it simply makes no sense to the taxpayer.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 18, 2011 at 10:08 pm
on Mar 18, 2011 at 10:08 pm
You are correct "outrageous". the elected officials who gave these firemen these benifits need to be replaced. No one can blame the FF. If your workplace/boss gave you these benifits would any of you say "no thanks". NO! you say hell ya, thanks. The fire chief makes more then this. he needs to retire because it sounds like that place is a disaster and he is on tv way to much for a small town chief
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 18, 2011 at 10:09 pm
on Mar 18, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Referring to Menlo Park Fire Department
Woodside: other
on Mar 19, 2011 at 11:07 am
on Mar 19, 2011 at 11:07 am
I want to express both congratulations and gratitude toward Chief Muela. The relationship between Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and the Woodside Fire Protection District has been a true partnership and almost everyone we have interacted with at the District has been responsive to our needs and concerns and has proved very productive. I am also know that this kind of success starts at the top with the chief. Personally, I will miss Armando Muela at WFPD, but I also know that thanks to his leadership, there is a wealth of capable knowledge and talent among the battalion chiefs that can continue this remarkable service to the community.
However you re-invent yourself, Chief Muela, I hope it works as well for you as your efforts have worked for the Preserve.
Atherton: West of Alameda
on Mar 19, 2011 at 9:55 pm
on Mar 19, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Congratulations Chief, have a pleasant retirement and thank you for all your hard work. Not many go towards the flame most are moving away. Many walk past the injured you went towards them, the ones that throw up and curse all treated the same as the nice. Please don't mind the first disgruntled comments, he probably pops the kids balls that roll on his property, the same kids you lead on treks in the wilderness. Again Thank you,
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 19, 2011 at 11:50 pm
on Mar 19, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Sorry John, you truly do not understand the issue. Again, my comments are not personal, my comments should have you concerned, and every other tax payer concerned.(that is if you do in fact pay taxes) Great guy, probably a hard working tax payer himself, but I struggle with the equation used for this position's pension. It's as simple as that. Go ahead and make it personal. Comments regarding your assumptions about me are so far off, but then again you want to make it personal. If you really want to make it personal, how about picking up that pension as a tax payer, YOU pay for it, along with all of the other large state pensions that have put this state in trouble. Good Luck!
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 20, 2011 at 3:42 pm
on Mar 20, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Outrageous, I'm with you. Muela is probably a great guy; however, the issue is whether the public is getting value for their money. His retirement package is probably worth $2.4 - 4 million (my estimate with no research) at 54 years old. From what I hear, it is virtually impossible to get a job as a firefighter. If this is true, don't you think taxpyaers are paying too much? I worry about California's future.
another community
on Mar 21, 2011 at 10:52 am
on Mar 21, 2011 at 10:52 am
Thank you Chief for the direction you have given our department. Working for Woodside is different then most department's because we do have ownership in what we do. It's a shame that we have all of these comments from people that live in Menlo Park or Atherton. As someone that responds into these communities everyday on our ambulance I would hope that they see the professionalism that we give them even though we are not employed by there tax dollars. I would truly love to sit down with those in the community that believe we are over paid and are hurting our state because of our retirement. The hours we give, the sleepless nights I have spent caring for those in need and watching most of the people that retire in our profession live just a few years past retirement because of the health problems from the years of service. To those we serve in the communities of Woodside, Portola Valley, Ladera, Los Trancos Woods, Emerald Hills, and the Skyline Area. Remember that we work hard every minute of the day for you. When you call 911 we will be there to treat you like you are one of our own family members. What you see in other area's of the county do not represent what you have in Woodside Fire. As employees we want to make sure that our department is heathly financally today and into the future. We know what our state is going through and as employees of the district. We have not taken a raise in three years and signed a contract that gives us no raises again for two more years. We have given back our own salary to keep the ambulance staffed for our citizens we respond to every day. We believe in our department and want the best for those we serve. It's because of Chief Muela that we do this for our community, he taught us to give back to those we serve and he will be missed. Thank you for the years of leadership and services.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 21, 2011 at 12:25 pm
on Mar 21, 2011 at 12:25 pm
I guess I am failing this blog, because I can't seem to get my point across about our pension and benefit liability as a state. We appreciate the fact that salaries are not being increased, but I will use the old standard "neither are MANY private sector jobs", in fact many private sector jobs have been lost. Let's ask ourselves how many state, county or federal workers have lost their jobs during this difficult time? Answer: Less than 1%. Perhaps if everyone would read the front page article in the Chronicle yesterday, that discusses this issue, much better than I do, and see if you are appalled by the dollar amounts of some of these pensions, and also the "owed vacation pay"? The top retiree earned a check for $500K+ for "owed vacation pay and additional time". This is simply nuts. No one discounts the job that the Chief did, however it is in fact his JOB, that's what he was paid to do.(aka answer the 911 call) Again, I just simply am stating, the pension liability is so far over the top, and as taxpayers we HAVE to fix this.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm
on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm
To Outrageous -- your comments aren't lost on me. For the most part our government officials are over paid, and there is redundancy in what we have. Given today's economy, do we really NEED multiple fire and police agencies and more than 20 school districts in San Mateo County?
