Curmudgeon's Corner

Germantown Fire Department: Part 2.2 Revised

Posted by Al Campbell on Dec. 13, 2007

Germantown, Political, Village Board

The silence from our elected officials and village officials is deafening, while the debate this situation has spawned continues to build. 

I've yet to hear from or receive e-mails from any elected official or village official.  It is difficult to imagine that they are not yet aware of this situation since they are a part of it and especially since I sent e-mails to both Mr. Kempinski and Mr. Langer.  It would be amazing to learn that they've not read the Blogs nor the many comments that have been posted by department members and citizens.  Do people cease to be voters and citizens when they opt to become Bloggers?

Another closed door session was scheduled for last evening and apparently that related to possible disciplinary action for five members of the Germantown Fire Department.  A note here:  not a single firefighter or EMT has violated the confidentiality requirement imposed by the Public Safety Committee Police and Fire Commission while it is obvious to me that some know much about the closed door sessions.  That certainly speaks to their sense of ethics and to their commitment to this community and its citizens.

I wonder if the Chief was invited to attend this session or the first?  I wonder if any of the five were represented by counsel?  I wonder if any were accompanied by their union representative?  I wonder when we'll learn what this has been about?

I wonder if this will prove to have been an example of the micro-managing that seems to prevail over the fire department?

I spoke with the chairman of the Commission several hours after this posting and this led me to make the changes you note.