The mission of the Charter Township of Shelby Fire Department is to reduce deaths, injuries, and property loss from fire, hazardous material incidents, emergency medical situations, and other disaster/emergency by being proactive in providing excellent, state of the art, pace setting, life and property preservation and emergency services in a professional and cost effective manner, unhampered by tradition while recognizing and treating our people as our most valuable resource and the key to our success.
STFD News
Shelby Towhship Fire Department would like to thank everyone who came out and enjoyed our Open House on Saturday Oct. 10th
Shelby gets new fire chief
By Frank DeFrank, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Shelby Township has a new fire chief.
Gene Shepherd, who has served as interim chief since May, was appointed to head the department after the Board of Trustees accepted Shepherd's counter-proposal to the board's original officer.
A veteran of nearly 23 years, Shepherd will earn a salary of slightly less than $97,000. The board had previously offered to pay $85,000, but Shepherd and another candidate for the position turned down the offer. The $97,000 salary is about $11,000 less than George Morehouse earned when he retired last May.
Shepherd came to the township in December 1987. Like Morehouse before him, Shepherd worked his way up the ranks until he reached a command positions. Most recently, he held the title of chief of training for the department.
In that role, Shepherd was responsible to ensure that all firefighters and paramedics receive the training necessary to remain current.
The new chief said he plans to follow many of the same policies of his predecessor and "just continue to offer the same level of services" to township residents.
"I really think I have some things to offer," he said.
Shepherd also said he believes an in-house promotion best serves the department.
"You have a good sense … of what works well, and what doesn't," he said.
Shepherd's appointment came at a special meeting last week following a lengthy presentation of a report on the fire department by Mark Nottley of the Rehmann Robson public accounting firm. The company was hired by the Board of Trustees to study the department as a means to improve efficiency.
Nottley called the Shelby Township Fire Department a "professional and committed emergency services operation," but he also listed several recommendations to improve cost effectiveness.
Among those recommendations:
Elimination of two command-level positions, including EMS coordinator and a fire inspector position. The duties of the former would fall to the chief of training; estimated savings is about $188,000.
Develop a plan for the upgrade of fire prevention divisions, including the acquisition of computer software.
Develop and monitor vehicle replacement criteria; estimated savings: $686,000 over nine years;
Switch to smaller, and cheaper, ambulances; savings: about $50,000 per vehicle.
Raise ambulance service fees and pursue collection of delinquent accounts of township residents as well as nonresidents. Revenue enhancement: $275,000.
Purchase property for a fifth station;
Reduce firefighter benefits in future bargaining.
Shepherd said he agreed with some of the report's recommendations, but took issue with others. He does plan to discuss the proposals with Nottley within the next few weeks.
John McCoy, president of the firefighters' union, also voiced concerns about some of methodology employed by Nottley as well as some of the conclusions.
"I think the report should have been a little bit more in depth," McCoy said.
Firefighter remembered by friends, co-workers Fundraiser to help young family
By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A local firefighter is being remembered — and his family supported — by several fundraisers just weeks after he died suddenly from heart problems.
Firefighter and paramedic Eric Carpenter, 34, who had served with the Shelby Township Fire Department for eight years, died suddenly May 19, leaving a wife, Mandy, and three sons ages 3 weeks to 3 years old: Samuel, Jack and Brady.
Carpenter was a “very active, very well-trained firefighter,” said acting Fire Chief Gene Shepherd.
Carpenter was on the Macomb County Technical Rescue Team and was “head of the rope rescue portion of that, which he taught and instructed,” Shepherd said. “He was an excellent firefighter, paramedic.”
A group of Carpenter’s friends is hosting a fundraiser June 27 at Barrister Gardens in St. Clair Shores for Carpenter’s family because they say he was always there for them.
“Eric was just the type of person who was just so giving to us,” said Augie Giordano of Chesterfield Township, a close friend of Carpenter’s. “As a group of friends, we wanted to give back to him and his family.”
