This happens in alot of towns, yet no one does anything about it!!

[Rob D]

TOWAMENCIN — A former member of the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company told township supervisors Wednesday night that two officers and a handful of other firefighters responded to fire and emergency calls “too drunk to drive” on multiple occasions.

During the public comment section of the meeting, Greg Martin told the supervisors he was forced out of the company after attempting to force officials to deal with the situation. Martin said the same officers “who could barely walk and smelled like a brewery” voted him out as a form of retaliation.

“One of those officers put me in danger by giving me orders that didn’t make any sense,” said Martin, who served with the company for about one year. “It’s frustrating that the chief and president of the company are trying to brush this under the rug.”

Reached by phone after the meeting, Dean Miller, chief of the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company, said Martin was not forced to quit the company. Miller also denied Martin’s claim that the department had no internal rules preventing inebriated firefighters from responding to emergency calls.

“If those things were to occur, if they were brought to our attention, they would have been handled,” Miller said.

Responding to Martin at the meeting, Supervisors Chairman Dan Littley said that in a conversation he had a week ago with Miller and Robert Rau, president of the fire company, he learned of one case where a firefighter drove drunk to the scene of an incident.

Littley said he was told that “within 15 or 30 seconds of finding out the firefighter was drunk, he was put in a car and driven away from the scene.” Littley said the firefighter was suspended.

“It has been dealt with,” Miller said of the suspended firefighter. “We handled it as a personnel matter, just like any other business. I’m not going to comment any further on the specifics.”

Martin, who said he documented each incident and presented the details to township Manager Rob Ford, asked the supervisors to pass an ordinance preventing similar behavior.

Littley told Martin the board was not prepared to consider an ordinance until completing an investigation.

“First we need to take a look at your paperwork,” Littley said to Martin. “Then we need to talk.”

Township Solicitor Jack Dooley seemed surprised by the accusations.

“In my 24 years as a resident of Towamencin, this is the first derogatory comments I’ve ever heard about the fire company,” Dooley said. “I’ve never heard anything but praise.”

[The Shadow]

Mr. Dronitsky, with all due respect, there is more to the story than many are privy to. First and foremost, The North Penn Reporter isn't nicknamed "The Distorter" because they spell things wrong or use improper punctuation.

I can neither confirm nor deny that Mr. Martin may be a former, disgruntled member of Upper Gwynedd Fire Company. I can neither confirm nor deny that the reason he may or may not be a former disgruntled member may be that he failed his probation.

I can neither confirm nor deny the fact that he made these same, identical allegations to Upper Gwynedd Municipal Officials after his departure from their organization.

I can neither confirm nor deny that he may or may not be a former, disgruntled member of Towamencin because he may or may not have failed his probation.

Both Upper Gwynedd and Towamencin are good organizations, and responding while under the influence of alcohol is not tolerated. The one specific case mentioned in the article states that "a firefighter drove drunk to the scene of an incident."

This is simply and totall 100% not true.

I stronly urge all members of the fire service to contact The Distorter and aske them to print a follow-up story using factual information that I can neither confirm nor deny that they have in hand.

[Rob D]

As we all know, the media likes to "distort" the truth all the time...If this is all false, I would hope that the Fire Company involved takes the proper legal action to handle it.

[LONGENGINE]

Yea what he said.

Mr. Dronitsky, with all due respect, there is more to the story than many are privy to. First and foremost, The North Penn Reporter isn't nicknamed "The Distorter" because they spell things wrong or use improper punctuation.

I can neither confirm nor deny that Mr. Martin may be a former, disgruntled member of Upper Gwynedd Fire Company. I can neither confirm nor deny that the reason he may or may not be a former disgruntled member may be that he failed his probation.

I can neither confirm nor deny the fact that he made these same, identical allegations to Upper Gwynedd Municipal Officials after his departure from their organization.

I can neither confirm nor deny that he may or may not be a former, disgruntled member of Towamencin because he may or may not have failed his probation.