No offense to our public safety official capabilities, but their job really isn't that taxing for this area -- maybe in NY or Chicago where the days are filled with calls. No offense to the retiring chief, but why was his salary so high? 3 fire stations and 30-40 people? I'm sure he did a fine job but so do lots of other people in public work including the military, and they don't make the salary he did or get his retirement.
I agree with "Outrageous"; it's time to seriously address the pay and benefits of our public employees. It's time for our elected officials need to step up to the plate and stop talking and just do.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm
on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:40 pm
To Outrageous -- your comments aren't lost on me. For the most part our government officials are over paid, and there is redundancy in what we have. Given today's economy, do we really NEED multiple fire and police agencies and more than 20 school districts in San Mateo County?
No offense to our public safety official capabilities, but their job really isn't that taxing for this area -- maybe in NY or Chicago where the days are filled with calls. No offense to the retiring chief, but why was his salary so high? 3 fire stations and 30-40 people? I'm sure he did a fine job but so do lots of other people in public work including the military, and they don't make the salary he did or get his retirement.
I agree with "Outrageous"; it's time to seriously address the pay and benefits of our public employees. It's time for our elected officials need to step up to the plate and stop talking and just do.
Woodside: other
on Mar 21, 2011 at 3:37 pm
on Mar 21, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Personally, I think a fire fighter's job is dangerous in Manhattan, New York or Manhattan Beach, CA. That's not the issue.
And I don't begrudge Chief Muela's pension and I appreciate his 30+ years of service.
But I do care about the pension that the next fire fighter who we hire. There is simply no reason to perpetuate this incredible and unsustainable pension system for one more employee. If we don't stop this madness soon, we'll all go down.
another community
on Mar 22, 2011 at 3:05 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 3:05 am
Well,I see that these comments are meant to really bring home a point that any person who works for the government ie. State, Local, or Federal are hurting the Tax payers. Well I am only just a firefighter and I did not attend any major college, studied in economics or started my own company like Microsoft. But I believe that most cities in our county and other counties in the state of California were formed to keep tax dollars close to home(ie sales, hotel, property to name a few) The sole purpose of these cities were to provide 3 simple services to the TAX PAYER who wanted to form these cities. 1. Police service- to protect the local tax payer from anyone breaking the law. 2. Fire/medical service- To protect the homes and lives of the Tax Payer 3. Basic city needs- Public works and Libraries. This is what the tax payer wanted to do with their tax money. Special Districts were formed to take care of the rest (ie- schools, parks, water).
Since all of the employees that work for the city or the special district receive their salaries and retirement from the TAX PAYER. These employees in turn now become a liability on the TAX PAYER.
But, these salaries are then taxed the same way as those in the private sector. These public employees homes are taxed with the same propery taxes as those in the private sector. Since most private sector tax payers are self employed or work for a company that is publicly traded on the stock market. (Any tech or tech related company in the bay area). These private sector employees receive funds (ie purchases for goods and services) that are paid for by a public employee's salary. The taxes I pay from my salary are used to pay for the same services that the private sector's tax dollars pay for. I in turn pay the salary of those in the private sector because the services or merchandise that the private sector employee provides has a cost and I also pay for my own salary because I am taxed by police and fire
So for those in the private sector that have lost their job or have seen a pay cut because of the economy. Stop blaming our pension or salary because the last time I looked at it. My salary is taxed and the services and products I need from the private sector cost me money. My money helps pay for those in the private sector that work for publicly traded companies. The CEO's and those in the top managment make millions of dollars a year. Also those companies like google, yahoo, microsoft, and any private sector company that has a contract with the state of california and pays their private sector employee over 90,000 dollars a year plus an unknown amount for bonuses. Most of these companies pay for medical coverage and give their employees stock options. The non-profit agencies that receive funds from the state and pay their non-profit employees 100,000 dollars a year or more.
My public employees salary is taxed the same as yours and has paid for those private sector salaries.
