contract fire chief

[kendall]

? should Fall River change from a civil service Fire Chief to a contract Fire Chief? to me a contract fire chief will only be concerned with keeping his pay check coming. and doing the Mayors bidding. while a civil service Chief is only concerned with the safety of the public. look what happened when we went to a contract police chief? How many years did it take before they admitted the city had a gang problem? i want a dept. head that is accountable to the citizens not the Mayor

[Abbiedal]

No they shouldn't make him a contract guy and why alll of a sudden would they be calling for his position to become contract?
I don't see a positive use for making him contract like was said here he'll be more of a yes man because he has to worry about his job

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I don't really have a firm opinion of the fire chief situation, but as I read the article below it occured to me that this is almost exactly the situation that the Mayor's proposed changes could bring about. Below is a classic example of what can (and often does) happen when politics are the determining factor in the hiring of safety and law enforcement management. Mayor Correia may be absolutely beyond reproach when it comes to selecting a new fire chief. He may have the best search team and the finest Human Resources people. But what if the next guy does not? What if we get stuck with a corrupt Mayor down the road? It has happened you know. Do we really want to make this a political appointment? After reading the story below, I think I'm leaning heavily towards "NO".

P.S.. You need to read the article to the end to find out how these U.S.Marshals get their jobs.

Marshal faces World Series investigation
Deputies allegedly drove Fox announcers to Fenway

Globe Staff / May 2, 2008
Federal authorities are investigating whether the head of the US Marshals Service in Boston assigned deputy marshals, normally charged with tracking fugitives and protecting judges, to ferry Fox Sports broadcasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck between their hotel and Fenway Park during last year's World Series.

The Justice Department's office of the inspector general in Boston is looking into whether Yvonne Bonner overstepped her authority as acting US Marshal in Boston or violated any ethics rules by allegedly ordering her deputies to essentially serve as private taxi drivers, according to two law enforcement officials and other people familiar with the investigation. They talked on the condition of anonymity, because the investigation is ongoing.

During both home games, on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, two deputy marshals allegedly watched the Red Sox defeat the Colorado Rockies from the broadcast booth with McCarver and Buck, as well as Joseph Band, a lawyer who works for the US Marshals Service in Washington and occasionally does work for the Fox network, the officials said.

Bonner allegedly instructed the deputy marshals to use their unmarked cruisers to drive Band and the broadcasters to and from the park as a favor to Band, a longtime Justice Department employee, the officials said. Band is also listed as a member of the Washington Redskins' statistics crew.

Investigators are looking into whether the deputy marshals activated their blue lights to cut through traffic as the sellout crowd jammed the streets around the ballpark. The deputy marshals allegedly flashed their badges to gain entrance to the park, according to those familiar with the probe.

In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Bonner acknowledged that the inspector general's office is conducting an investigation, but said she was prohibited from discussing it because it is an ongoing matter. "I don't have a problem with people questioning my decisions; it comes with the territory," said Bonner, who has been acting US Marshal since December 2006. "I'm not worried."

At least one deputy marshal involved questioned the appropriateness of the World Series assignment, according to one of the people familiar with the probe, but Bonner allegedly told him not to worry because she was "good friends" with John F. Clark, the director of the US Marshals Service, "and even better friends with his wife."
Bonner denied making the remark. "That's absurd," she said. "People can say anything they want. I simply can't comment on an ongoing investigation. I will be delighted to [talk] once it's over."

Efforts to reach Band by telephone and e-mail yesterday were unsuccessful. Buck and McCarver also could not be reached for comment.

"We are unaware of any such investigation" said Dan Bell, vice president of communication for Fox Sports. "If we are contacted, we will provide our full cooperation."
Cynthia Schnedar, a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice office of inspector general, said the office would not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

But those familiar with the probe say it was launched at least two months ago by inspectors who work at an office in the federal courthouse in Boston, the same building that houses the US Marshals Service. A number of deputy marshals, including all of those who were assigned to the World Series, have been questioned, they said.

Nancy McGillivray, who served as US marshal in Boston for nine years and retired from the agency four years ago, said deputy marshals are charged with witness protection, transporting prisoners, tracking fugitives, enforcing federal court orders, and protecting judges or other officials that are involved in business that the federal government has an interest in. "If there's no interest to the US government, then it shouldn't be happening," said McGillivray, adding that it would be inappropriate for deputy marshals to be assigned to transport broadcasters, or even a federal lawyer who was not there on official government business, to Fenway Park.

"If in fact the allegations are true . . . it's demeaning to the individuals involved and the agency," McGillivray said. "They are professionally trained to do law enforcement work. It's demeaning to have them involved in anything that doesn't have the government's interests at heart."

In August 2005, Anthony Dichio was dismissed as US marshal in Boston by the White House after the office of the inspector general recommended that he be disciplined for repeatedly failing to work full work weeks and for misusing his official vehicle. Dichio was removed from the $130,300-a-year job 10 months after The Boston Globe published a story citing the observations of two reporters that Dichio was often not at his office. That prompted the Marshals Service to request the investigation by the inspector general's office.

Amid criticism that Dichio, a former State Police officer, was not fit to hold the marshal's post and only won it because of political connections, the US Marshals Service has relied on people, like Bonner, who have spent their careers with the agency to fill the vacancy until a permanent replacement is found.

Bonner previously worked in the US Marshals Service's internal affairs section in Washington, investigating alleged wrongdoing by deputy marshals. Last year, Reed Hillman, a former State Police commander who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2006, was nominated for the US Marshals Service. But Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry have opposed it, saying he lacks qualifications. He has yet to win confirmation.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/05/02/marshal_faces_world_series_investigation/?page=1

[kendall]

glad to see leo pelletier has changed his mind and will vote against the change to a contract fire chief. thank-you leo

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Meet Councilor Two-Facey Casey

There is no need to contact her with any issue, because she agree's with you just like a bobblehead doll. No problem. You have her vote. Count on it ! (until she shoves it in your back.)

