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To be clear:

1. There was a system in place. (just like every other fire department.)

2. It allowed for 20 paid sick days. (an acceptable amount)

3. Unused sick days were allowed to be "cashed-in" at only 75% of their value. (saving the taxpayers the other 25%).

4. The agreement was "obviously ambiguous and vague." (per Mike Carreiro, Union President).

5. A "side agreement" clarified the process, by then Mayor Avedisian and Union President Bill LLoyd. (good idea.)

6. Attorney Anthony Ragosta said "Side agreements. per say, are not unlawful". (sounds fair)

7. Some firefighters might have taken advantage of the agreement and/or the side agreement. (that happens.)

8. There will probably be a new-and-improved agreement. One that's even clearer. (Good.)

9. In the final analysis Warwick will have a top rated Fire Department that has a system in place.

10. Was any of this necessary? I don't think so. Systems, like this one, get improved upon every year. Everywhere.

Unless the public doesn't have the whole picture, this issue sounds like someone is trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. I don't see anyone involved getting fired or even reprimanded, and the State Police have "zero" need to be involved.

There is one thing though, that just doesn't make sense. Ken Block said that "No one would be able to access any part of the building equipped with emergency lighting in order to see a violation and make a complaint". No one, of course, except Ken Block or Rob Cote.

Why would anyone call in an anonymous fire-code violation complaint at that exact moment? What motive would anyone have? Why would anyone care? Why would anyone (except Rob Cote or Ken Block) even know if that light was broken? Might it have been a set-up? Might it have been a ploy to bring more negative attention to this contract issue than it really deserves? Might it have been a disgusting attempt to make a "mountain out of a mole hill"?

Maybe. Might it have been Ken Block or Rob Cote? Maybe.

Happy Autumn everyone.

Rick Corrente

The Taxpayers Mayor