First of all, why does the Salisbury Fire Department need a Public Information Officer? Anyone can put out a press release if it's needed.
What work is being done by Melissa Brown, SFD/PIO, that requires 45 hours of OVERTIME? While many people are stressing out over losing jobs or being furloughed, this woman is drawing 45 hours in overtime. Is this being made possible by her live in boyfriend Acting Deputy Fire Chief, Dru Bragg? It would be a good guess considering he is the one that signs off on the overtime.
Somewhere along the line, someone at SFD made a rule stating ALL information must go through Melissa Brown, anything released without her consent is insubordination. Has the Salisbury Fire Department followed the Salisbury Zoo in creating new Joe Albero rules? Admittedly, Melissa Brown does not like Joe Albero. Big deal, that is no reason to whitewash information before releasing it to the public. Just another fine example of controlling your staff Barrie Tilghman style, through fear and intimidation.
It is our understanding that Career and Volunteer firefighters are not pleased by the recent actions of Lore Chambers removal of a qualified applicant for the position of fire chief and replacing him/her with Rick Hoppes. Like it or not, Rick Hoppes does not meet the requirements set by the City of Salisbury, nor does he meet the qualifications. Some will do anything to keep the Good Ole Boys in power at the Salisbury Fire Department.
In the beginning days of blogging, Barrie Tilghman feared Joe Albero and the power of his blog. What do you think his TV show is doing to those that have plenty to hide? None of us will be surprised when Salisbury Fire Department is the topic of the Joe Albero Show. We all know it's coming, when, is what we don't know.
Once again I'll ask, WHY does the Salisbury Fire Department NEED a Public Information Officer?
54 comments:
Oh, one thing you can count on is that we will have a show on the SFD very soon.
The ONLY shame of it is, we only have a half hour and it would take three hours to tell it all. Maybe we'll do it in series.
SFD doesn't need a position that's being paid overtime! This is a slap in the face of those Volunteers. Hope you paid snobs and City Council are prepared for the day/night when they decide to stay home.
Typical conflict of interest. Its intertwined all throughout the city AND the county. Whats new?
Why is there not a rule that basic firefighters cannot date senior officers- similar to what is done in the militaty? OR IS THERE A RULE AND IT IS BEING IGNORED?
She must be getting paid to sit at the Greene Turtle. Cause that is the only place her and that drunk pathetic boyfriend of hers is always at. Must be nice to rape the taxpayers like they do. What a disgrace to all the hard working people there that deserve much more than they get. They should remove her and her supervisor/boyfriend from their position.
The overtime in the SFD is out of control and this is just one example of why. What news or information has been deceminated in recent weeks ? The website is the same crappy, boring site that theve had for a while now. Theres nothing official from the PIO on here about the SFD.
The woman may do a good job, but why cant she do it on duty. There is not that much happening at the Fire Palace. This is a slap in the face to firefighters who are anticipating layoffs and furloughs in the mear future. The fire department should be saving every dollar it can for the rough road ahead, but its clear thats not happening.
I would like to hear Chief Hoppes explain this one and why its necessary. Cant this be done on duty ? Thanks for exposing this Joe. The spending has got to stop.
I believe this person is a Paramedic with the fire department. If thats correct her hourly salary would be in the range of between $18 - $24 an hour. A simple calculation of 45 hours times and average of $20 an hour would come to $900 before taxes. Now thats a pretty good payoff for information. The city's Mayor and finance director need to take a closer look at this situation. It isn't kosher to have the boyfriend dishing out overtime at in this amount.
So...she gets 45 hours of overtime??? per pay period, month, quarter, year....?????
What in the hell is wrong the SFD
idiots. They are a bunch of screwed up individuals. I mean all of them , if their are some honest and good individuals , then step forward and turn these SOB into
unemployed people. We need firemen , not a bunch of thieves
and want to be heros. My opinion
is that they are just a bunch of lazey a$$ punks.
Are you telling me it took 45 hours to publish this? Maybe Gordo paid her off with 45 hours of overtime.