The people of Menlo Park and Atherton that have plenty of time to complain about our salaries must have too much money and a lot of time on their hands. I have been to a lot of homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, and Portola Valley and usually I dont see to many public employees living there. I do see a lot of private sector employees that are paying 1,000,000 or more for these homes. So when I hear all of these stories about how my pension is destroying the state of California. Could we please returm to the year 2000 when the Bay area was full of rich private sector employees making a lot of money. I dont remember hearing to many of you complaing about my salary then. I dont make bonuses each year and I sure and the hell dont make 600,000 thousand a year.
If you are really concerned about the state and how broke we are. Lets remember the Wall street collapse and how much money we pumped into the private banks and private companies. Only to have them break all of their contracts, cut out the middle class and keep the profits for the top 1%. It sounds to me like most of the people that complain about these types of articles continue to blame the middle class or the public employees. Most of you must be bankers, lawyers or have gone to school with Milton Friedman or believe in his studies. If we continue to remove the middle class then all of you in the private sector who need those in the middle class to support your private sector business will fail. So start worrying about something else. Why dont you concentrate your efforts on banking or energy and maybe we can prevent the next enron or the wall street collapse. Because I know it was not caused by the public employees pension. That is just the very rich and the media trying to persude all of those with little knowledge or understanding of economics to destroy more of the middle class and create more money for those who already have it all. GO Milton Friedman and the Chicago school of economics.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 7:09 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 7:09 am
Happy:
no one is complaining about your salary, just your unsustainable pension. A pension, I might, that exists nowhere outside the public sector. The fact is these types of pensions are simply unsustainable. Private industry figured this out long ago and that is why they now work with some type of 401k retirement plan. Oh, and don't whine too hard about paying taxes, we all know you contribute nothing to Social Security.
Woodside: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 7:51 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 7:51 am
And, you should note that NO ONE in the private sector has collective bargaining rights for PENSIONS. That's exclusively in the public sector... at least for now.
another community
on Mar 22, 2011 at 8:53 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 8:53 am
We dont collect social security because you need 40 quarters before you are eligable to collect. Again this is why we have news stories and people that have no idea about the system. They only information you read about is what the news stories bring up and how TRUTHFULL they are. Do some real research and come to the table when you actually have real figures and not what you read from some a newspaper article. Look at the airlines and auto makers. In stead of funding there liabilities in retirement and health care that the employer promised. They instead kept the money to only inflate the stockholders bottom line. More PROFIT. So we only have the CEO's and management to blame. Not the workers that were promised the retirement they also paid into. As for our system. If it were to fail and all of the money I did put into out of my own pocket would never come back to me. If NEWT has his way and allows states to go into bankruptcy then everything would be lost. Even my money that I put into. My retirement is not insured like those in the private sector that can go the an agency and have the federal government help them when they fail because they did not fund there system. But no matter what you find. You still have your believes. That is why our country is the way it is. The newspaper and the a politican always tell the truth.
Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:01 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:01 am
Thank you, Happy, for participating in this discussion. Perspectives such as yours are a necessary counterpoint to the often one-sided and nuance-free characterization of unions and public sector employees, and labor in general.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:19 am
on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:19 am
Mr. Happy - You asked for some real numbers and some real research, here's some: $500B, which is about 6X the state's budget. This is the number of our total pension liability, the pension liability that is guaranteed to our state employees. This number does not go down, when the stock market takes a hit, like our 401K's, this is guaranteed by the tax payer. We simply cannot afford this. Here are a few more numbers: $594,976, $553,253, $412,666.....etc., these are payoffs to some recent 50 year old state employee retirees for "unused vacation and other time". Your argument about the private sector does not hold water. I would like to debate you in the private sector/public sector debate, but the simple fact is your "market", we the taxpayer, is simply pushing back. We can no longer afford these costs, and we simply do not believe these services should cost this much. That's what happens in the private sector, there is push back, and there are changes that occur in the private sector, like layoffs, price increases, businesses lost etc. The public sector does not work that way, and hasn't for quite some time. Sorry.
Woodside: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 12:58 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 12:58 pm
I think you all have missed the boat here a little bit. Chief Muela put in over 30 years of service to his Department and community. He touched many lives in the process. For anybody who has had the pleasure of meeting Chief Muela, you would know that he lives and breathes public service, whether on duty or off. Chief Muela increased emergency services to this area, pioneering a paramedic staffing program at a time when they were nearly nonexistent, and brought stability to his District. His contributions to our community are too numerous to count
Its sad that a beautiful article about a local hero's retirement is turning into a pissing contest about private/public sector. Please take that conversation to another page and stop soiling this spot. It was intended to showcase the Chief's years of dedication and commmitment to his craft.