Both Upper Gwynedd and Towamencin are good organizations, and responding while under the influence of alcohol is not tolerated. The one specific case mentioned in the article states that "a firefighter drove drunk to the scene of an incident."

This is simply and totall 100% not true.

I stronly urge all members of the fire service to contact The Distorter and aske them to print a follow-up story using factual information that I can neither confirm nor deny that they have in hand.

[LONGENGINE]

He didnt even have BALLS to show up.

Ex-firefighter's claims dismissed
TOWAMENCIN — A municipal investigation into allegations against the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company uncovered no impropriety, according to township Solicitor Jack Dooley.

During a meeting of the board of supervisors on Wednesday night, Dooley said claims by a former member of the company that officers were allowed to respond to emergency calls while intoxicated — as well as accusations that it misappropriated $90,000 and that it violated child labor laws — held no merit.

Two weeks ago, during the public comment section of the meeting, Greg Martin told the supervisors that the company allowed firefighters to respond to fire and emergency calls “too drunk to drive” on multiple occasions.

“One of those officers put me in danger by giving me orders that didn’t make any sense,” Martin said in comments after the Oct. 14 meeting. “It’s frustrating that the chief and president of the company are trying to brush this under the rug.”

Dooley said Martin, a probationary member of the company from October 2008 to last month,

presented no evidence to support his claims.

The lawyer also said Martin failed to keep at least two October appointments with township officials to discuss the situation.

Martin — who initially delivered his allegations to township Manager Rob Ford on Oct. 1, according to Dooley — did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.

“Why any resident would make these kind of allegations, I’ll never know,” Dooley said during the meeting. “Only Mr. Martin knows.”

Supervisors Chairman Dan Littley called the statement a vindication for the company.

“There have been no violations of federal child labor laws. ” Littley said, reading from a prepared statement. “The fire company is audited every year and they have received a clean bill of health on their stewardship of taxpayer money and donations they have received. They cooperated and produced all documentation requested and responded to all questions. I trust this puts these allegations to rest.”

The investigation turned up one incident — at approximately 2 a.m. on Jan 15 — where a firefighter who “appeared to have been drinking” appeared at the Sears Hardware parking lot for a call to assist a medical helicopter, according to Dooley.

He said the firefighter was driven home by another member after the ranking officer was alerted to the incident.

The firefighter received a 30-day suspension and was referred to Penn Foundation in West Rockhill for evaluation, according to the solicitor.

“The members of the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company can hold their heads high,” Littley said. “They did the right thing when the single incident occurred.”

[Rob D]

I hope he NEVER get to join a Fire Company ever!!  Glad the boys from 76 are cleared.

[Smokeater342]

After this, i'm sure he won't. It's now 2 FD's that he tried to wrongly accuse of crap when he couldn't pass his probation.

[The Shadow]

Hey Mr. Martin, if you are reading this, here are a few suggestions for you:

1. Stop letting your mouth write checks that your intellect can't cash.

2. If you are going to make public accusations, you will be taken much more seriously if you actually show up for appointments with public officials.

3. If you are going to make public accusations, and claim to have evidence, perhaps you should actually have said evidence in hand.

4. From hearing stories about you, I am thinking that the fire service may not be cut out for you. Perhaps you would be happier if you volunteered at a soup kitchen, or maybe a church perhaps, delivering meals on wheels? Or how about the Zoo, picking up turds?

Good luck in your endeavors. Nice try.

[LONGENGINE]

I heard he is trying to join 2 local departments.I believe he used to run with 80 in years back.

[Autotech]

Hey, Mr. Martin - If you happen to be reading this (I'll use small words so you don't get confused) maybe you could come join my Company. We don't have much money, but considering how consistant your behavior is I'm sure we can look forward to you failing probation, and then slandering the Company.

That would be good for us - we need some new gear and SCBA, so sueing your pants off might be the best thing you've ever done for the Fire Service and your community.

Think about it. And check your insurance coverage....