According to the release, Robbie Barber was relieved of his duties after missing turn-in alarms on May 21 and 22.
He is the second union officer to be terminated, Treasurer Rodney Gandy was fired in April, and the union stated it was for the same reason.
The release, titled “Abusive Rockingham Fire Chief Continues Vendetta Against Union Fire Fighters” repeats charges that Charles Gardner is engaging in a pattern of abuse and retaliation against union firefighters.
“Yes, two firefighters have been terminated for cause,” Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump said.
He explained until Barber and Gandy consent to make their personnel files public, he can not legally go into more detail.
Gandy was reached concerning personnel records, and said the attorneys for the firefighters have all those records and are awaiting a trial date.
“I can say this, though, before the lawsuit was filed, if you missed an alarm there was nothing said,” Gandy said. “After the lawsuit, if you miss an alarm you’re written up or terminated.”
Barber agreed with Gandy, and also pointed out that two veteran firefighters were fired within two months of a lawsuit being filed against the city.
“The city spent a fortune to train us, and it seems to me they’d want to get something in return for the $100,000 they spent training us and sending us to schools all around the state,” Barber said.
“I can say that at no time has any fireman ever submitted a formal or informal grievance on any allegation made in this or prior press release(s) concerning any type of mistreatment or even the alleged compensation issue for that matter,” Crump said. “Instead of following a formal city process to address any grievance that affords everyone and all parties due process ...
“The preferred course of action of some of the firefighters seems to be to spread unsubstantiated claims and allegations in an effort to discredit the very fire department that they work for.”
The union release in one passage reads, “If charges are brought against Chief Gardner and he’s found guilty of illegally firing any fire fighter, the city of Rockingham could be liable for substantial damages.”
It also states lawyers representing the Rockingham Chapter of the IAFF in its suit against the city have been granted permission to amend their complaint in federal court to include six instances of disciplinary actions being taken against union members since March 24.
It also alleges union members have been denied the use of earned vacation leave and the Chief has canceled vacation leave that had already been scheduled since the suit was filed.
Despite discussion at the Rockingham City Council’s recent budget retreat concerning the personnel needs of the Rockingham Fire Department, Crump said the staff of the department is not short-handed. He said the two positions were filled by volunteer fire fighters.
He said all city jobs are posted in-house first to see if it can be filled by someone already employed with the city.
“We require 1,085 hours of training for our volunteer firemen,” Crump said. “The point of having trained volunteers is not only to meet our requirements with the ISO and other organizations, but it also gives us the opportunity to have trained staff that can step up when a position becomes available.”
Crump also addressed the allegations against Chief Gardner by pointing to the fire department’s record under his leadership.
“Since (Gardner) became fire chief in 2004 $207,493,326 worth of property has been exposed to fire loss and $204,975,633 worth of property was saved,” Crump wrote. “(That is) a recovery rate of 98.8 percent ... the fire department retained it’s excellent ISO rating of four, completed a $1.2 million renovation of Station 1, obtained $112,617 dollars in grants, replaced three major pieces of fire apparatuses, constructed an on campus fire training facility and most importantly there as not been a single loss time injury in the Fire Department for almost seven years which is simply an outstanding achievement given the dangers of the job.
“So the record and the facts clearly and unequivocally indicate that there is a huge disconnect between all these allegations and claims and what actually is being accomplished at the Rockingham Fire Department everyday.”
The full text of the most recent union press release may be found at www.iaff.org/Comm/PDFs/Rockingham060909.pdf.
I know Mr. Barber, and I can say with certainty he's not the type of person to just not show up for work without calling and having a very valid reason for not being there. I think a mother in the hospital is a valid reason!
time. On May 21 he was visiting his mother in the hospital."
Where was he on the second day? I know if I didn't show up to work for 2 days I would get terminated. Did he call anybody to say he had a family emergency? If he did and they terminated him then that is wrong.
If you need some answers let me give them to you.
In regards to Chief Gardner, here's a little history
On October 9, 1997, the Richmond County Daily Journal ran a story entitled “Case Against City Inspector Dismissed.” The story detailed an assault charge brought by a contractor against Chief Gardner, who at the time was serving as a building inspector for the city. According to the article, Gardner “hit him in the face three times, broke his glasses, and caused his nose to bleed, requiring medical attention.”
Now, you want to know what needs to be investigated? Try this on for size.
On January 21, 2009, fire fighters Robbie Barber, Richard O’Neil and Mike Williams heard Chief Gardner say “if the city fires me, I will come back to the fire department, shoot everyone and then go to the city hall and pick them off one by one, like ducks.”
So riddle me this, Junebug, do you not think such allegations merit investigation? As I've said in previous letters and posts, had ANY OTHER CITIZEN been accused of saying such things they would be investigated.
If a Richmond County student were to be overheard saying something of this nature, they would not only be suspended, but investigated and charged with communicating threats and any other charge they could muster up. Threats of this nature should always be taken seriously and investigated fully!
So, Junebug, exactly why should Charles Gardner be the exception to this rule? Yes, dear Junebug, Chief Gardner did ASSAULT someone, and it was swept under the rug for a while, and then they rehired him to OVERSEE an entire fire department.
I guess it's a good thing they don't have women on the fire department in Rockingham, because I'm guessing sexual harassment wouldn't be out of the question for the chief either, given his history. We are talking about a man who was taken off the little league field for cussing and acting a fool during a LITTLE LEAGUE GAME!!!!!!!! And that is just a tiny little portion of this man's history!
Do you think it's a coincidence that two union members were fired within two months of each other? NO! Do you not think that merits investigation?