As a resident of your District, I just wanted to say thanks again Chief and good luck in retirement! and to the next Chief - best of luck because you have some big shoes to fill.
Cheers
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Good idea Somebody, let's ignore the issue because the Chief "touched many lives". Again, I am not making this personal, we have a problem and it's a math problem. The Chief did a great job, no doubt, but so did many of us in our respective professions. However, I think most of us can agree, we didn't receive what he received at age 54, and it was guaranteed, and it was part of all of our tax dollars. Just stating a fact, and if you think this is an o.k. way to spend our money, then let's make sure we pay the same amount, use the same formula and make sure we continue to do this throughout the state. I am SURE there are plenty of other nice guys and gals out there that should retire at age 50 or so, and receive a disproportionate share of our tax dollars.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Happy:
you missed my point. I wasn't saying you don't collect social security, I know you don't. You have to first PAY INTO the system to collect, but you don't have to do you. No, you get to collect from a much better system than social security for what amounts to the same rate of contribution. If you retire after 30 years and your final salary is $100,000 you will collect $90,000 per year for life. Trust, me you won't be collecting anywhere near that amount from social security and that's even if you wait until age 70 to retire. Of course you also get to retire at 55 and then go find another job and work for another 10, 15 or 20 years, all the while collecting your $90,000 per year as well. And that $90,000 pension is being subsidized on the backs of the taxpayers in the form of reduced services. Services that are cut to pay for your over blown retirement. So cry me a river happy.
Woodside: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 2:18 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 2:18 pm
So much discontent I see no mention of the amount we pay ourselves into the fund which is matched by the employer I also do not see a public outcry to force the private sector to create a retirement system modeled on the PERS system no it is to easy to lash out. did you hear from the public safety sector during those years that you all made lots of money from the dot coms and we went without raises or cost of living increases of coarse not . thank god our money was not tied 401's or we would be without pensions like the private sector now and that is the system you want for all americans. so i will ask all of you how much should a firefighter make per hour but before you answer let me say in closing that a UPS driver makes more than we do and they get stock in the company.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:03 pm
It's a lost cause, those unions REALLY do a nice job of this shell game. I can only hope that enough taxpayers pay attention to the issue, don't make it personal, grab a calculator and see the overwhelming evidence that this pension program does NOT work, it is UNsustainable. I am going to fight this with every tool I have, and work as hard as I can to voice my concerns to our elected officials to construct a NEW program, one that is sustainable, one that does not destroy the state and the services in the process, and is fair. I made a choice to go into the private sector, and after 3 companies going under, losing all of my stock options, etc., and finally retooling myself and choosing something better, I cannot for the life of me understand why we chose the pension programs that we have for government officials. If my stock options and salary would have been guaranteed, that would have bothered me, there ARE no guarantees, plus why should YOU guarantee ME my choice in life, it's my choice, not yours.
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:13 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Outrageous - changing the public employee pension system is not a lost cause, it is (as you have also noted)essential to the survival of our public jurisdictions. The key is hundreds of outraged citizens like yourself showing up at finance committee and council meetings. The public employee unions are very good at working the system and the citizens need to get much, much better at doing the same.
Insist that proposed new public employee pay and benefits agreements be made public well before they are voted on by our elected representatives.
Note which candidates are supported by the unions and ask why?
Offer to serve on key committees.
Run for office and refuse union support.
You CAN make a difference.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm
As usaul...another person hiding behind a computer making bold statements and claims. [Portion removed; personal attacks violate terms of use.]
MPFPD is without a contract and facing serious issues with management. We have alot bigger issues right now then they do. Why dont you ask how much our chief will be making upon retirement or if he receives a "severance" package. You should be paying a little more attention to your own hometown department rather than worrying about what the folks up the hill (or anywhere else for that matter) are doing.
[Porton removed; personal attack]
DISCLAIMER - I DONT WORK FOR WOODSIDE FIRE
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 22, 2011 at 5:04 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Sadly mistaken (clearly a MPFPD firefighter unwilling to use his real name) states (in pure keyboard bravery fashion) "another person hiding behind a computer making bold statements and claims. All you do is bitch and moan from your keyboard, but I dont think we saw your name up for election for the fire board of MPFPD this year did we?"
For the record I served 8 1/2 years as a Director of the Fire District and was reappointed as a Director last December to serve until this December.
And your record of public service?
And "maybe you should think about applying for the job, we'd love to have you try out." I have - three years as a firefighter in Florida and three as a smokejumper - I doubt that many urban firefighters could pass the daily endurance test that smokejumpers had to pass just to be allowed to work each day. And I fought more fires in a week than most urban firefighters fight in a year. Been there, done that !!
