I know several of these firemen and they are good men.
I do not know the fire chief, but when you have this many long-time career employees that are unhappy with their work, then there is a problem.
From what I have been hearing, there is a great deal more to it than just pay. You need to go out and speak to some of these firemen.
I know the lawsuit may limit your contact with them so speak to their family. Just ask them, what is the problem other than pay?
I am not saying in any way I am for a union, but it’s done. I wish it had not come to that. After speaking to these families, I think you’ll understand why.
You’ll then need to be looking at the Fire Chief and the City Manager for answers. If you think I’m wrong, then don’t do anything.
But when the city loses or ends up settling this lawsuit, it will be the Fire Chief, City Managers, Mayor, City Council, and ultimately the people of the City of Rockingham’s fault.
Sometimes when you are upper management you have to go to lower management and let them know, “They are in the wrong and have them apologize and get back to work”.
If lower management can’t or won’t do that, then fire them and you do it.
Kip Bowman
Rockingham
Just checking back with you, to see if I was correct or incorrect regarding full time employees at the fire dept. I was just wandering if you knew something that I didn't regarding your husband being an engineer?
Chastity
I don't understand what you are trying to get accross here. I think the last time I checked there were 10 union members & 2 non union members and the management & secretary who are unable to be a union member. Your husband is an engineer isn't he? The other non union fireman, is a fireman isn't he? That would be 6 full time employees left there, including your husband, correct?
That would be 5 employees:
1) The Chief
2) The Asst Chief
3) The Captain
4) The Secretary
5) A fireman
No Engineer
Thanks for your letter. You're right, these guys are good dedicated fireman. A couple of the fireman have coached your son in soccer. These fireman do alot of volunteering there time for our city on numerous functions. I feel I have to say whats on my heart, because in the end, it is still going to cost us taxpayers to keep defending these elected officials who continue to do use bad judgement & we the citizens/ taxpayers waste valuable tax dollars to pay for attorneys & settlement expenses. It is definitely not going to be cheap if we have to hire & train 10 new fireman. That would only leave 6 employees at the station. 1] The Chief 2] The Asst. Chief 3] The Captain 4}The Secretary 5] Engineer 6] Fireman. That's scary!
The lawsuit regarding when Chuck was City Inspector & punched the contractor in the face, the charges were dropped for a settlement out of court. I don't know exact amounts but I've heard from the family of the contractor that it was a very large settlement, like 300,000 and some change. That is just rumor, but from the contractors family, but yes we know there was an out of court settlement.
I'll ask this one more time, exactly why was Chuck Gardner given any position with the city after PUNCHING A CONTRACTOR ON THE JOB??????????
I would love to hear the answer to that question! I'd also love to know what the difference between children making threats to shoot children at school vs a fire chief making threats to shoot people at work is? I can guarantee you, if any student in the Richmond County School System overheard another student discussing shooting the entire school up, and picking them off one by one, they would be suspended and the police would be investigating the issue, along with a huge psychiatric evaluation of the child in question.
So, exactly what makes it different for the fire chief? Is it who he knows? It couldn't possibly be his previous history which is filled with violent behavior.
I hope to see this community rally around this issue to see justice brought to this situation! The more we shed light on the issue, the more we'll see that happen!