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This is the site for the TRUTH about current issues in Maple Shade and the TRUTH about the Maple Shade Independent Fire Company. The lies being spread on social media are getting out of control. Everything on this site will have OPRA'd documents to back it up. This site supports the TRUTH, not a particular group or candidate. It is amazing how the people that the TRUTH shines a light on are so upset at this site. I guess the TRUTH does hurt! The documents will be titled to make it easier to navigate.
MOST RECENT ADDITION----
Response Stat's for the MSFD and for the IFC. From May 2, 2024 to Oct 10, 24 there were 314 calls for service. The IFC has stated they have had and currently still have issues responding to calls from 6 am to 6pm M-F. The township developed and recruited a crew of Full Time, Part Time and Volunteer members. This crew is on duty from 8 am to Midnight M-F. During those hours, 235 call for service were received. Just 4 were not responded to by the MSFD. This was usually due to multiple call at the same time. During the hours that the IFC is on duty, 12 midnight to 8 am and weekends, 79 calls for service were received. Of those 79 calls, 70 were missed completely, no response from the IFC, forcing our surrounding towns to cover their calls. The IFC has fought the MSFD's existence. But when the town relies strictly on the volunteer only IFC, less that 12% of the calls for help are answered. Understanding the brave volunteer men and woman have other responsibilities and are just that, Volunteers. This is greatly appreciated and respected. But changing times have shown that the purely volunteer IFC can not handle the number of calls for service. More evidence that the current system of paid and volunteer firefighters is the only logical answer. The solution to continue to protect our homes, businesses and families is to keep and expand the current MSFD.
Here is the April 8th Court Documents that have been questioned by supporters of this site. case file
Let's continue with the IFC. EX-Chief Andrew Simonsick Sr. is running for council, that is fine. But, he is directly lying to the residents of Maple Shade. His campaign pamphlet states:
1. He is the Chief of the Independent Fire Company No. 1. This information is false. His son, Andrew Simonsick Jr. is the current Chief.
2. He states he has been Chief of the fire department for the last 10 years. This information is also false. The State of New Jersey permanently revoked his credentials in June of 2023. See attached Dept. of Community Affairs letter: It is a great read demonstrating his grossly negligent misconducts, failure to meet levels of competence, and his false and misleading statements made directly to the State of New Jersey. Also attached are documents showing where the Township of Maple Shade suspended and terminated him due to the state permanently revoking his credentials. StateRevocationletter.pdf Suspension Letter Termination Letter
Andrew also, on a recorded line, threatened bodily harm to the Burlington County Fire Coordinator. The audio file is attached below. Is this the person you want representing the township? He has zero respect for any authority, on any level.
You should read the letters from the DCA/DFS in regards to the complaints from the Chiefs of the 5 surrounding fire departments. The letter addresses response and professionalism of the Chief and the Maple Shade Fire Department. The letter, from January of 2023, also shows all of the deficiencies of each member of the fire department. This is the reason the Township of Maple Shade originally suspended the IFC in 2021. The letter also suggests that the township should convert to a combination department.
This site has also OPRA'd court documents filed with the Burlington County courts last week. In these documents is some fantastic information...it is the "Diary" of the events and issues that the Township has had with Andrew Simonsick Sr. and the IFC since January 2nd, 2020. He want's to be on council and be involved in a 20 million budget, and can not handle a small Fire Department budget without over spending it by about 95%! He overspent the FD budget of $50,ooo by a WHOPPING $45,000...like 95% OVER! MSFD Timeline
If you had people at your job who did a tenth of the things he has done, would they still hold their position? The obvious answer is a resounding "NO". The township of Maple Shade is being made out as the "bad guys" for attempting to rectify the missing paperwork and correct the Fire Department's Management actions that were leaving the township liable on too many levels. We as taxpayers should be very concerned and upset with all of this information.
There is a bunch of video's of Andrew acting out at council meetings. the link is below. He say's in a recent post on their campaign site that he wants to hear all sides of the story and make 75% of the people effected satisfied. In one, you can see him attack the manager and council for reprimanding Mike Clifford, the Fire Inspector that ANDREW was responsible for as the Chief. What Andrew Sr. is failing to mention is that HIS inspector left about 800 residents in four HIGH RISE Buildings without ANY fire suppression and with emergency exits CHAINED and LOCKED for multiple years, all while signing off on the yearly inspections as OK. This Liability on the tax payers could have been devastating had that complex had an issue, not even mentioning the possible loss of lives. I don't think you can find 1% of the people that would agree with that Andrew! https://youtube.com/@msnj08052?feature=shared
Thank you, and happy reading! So much more to come soon!