Now, if you are finished with your keyboard bravery and personal vitriolic attacks, let's get back on topic
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 22, 2011 at 5:49 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Sadly mistaken states:"hiding behind a computer..."
Wow - an anonymous poster claiming that someone who has the courage and integrity to use his own name is hiding behind a computer. That is real hutzpah.
In fact, I spent most of today at a Fire Board study session focussing on achieving a balance budget and restructuring pension program - for which I was paid nothing and I even paid for my own lunch. And then cam hoem to post in my own name on this forum - no hiding here.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 6:30 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 6:30 pm
just a blood sucking firefighter:
ther reason you don't see the private sector with retirement plans like PERS is that the private sector figured out a long time ago that those types of retirement plans are UNSUSTAINABLE.
another community
on Mar 22, 2011 at 8:16 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 8:16 pm
You all have a fire department that when you call 911, they will be there to solve a problem or emergency you can't fix, bring you back from the dead and if necessary, risk their lives to save yours. It's their job and when they come to do that job, it's tough to put a price tag on it. They call it a job, I call it a sacrifice. Just like the Chief did for 33 years...lived by a code to give his life for someone he may have never met. Luckily he was one of the lucky ones to make it to retirement. Chief Muela, live long and prosper, you deserve it!
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 22, 2011 at 9:08 pm
on Mar 22, 2011 at 9:08 pm
John Q:
I'm very happy there are folks willing to put themselves in harms way for me. I did it myself in law enforcement for 10 years. But, if you beleive what Mr. Carpenter says, there are 300 applicants for every firefighter job that comes up. My econ professors would have called that an "over supply" thus driving down the cost of that particular product or service. Meaning we don't need to be paying what we have been for able, qualified individuals to fill these positions. No sacrifice there. Sacrifice implies these applicants could be doing something else that would make them more money. That many applicants per job indicates there's no sacrifice.
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 23, 2011 at 9:52 am
on Mar 23, 2011 at 9:52 am
I would just like to say that the previous comments were written by an imposter impersonating me. I have nothing but good things to say about San Mateo County's Fire Service. I have served directly on the MPFPD Board and things ARE changing for the better. I'm sorry if anyone was confused. Please disregard the previous posts, I have already contacted the almanac to have them removed. Thanks, Peter
another community
on Mar 23, 2011 at 10:46 am
on Mar 23, 2011 at 10:46 am
Menlo Voter, you say not to make it personal, you are making it personal by stating we should take something away from these men and women. There are 300 applicants because anyone, even you, can go to some "fire academy" and become another "applicant." The ones hired are the professionals, the trained, the educated, the paramedics, HAZMAT techs, rescue techs and most have specialties in a variety of other departments and college educations. Yes, the supply is there, but who do you want to come help you? These replies are going nowhere...clearly. If you had "econ professors" why did you become a public servant or get into "law enforcement." And why for only 10 years. Go back, read the article, be a politician and make a change for the future.
Menlo Park: other
on Mar 23, 2011 at 11:03 am
on Mar 23, 2011 at 11:03 am
David A:
I never said not to make it personal. I also happen to know there is an oversupply of all of the trained "profesionals" to which you refer. And I know this because I know fire fighters and people that have become fire fighters.
I had econ professors and I went into law enforcement because I wanted to serve my community. I only stayed 10 years becasue I found that law enforcemnt was not what it used to be and I was not serving in a way that I wanted to, so I left. Not that it's any of your business.
I don't need to be a politician to help affect change. Adding my voice to the growing choir of people that realize the current retirement system is unsustainable will help.
Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Mar 23, 2011 at 11:27 am
on Mar 23, 2011 at 11:27 am
Menlo Voter and Outrageous have a lot of quotes on here. I thought the article was great. Congratulations Chief Muela! Ignore all the negative comments. Some of the positives are worth reading.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm
on Mar 23, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Positive Quote: Congratulations also to Chief Muela, you sound like a great guy, and fantastic employee, we appreciate your service over the years, as far as I have heard there's nothing about your service that would warrant any negative comments.
Concern Quote: I wish people would stop being so darn defensive and pay attention to the unsustainability of our current pension and benefit plans, that's all, nothing more, no envy here, nothing personal, I would just like to make sure we focus on a change that needs to happen.
Registered user
Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 23, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Registered user
on Mar 23, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Outrageous - Right on both of your comments - Chief Muela has done a great job of service to the community and we do need to focus on public employee pension reform. I have just started on new thread on that subject.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Mar 23, 2011 at 10:05 pm
on Mar 23, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Fuel to the fire.....
Web Link
another community
on Mar 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm
on Mar 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Great Job Chief thank you for your service.