← City Council · 2021-05-03 · City Council Regular Meeting
RES-20-21-1 : A Resolution in recognition of International Firefighters' Day
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
RES-2021-1 Resolution City of Melrose Page 1 8/26/2021 4:32 PM Minutes City Council May 3, 2021 A Resolution in recognition of International Firefighters' Day
Transcript
▶ 3:51 Speaker 2: Do business, Madam clerk resolution 2021 dash 1, a resolution and recognition of international firefighters day.
▶ 4:07 Christopher Cinella: Council McMaster yes. Thank you. Mr. President at this time. I'll be seeking immediate consideration seeking immediate consideration seeing that there's no objection.
▶ 4:13 Shawn M. MacMaster: Thank you, Mr. President. I believe we have Chief Kalina joining us as well as some members from IAFF Local 1617, which is the Melrose Firefighters Union. I'm not sure who's in, but just for the purposes of the clerk, so she can identify them by name, it would be President Bill Starr, Vice President Steve Judge, and Secretary Treasurer Bob Driscoll. If they're in, Madam Clerk, could we bring them in?
▶ 4:41 Speaker 2: Sure, we have Mr star, Mr, Driscoll and chief cleaner. We do not have that other gentleman yet.
▶ 4:49 Shawn M. MacMaster: Mr president, would you like to bring them in at this time? Or would you prefer to wait until after the resolution?
▶ 4:57 Shawn M. MacMaster: It's up to you. I think if there's no objection, if we can maybe bring them in at this point. Sure.
▶ 5:07 Speaker 2: Gentlemen, can you hear us? Yes, we can.
▶ 5:17 Speaker 2: I can hear you. Okay. You can only see chief cleaner.
▶ 5:32 Christopher Cinella: Here's president star and how about is the is mayor broader coming in as well.
▶ 5:37 Speaker 4: He is now.
▶ 5:46 Shawn M. MacMaster: Thank you madam clerk. Thank you again. Mr. president.
▶ 5:54 Shawn M. MacMaster: International firefighters day is observed annually on May 4th. It commemorates the depth of 5 firefighters who were killed in the line of duty.
▶ 6:00 Shawn M. MacMaster: On December 2nd, 1998, fighting a bushfire in Australia. The firefighters who perished were part of a mutual aid strike team who responded from a nearby community to battle the bushfire.
▶ 6:14 Shawn M. MacMaster: When they reached the hot zone, the wind suddenly switched directions, engulfing the fire truck in which they were arriving to the scene.
▶ 6:24 Shawn M. MacMaster: The fire truck, after being engulfed, instantly killed the five firefighters.
▶ 6:34 Shawn M. MacMaster: It was about a year later after an international movement to recognize the heroism and the work of our firefighters across the world that International Firefighters Day was first commemorated. So, Mr. President, at this time, I will read the resolution. Whereas firefighters are formally recognized and celebrated during the month of May, an firefighters day is observed annually on may 4th and whereas the field of firefighting has evolved
▶ 7:01 Shawn M. MacMaster: over the years to include medical aid hazardous waste cleanup and biohazard emergencies as well as participation in search and rescue operations and preparedness activities to prevent domestic and foreign terrorism and whereas the melrose fire department has continually operated 24 hours a day seven days a week for 152 years. And whereas the Melrose Fire Department is comprised of 54 firefighters who staff three fire stations strategically located throughout the city. And whereas the Melrose Fire Department is broken down into four suppression groups made up of two engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company. And whereas in 2020
▶ 7:45 Shawn M. MacMaster: the Melrose Fire Department responded to 4,160 service calls including 293 fires,
▶ 7:58 Shawn M. MacMaster: 2,319 medical aids, 157 motor vehicle crashes, 304 COVID-19 cases, and 30 drug overdoses.