She'll tell you everything you want to hear, and than take's her marching orders from whoever's in charge at the time.

Picture this: If you pry open the hip pocket on Mayor Correia's pants, and look all the way down to the bottom, you'll see little smiley Two-Facey Casey down there waving back at you. In fact, it's pretty crowded down there.

[jfj]

Now that the majority of the council has followed their orders, threw the constitution under the bus and removed civil service out of the equation, it is time for the citizenry to remove them. What a sham the special meeting was. You have to watch it. Total disrespect for democracy and their fellow counselors.

Their actions can be undone according to MGL Ch 43, Sec. 42. Within twenty days, wtih 12% of registered voters signing a petition.

[WatchinU]

Now that the majority of the council has followed their orders, threw the constitution under the bus and removed civil service out of the equation, it is time for the citizenry to remove them. What a sham the special meeting was. You have to watch it. Total disrespect for democracy and their fellow counselors.

Their actions can be undone according to MGL Ch 43, Sec. 42. Within twenty days, wtih 12% of registered voters signing a petition.

My opinion of the Fire Chief issue was not as strong as many others. But I am outraged at the behavior of the City Council and the Mayor. To use their authority the way they did, and spit in the face of the taxpayers of Fall River, is unforgiveable. There should have been public input forums until every last person had an opportunity to give their position. There is absolutely no way to justify the sleazyness of the way this was handled. There was no urgency to this issue. We had all the time in the world. Mayor Correia may well be known as the Mayor that returned political sleazyness to Fall River. He has divided this city on so many issues with his bullying and unquenchable hunger for power. The Mayor, and his henchmen (and women) that he controls cannot be trusted.

Act now and speak out. People have short memories. If the way we were treated does not have any repercussions, than we'll get what we deserve. These people can be held acountable. If you agree say so, if you don't, that's ok to. But say something.

Don't be like the little mice that the Mayor controls.
I hope that those 6 City Councilors have a very squeeky weekend.

[MadeInUSA]

Mayor "Don Corleone" Correia127


I guess he got well trained in "backroom dealing" from all those years we paid to have him in Boston. I wonder how many other times he sold us out up there.

It occured to me after reading the above comments that I've been reading for years that Fall River has had an "interim" Building Inspector for as long as I can remember. They call him everything from Interim Building Inspector, Interim Code Enforcement Director, Interm This-Interim That. Why no big rush to fill this position? The answer is because this position is already under the thumb of Don Corleone Correia.
It would seem to me that if this man is responsible for the safety of our children in the cities buildings, and rental apartments, it would qualify for at least a "make note of that" on the Mayors "to do" list, to permanently fill this position. Anybody ever hear a word about this position that been filled by a "temp" for at least 6+ years?
But the Fire Chief is a different story. This guy is the only city employee that does not dance to to Mayors tune. And obviously that drives the Mayor crazy. Why else would any logical person start this huge battle for a non-issue? There was no crises. Not even a small problem.
With all the real problems going on in Fall River right now, this is the issue that the Mayor and his crew decided was a critical issue.
I hope the new Fire Chief that the "Don" appoints has better priorities and management skills than his boss.

[FRT]

Hubris

Is a term meaning excessive pride, self-confidence or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution. In Ancient Greece, "hubris" referred to actions taken in order to shame and humiliate the victim, thereby making oneself seem superior. It was most evident when looking at those in charge and how they used hubris when making decisions in their justice system and personal lives. The word came about when describing people who considered themselves more important than the Greek gods themselves.

Because of this origin, hubris was considered a crime in classical Athens. It was considered the greatest sin of the ancient Greek world. The act of hubris was considered so because it not only required self-confidence and pride, but it usually erupted into violent acts by or to those involved. The category of acts constituting hubris for the ancient Greeks apparently broadened from the original specific reference to molestation of a corpse, or a humiliation of a defeated foe, to molestation, or irreverent, "outrageous treatment", in general.

The meaning was eventually further generalized in its modern English usage to apply to any outrageous act or exhibition of pride or disregard for basic moral laws. Such an act may be referred to as an "act of hubris", or the person committing the act may be said to be hubristic. Ate, Greek for 'ruin, folly, delusion', is the action performed by the hero, usually because of his/her hubris, or great pride, that leads to his/her death or downfall.

There was a book written about President Bush's hubris, the intoxication of power, and the "Hubris Syndrome". Check it out here:
http://www.politicospublishing.co.uk/titles.php/itemcode/178 (http://www.politicospublishing.co.uk/titles.php/itemcode/178)

[Medicswife]

? should Fall River change from a civil service Fire Chief to a contract Fire Chief? to me a contract fire chief will only be concerned with keeping his pay check coming. and doing the Mayors bidding. while a civil service Chief is only concerned with the safety of the public. look what happened when we went to a contract police chief? How many years did it take before they admitted the city had a gang problem? i want a dept. head that is accountable to the citizens not the Mayor


I totally agree with your comment. If this position is taken out of civil service and put into hands of the Mayor it would be a position where the mayor is the puppetmaster and the Fire Chief was just a puppet... Gone would be the safety concerns of the citizens and in would be what the mayor wants. If the Chief didn't agree with the Mayor, then gone would be his job and in would be someone else who did agree with the Mayor.

Every day this Mayor doees something else that makes me glad I didn't vote for him....

[10538]

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/local_news/x469161184/Civil-Service-requirement-struck-down