CNN.COM IS REPORTING THAT THE U.S. HOUSE HAS JUST PASSED THE HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT.

Sunday, March 21, 2010 @10:48 p.m.: The House passes the Senate health care bill, 219-212.

OH NO-WE WILL NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT NOW FROM THE REPUBLIWHINERS!! PHEW GOD HELP US!!   RUSH LIMBAUGH AND BILL O’LIELY MUST BE IN CARDIAC ARREST NOW!!!

There has been a lot of talk about overtime in Cheshire and throughout the entire nation for that matter. I found a few articles that are very interesting. They highlight how expensive it is to pay municipal employees, especially police and fire, overtime. Some towns are literally being bankrupted by this practice.

Now in Cheshire, we do not have a paid fire department, but we do have a paid police department and some overtime issues did surface during last weeks Public Safety budget hearings.

A question was asked about some townwide events that require police overtime-the Relay for Life, the Memorial Day Parade, the CHS Football games, the Fall Festival. I am also sure overtime is paid at those outdoor concerts they have at Cheshire Park during July and August.

The overtime question especially with the police, came up because if my memory serves me correctly, the requested overtime for Patrol for the 2010-2011 budget was going up from $235,390 to the FY 2011 Police Department Request of $251,500. The FY 2011 Manager Recommended $251,500.

SO, people asked WHY?? What is costing so much with this overtime?? The Police Chief said the biggest issue  which requires overtime is shift replacement. Also mandatory training requires overtime. There are 15 officers per year that must participate in this mandatory training.

As far as local events are concerned, the Chief did say that Relay for Life pays for Police overtime, but the Town pays overtime for the Memorial Day parade which if you have ever gone to this event, it seems as if EVERY POLICE OFFICER IS ON DUTY THAT DAY.

The Chief explained that it takes most of the day closing off the streets and re-routing traffic. You know, I did not ask any questions that night because I really didn’t feel well.  But come on, the Cheshire CT Memorial Day Parade IS NOT THE NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade!! How much time does this take to block off a few streets???

Also the Chief did say the Department has at least SEVEN officers at each Football game. WHY?? THEY NEED SEVEN OFFICERS?? I went to the Central/Harding Thanksgiving Day Football game in Bridgeport a few years ago and I DID NOT SEE SEVEN OFFICERS THERE!!

And also, WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OFFICERS AT THAT FALL FESTIVAL!! FOR WHAT??? OH YES THIS IS A HOTBED OF ANARCHY!!!

We need police officers to tell people when to cross the street?? GET A CROSSING GUARD. THEY DO THIS EVERY DAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THEY HOLD UP THEIR LITTLE “STOP” SIGNS AND EVERYTHING GOES WELL. THE CROSSING GUARD CAN DO THE SAME JOB FOR A LOT LESS MONEY-A LOT LESS.

I went to the Gifford New Hampshire Ribfest at Gunstock Ski Area last summer that attracts tens of thousands of people. It is a three day even-I SAW TWO COPS, AND ONE OF THEM LOOKED LIKE HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD!! GIVE IT UP-IT IS JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE. Also, the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield which has 700 employees has their picnic at Holiday Hill which is in CHESHIRE. This is a private affair and most of the employees go. I used to go when I worked there for several years. I NEVER SAW A POLICE OFFICER THERE AND THERE WAS NO TROUBLE EVER!!! No this is nuts-just because there is an event does not mean police are needed. I would think a place like Holiday Hill would be conscious of a liability. They saw no need and neither did the JHE for police presence.

You see, the more overtime a cop gets, the more pension they receive. That is why??

HEY, HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS WANT TO WORK THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE?? OH ME ME ME!! YEP AND YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT!!

LET ALL CITIES AND TOWNS CONTINUE TO ROB PETER TO PAY PRIVILEGED PAUL AND SEE OUR SCHOOLS SUFFER!! That is the bottom line, there is only so much money to go around. WHAT IS THE PRIORITY??? EDUCATION OR LINING POCKETS???

Look,I KNOW we need Police at public events, but come one, I did not see that many officers when I took my daughter to the American Idol Concert in Bridgeport at Harbor Yard for God’s sake. I mean look, if you know there is going to be a rowdy crowd, that is one thing- but the Fall Festival, those concerts at the Cheshire Park and Memorial Day parade DO NOT ATTRACT ROWDY PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF CONTROL!!

So with that, here is a good article about Public Safety overtime.

Click HERE.

Finally, who gives an F if someone has a job or not or what someone does for a living??

OCCUPATIONS OF FORMER PRESIDENTS.

FYI: TOWNS CUT BACK ON SERVICES TO SAVE MONEY (CHESHIRE TAKE NOTICE).

Click HERE for story.

ALSO BEFORE I GO: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “EXTRA DUTY” AND OVERTIME?? SOMEONE HAS TO PAY . IF IT IS A UTILITY COMPANY GUESS WHAT?? “THEY” PAY THE OFFICER BUT “WE”  THE RATE PAYERS ALSO PAY IN THE LONG RUN.

AND THEN THE COMMENTER MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THE TOWN’S “IN KIND” SERVICES AT THE FALL FESTIVAL IS FREE. NO IT ISN’T. THE BUSINESSES DON’T PAY BUT WE THE TAXPAYERS DO!!

Here is another interesting article by the late William Buckley from 2003 but it is still revelant today. It is entitled: RICH POLICE?

Also consider this: “$23.6 Million in Extra Pay?”