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�"► ��Y �'r�� , �� 3 - �� +��r��.�.,� • { ; � �► � �� : �� l � � �� Tightened security knits visits, is �aU�� `insult' their access to fire stations. }��( MAttISA AtxilA Pioneer f�ss As i�� narion (�bt'�1�� the brotherhood sutl.UZ� Qz'efi�;ht�ts, several retired ��'111e volun- teer �Hg�t.� �y they don't fe�l sa waiN�� anymore. The �pi�1C� centers on a new security pc��.*y that iit�its fire station guests to �Q m�iiuk�s and oIIl� when a department employ- ee is present. several retired ntB- �hter�, �vho regularly �at�er at �ii�[at�:aus�es f�� cof'f'ee �d v'l8� fh�, call the new measures "�t insttlt." Fire Chief Richard Gas- away says the change was nec�s- S�ty to tighten security, particu- larl� after Sept. 11. It's a slap in the face," said Joe Rossini, who retired from the FROM PACE18 Policy called `insult' � (condnued) G ; has them and where they are," ``said Ga�away, who plans to implement a new, improved keyles� system at stationhouses before year's end. Tlte chief cited problems ! with unlocked doors and an incident in which a firefighter discovered an intruder in a sta- tionhouse at 2 a.m. The rri�tl got away before firefighters could question him. But the retied firefighters do not believe the policy has anything to do with security. Some believe GasaWay doesn't j support the older fueffghters. "He ignored us," Rossirli said. "in his two years, he never would talk to us." Gasa�vay, who became the department's first full-time chief in 1999, denies any ill feel- ings toward retirees or older firefighters. "lt's unfortunate that they would view it as something per- sonal," Casaway said. "I su1'e a o n�.,,, They're still welcome." He stands by the reasoning behind the policy, including the time limit. "We are running a business, and our employees have work to do," Gasaway said. A1 Caswell, 59, who retired from the department as a cap- tain in 1995, said he wished the chief had discussed the issue with the retirees beforehand. "We all could have sat down and solved this problem," he said. Although the chief says he has some regrets about the ini- tial communication of the poli- cy, he wan't be asking the retirees about what they feel the rules should be. "The retired firefighters are not going to be involved in the development of policy for the city," Gasavvay sa�d. For a group whose ties do not fade with retirement, the matter is an emotional one. Other suburban depariments 1 i k e (?akclale a��d StUlwate�; volunteer department t1� a res cue captain l��i y�r. In protest Ak the new policy, Rt��ini, ��, has W� a�igq out- side his Ros�Y$1% bo 'T'h� 5 reads: "Kc�sevtlle k`�.r��epar� ment •��- �Ei years t4 build -�- two years to destroy ---`�1�i:t11�s Chief �f��.lD t Gasaway says 8 reven-mem- b�P task ft�rce cle�sed the policy and tb�t� the depariment was lor�g cr��sid� st�ppi� u p security He c'�ntentl6 that the 1� of a po�cy regarding the �;� of keys when someone 1�Y� �i� department was a sect�rity risk. There were a lot of keys �lut. there that wc don't know who POLICY t�l.LL�U'ItYSUL'i", 56 which also use volunteer or paid-per-call $reflghters, "rtllDw' retirees to return alone ��or Unli�rllt;�tl visits. In �akdale, the 1'E��71'8d �1'�h�i'8 can keep their p�ge1'S:B�ld punch codes. G�wa� gayg he is not con- cerned with what other depart- ments do. However, in response to the dispute, the city is considering sponsoring a separate gather- ing spot for all retired city employees and volunteers. That doesn't appeal to 6�i- year-old Bill Palmer, a retired district chief. "We deserve ,.. to be able to come into our �e stations that we built," Palmer said Retired '1'raining Ga�- ,�c� Coppel"SrC►ith, 53, doesn't kv�t►t to speculate about the motives behind the new policy, which he equated to mandated baby-sit- tfng. "We paid our dues," he said. "You deal with tbe;polit.ics. We just want to have coffee." 141arisa At�ha ccsn be reached at magha@pioneerpress.coan or (651) z2s-21os.