Giordano said the friends wanted to help out the Shelby Township family because with Carpenter gone, there’s a financial need.
“Eric was the type of person, just so giving, and he touched so many people through his lifetime. He didn’t expect anyone to say thank you for the things that he did for you. He expected to be a good person,” Giordano said.
The fundraiser will feature a 50-50 raffle and a silent auction that will include sports memorabilia from all of Detroit’s teams.
“There’s been a huge outreach as to the business community giving us stuff,” he said. “The tickets are selling very fast.”
Township Clerk Terri Kowal also said township employees donate money each week if they want to wear blue jeans to work on Fridays. That money will all be going to Carpenter’s family for the next three months.
And Supervisor Richard Stathakis said at the June 2 Board of Trustees meeting that they will be keeping Carpenter and his family in their thoughts.
“Our hearts and prayers do go out to the Carpenter family,” he said.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Carpenter family can send money to IAFF Local 1338 in care of the Carpenter Family, 6345 23 Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316.
The June 27 fundraiser at Barrister Gardens, 24225 Harper Ave., in St. Clair Shores, starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $35 in advance and include dinner, beer, pop, wine, a DJ and a cash bar. To purchase tickets, call Augie Giordano at (586) 854-0276. For more information or for more ways to donate, visit www.iaff1338.com. You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.
Shelby Township fire chief retires Replacement will come from within the ranks
Thursday, May 14, 2009
By Frank DeFrank, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
After more three decades of service to the Shelby Township Fire Department, including the past 11 as chief, George Morehouse is in the market for a new job.
Morehouse, 56, announced his retirement Friday in a brief letter to township Supervisor Richard Stathakis.
"This was not an easy decision to make," Morehouse wrote. "… The past 33 years have been rewarding. Over the past 11 years as fire chief, I have enjoyed working for the fire department and managing a very successful team of dedicated professionals."
Morehouse cited a "final average compensation" window as the "primary" reason for the timing of his decision. Final average compensation is a formula used to determine pension benefits.
He also thanked Stathakis "for the opportunities you have afforded me."
But in a telephone interview Monday, the ex-chief said "philosophical differences" with some township officials and his perception of a "lack of respect for the position" played a contributing role.
"It's not something I wanted to do," he said.
Two recent decisions by the township Board of Trustees didn't sit well with Morehouse. Last December, the board turned down his request to purchase a $471,000 fire engine to replace a 15-year-old model.
More recently, the board hired an auditing firm to conduct a review of fire department operations as a prelude to potential cost-cutting. Although Morehouse said he was "not opposed" to the audit, the chief was clearly stung, particularly because the department has built a $12 million surplus under his leadership.
"I think I've run a lean ship," he said.
Township officials praised Morehouse.
"I was surprised, but after being here 33 years George easily earned his retirement," said Clerk Terri Kowal. "I wish him a long, healthy, happy life with his lovely family."
Trustee Lisa Manzella called the chief "a very honorable and honest man (whose) integrity is above reproach."
"It's sad to see him go," she said.
Stathakis said he worked with Morehouse just five months, but "quickly saw and appreciated his dedicated and conscientious service."
"George has been a strong and vocal advocate for the fire department," the supervisor said.
By contract, Morehouse's replacement will be chosen from an eligibility list of current employees. John McCoy, president of the Shelby Township Firefighters union Local 1338, said "five or six" members of the department who meet the minimum requirement of 20 years experience are eligible to test for the position.
"I'm pretty confident we'll get somebody (from that group)," McCoy said.
McCoy said the process could take several months.
Morehouse will draw a pension from the township, though the final figure has yet to be tabulated. He also said he plans to seek new employment.
But for now, he'll enjoy the life of a retiree for however long it lasts.
"I've spent the past 33 years planting roses," Morehouse quipped. "Now I'm going to take some time and smell the roses." URL: http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2009/05/14/news/srv0000005334652.prt