Don't you think a firefighter who was clearly at the hospital caring for his SICK MOTHER deserves an investigation as to why that led to his dismissal? Exactly how do you put in for time off when you have a family emergency? If you work for an emergency department such as the fire department, do you lose the right to have family emergencies without being terminated?
And let's not forget to add the entire issue of these firefighters being told they would be fired if they filed grievances with the city against Chief Gardner. If the chief is on the up and up and everything he's doing is on the up and up, why would he make such a threat? Why would it be of concern to him at all if the firefighters spoke to city council members, or the city manager about the issues at hand. The only reason I see for such a threat is he was trying to cover his own butt. It's just too bad our city officials were not willing to hear these firefighters out and now it has to come down to court!
Investigated for what? This is the second time in two days I have seen someone level an accusation like that at a city or public offical with offering no proof or facts for anything. You are ridiculous, who did you contact? What are they being investigated for? And what in the heck does Sabrina McDonald have to do with this. This is the forst time I have heard her name on this issue. Every post here can be attributed to a fireman or a family member, I dont see or hear any taxpayer or citizen outrage here or on the streets. Only thing I have heard is that the fireman are biting the hand that feeds them. Good luck, I just think it is unfair to level stuff like this without any proof or offering any facts. If you got em lets hear em. I would gladly support you if you have some facts that say they are doing some wrong. If not you just sound petty.
BTW you hit the nail on the head in your post. Keep on posting.
And Newswatcher2, my posting problem has been solved, but thank you so much for your concern! If only you were as interested in the "problems" of this community, you might be a bigger help!
If you get to the bottom of Danas' "problem" how about letting us all know! Goodluck!
I have kept my mouth shut regarding Monty Crump until this point, but after his remarks I refuse to sit back and listen to this nonsense anymore. I have lost all respect for Mr. Crump after his remarks. Mr. Crump and Chief Gardner toot their own horn as if they were the one’s responsible for a recovery rate of 98.8 percent. If I’m not mistaken, it takes a TEAM of firefighters to save property and lives, not ONE CITY MANAGER and ONE FIRE CHIEF. I find it incredibly disrespectful to the firefighters for the city manager to give all this credit to Chief Gardner while dogging the firefighters.
As for the personnel records being released, what exactly does that have to do with ANYTHING going on? I know these firefighters and I can say with certainty nothing in their personnel files would justify what is going on. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the union workers were the ones being targeted.
While we are on the subject of unions I feel obligated to mention the union was the last resort for these guys. They tried to go through the proper chain of command only to be told if grievances were filed they would be fired. We have two men, Chief Gardner and Monty Crump, who are doing everything within their power to sweep all grievances under the rug. If they can’t be swept under the rug, they will just fire the people who have the courage to go against a corrupt system.
Mr. Barber had a sick mother in the hospital at the time he missed a call, so tell me exactly how one puts in “time off for a sick mother”? Do they not have any policy for family emergencies, or are firefighters not allowed family emergencies? Everyone would know this if the Journal printed the entire press release OR did their own investigation so the people could get the WHOLE STORY, not a one sided version.
This attempt to “be right” and sweep the wrongs under the rug is the real cost to the city. This issue could have been handled without courts or unions had the city manager been willing to listen to the fire department instead of protecting Chief Gardner at all costs. Now we are in a situation of hiring new fire fighters which will need to be trained. Training costs THOUSANDS of dollars. In addition, once the lawsuit is all said and done, we’ll have a huge sum of money lost to a court battle that could have been avoided if the chain of command worked in the way it should. So for all of you complaining about the money the firefighters are costing the city, look at the money the city manager and the fire chief are costing the city by refusing to handle the situation in house. I believe it’s because they both have a need to be right ALWAYS, no matter the costs.
It's 3:06PM on Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I to appreciate your opinion, however, I don't have a "dog" in this fight...I have a spouse, whom, I choose to support, the decisions he has made. I am almost positive that you do not know, the "whole story either"! These fireman did not set out, just to cost the city money for our taxes to go up! I am a city taxpayer also, so it does affect me personally & financially, as well. I feel based on what I know to be true, that this could have been avoided, however, it was felt that the union was the only way to get things changed, that need to be changed! I hate that it has come to this, myself! My husband has been employeed with the city for 18yrs & has never had to be under the stress that he is under at this time. I as well as everyone else will be glad when we get a trial date & this nightmare will be over. We can then, begin to do things legally, financially & move on to the next dramatization in this county! I also appreciate your opinion regarding unions, however, we feel the union has a lot of positive things that will help the RFD be better than it already is!
P.S. You think that the IAFF article was biast? What about the journals article putting Mr. Crump & Mr. Gardner on pedestals & dogging the fireman? What's fair about that? I agree, that Mr. Crump & Mr. Gardner have both done alot of positive things for the city, however, theres always 2 sides to everything...........
You are speaking for your point of view and I appreciate the fact that you acknowledge that I am entitled to my opinion, but the simple fact is, you have a dog in the fight, I don't. So you ARE biased in your opinion. And no I dont think the fireman have the best intrest of the tax payers at heart and I sure am not going to believe the unions. What the fireman don't realize is that the union is using them as pawns trying to get the NC Law changed so they can move in and make money in NC. Both the Fireman and the City will suffer because of the unions. Look at what a good job the unions have done with our auto workers!!
I wish you and your family the best, but i stick to my original statement that this is non sense and I think the Fireman and the City officals are all to close to see what really going on. The union could care less about the fireman they only care about paying thier leadership, give it some thought!
And p.s. I did go to the website and read the original press release by the union. It was very inflamitory and one sided. I don't blame the Journal for editing it and doing some fair reporting for once.
E-mail me at rbacon@yourdailyjournal.com or call me at 997-3111.
Let's get to the bottom of your problem.
Rick Bacon
Could someone explain why my posts are not being put in????????