▶ 8:06 Shawn M. MacMaster: And whereas in the first four months of 2021, the Melrose Fire Department has responded to 1,329
▶ 8:16 Shawn M. MacMaster: service calls, including 92 fires, 737 medical aids, 63 motor vehicle crashes, 128 COVID-19 cases, and 8 drug overdoses. And whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional demands on the Meadows Fire Department and exposed its members to a novel virus at great personal risk, and whereas each and every day our firefighters risk their personal safety for the health and welfare of the general public, and whereas the Melrose Fire Department represents the very best of the firefighting profession, be it resolved we, the members of the Melrose City Council, do hereby express our sincere appreciation to the men and women of the Melrose Fire Department for their hard work, selflessness, bravery, and sacrifice on behalf of the City of Melrose, and in recognition hereof, be it further resolved that on this third day of May in the year 2021, a copy of this resolution be spread upon the records of the City of Melrose.
▶ 9:19 Shawn M. MacMaster: Thank you, Mr. President, at this time, I'd welcome Chief Kalina and the members of the Fire Union to say a few words.
▶ 9:27 Speaker 5: Councilman McMaster. Yeah, thank you very much to you and the Council for this recognition of the men and women of the Fire Department. I'm sure they're most graciously approve of this ordinance or order, and we don't get a lot of thanks in our profession, but a little acknowledgement like this goes a long way, and I'm just sure that they're grateful for it. Thank you to you and the council for the recognition. Thank you.
▶ 9:56 Christopher Cinella: Thank you, Chief. Mayor Brunner, did you have something you wanted to add? You're on mute.
▶ 10:05 Christopher Cinella: Ten dollar fine. This is a.
▶ 10:08 Paul Brodeur: This is a big deal for for my extended family. I've had many firefighters in the family. My. My cousin served in to experience retirement. Michael Dick, my great uncle Dick served in Everett. And 1 of my cousins was actually a not. first cousin, was the last firefighter to perish on the job in Gardner back in 1968. He started as a call firefighter and then moved into a full-time job with Gardner. I believe he was 58 years old and had a heart attack while attempting a rescue. So, it's personal. I understand what's on the line every time the minimum for the Norris firefighters go out and respond. And particularly in COVID with the roles expanded, very grateful for everything that they do. Thank you.
▶ 11:12 Christopher Cinella: Thank you, Matt. I don't know if Mr. Driscoll or Mr. Starr had anything.
▶ 11:20 Speaker 6: Bob, you want to go ahead or should I go ahead?
▶ 11:24 Speaker 7: Go ahead, Mr. President.
▶ 11:28 Speaker 6: I do want to thank Councilman McMaster for that piece that he had just read, as well as all the Councilors that had reached out to myself as well as our members over this past year. A lot of of uncertainty you know through this pandemic but you know many of you reached out to us provided masks when we didn't have a lot of masks and just looked out for our well-being while we step forward to look out for the citizens of Melrose so that is appreciated and I thank you on behalf of
▶ 12:23 Speaker 7: a local 1617. Thank you. Mr. Driscoll. I echo President Starr's comments. Thank you to the council. Thank you to the mayor's office. And thank you, especially to my brothers and sisters on the Melrose Fire Department, as well as Chief Kalina. It's been a rough year for our members, but we will continue tomorrow to go out and help the citizens of Melrose as we do every day.
▶ 12:51 Christopher Cinella: so thank you what is the will present at this time if there's nothing from any of
▶ 13:07 Christopher Cinella: my colleagues I would make a motion to place on file a discussion seeing none and Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
▶ 13:17 Speaker 1: Councilor Eccles? Yes. Councilor Garipay? Yes.
▶ 13:23 Speaker 2: Councilor Grigoraitis?
▶ 13:24 Speaker 1: Yes.
▶ 13:26 Speaker 2: Councilor McMaster?
▶ 13:27 Speaker 1: Yes. Councilor McNaught? Yes. Councilor Migliorelli? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Thomas? Yes. Councilor Tramontozzi? Yes.
▶ 13:42 Speaker 2: And yes.
▶ 13:48 Christopher Cinella: Yes, sir. Thank you gentlemen for joining us this evening.
▶ 13:56 Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night.