City of Salisbury
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Headquarters Richard A. Hoppes
325 Cypress Street Acting Chief of the Department
Salisbury, Md. 21801
410-548-3120 J. Dru Bragg
410-548-3121 (fax) Acting Deputy Fire Chief
www.salisburyfd.com
William E. Gordy
Deputy Fire Chief
November 6, 2009
Deputy Chief William Gordy Wins Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award
The Salisbury Fire Department is excited to announce William “Bill” Gordy, Deputy Fire Chief of Volunteer Services for the Salisbury Fire Department was honored at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Annual Meeting today at the Fountains in Salisbury. Deputy Chief Gordy is the 2009 recipient of the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award. He was nominated by his peers for his selfless work with the community for over three decades.
Though being recognized for his philanthropic efforts, via his business, Gordy Oil, Deputy Chief Gordy has been in the fire service for over 35 years and finds this to be his true passion. After September 11, 2001 Deputy Chief Gordy helped to establish a scholarship fund at Salisbury University for children of fallen firefighters. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Deputy Chief Gordy heard of the destruction there, and the slow response of government agencies to help. He organized a response from the Salisbury Fire Department to go down to Slidell, Louisiana. This group became known as the “Salisbury 9,” and they tirelessly worked and searched hundreds of homes for ten days in terrible conditions. While in Louisiana, Deputy Chief Gordy led the “Salisbury 9” from a small work group from Maryland to responsibilities rivaling that of large metropolitan teams that had responded.
Deputy Chief Gordy was vital in the design and construction of the new Salisbury Fire Station 16. He helped keep the project on schedule, finishing ahead of time, and under budget. He is instrumental in helping to run the Salisbury Fire Department, and does so on his own time as a volunteer. He is on call for the department for a full week at a time; he has missed countless family gatherings and personal commitments.
The Salisbury Fire Department is extraordinarily proud to have someone as committed, professional, humble and giving serving and leading us. We congratulate Deputy Chief Gordy and his family on this honor.
A Tradition of Excellence in Public Safety
Melissa Brown have you learned how to get water out of a fire engine yet or run the line? Just say it you CAN’T!
The volunteers should stage a walk out! Things with the FD have gotten way out of hand.
None of the recent Salisbury scandals should surprise anyone. The entire area has long been run by the good ol boys on the shore. Now that nothing has been done about anything for nearly 15 years, crime, gangs and murderers have started to run the streets. No one should be the least bit surprised. Around here its who you know not what.
PIO? Pretty Incompetent Officer
Mayor Ireton is responsible.
I am surprised that any city, county or state employee would be paid overtime during this economic downturn. It seems like a selfish act to authorize overtime when others are losing their jobs.
Hire an additional person! There are plenty of qualified applicants out there.
Otherwise, I have no opinion about who releases information. I guess I would assume it would come from the Chief.
Drew Bragg is a douch bag, ego maniac.I know I use to work with this guy at gaystar ambulance.He left his wife and kid for the firehouse tramp she like's everyone's firehose!
Im sorry BUT 85 Hours a week to inform the MSM about fire calls and the like? Lets see now that's 12.143 a day 7 days a week not including a lunch break? I have worked 12 hour shifts, you come home shower eat dinner and it is time for bed, do it again! I never had time to spend with my girlfreind and barely enough to pet the dog! "Time to make the donuts..." That is plain old robbery!
Tilghman Fire Department
Richard Hopeless/Under Qualified Acting Chief
Dru Bragger/Under Qualified Acting Deputy Chief
William Gordo/Volunteer Deputy Chief/Liar/Thief/Manipulator/Father of Jeremy
OMG just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse.
Great Job Joe at the City Council meeting. I am so sorry that Louise Smith cut you off for telling the truth. Hoppes needs to go. Jim Ireton are you listening?
And,
Who's furlough days, pay cut and lay off will pay for this position. The Good 'Ole Boys system of things in this area will continue until these dinosaurs dies and their own family is wealthy. And, their children will continue this vicious cycle. Forget about the struggling poor and middle class families living from paycheck to paycheck in this area today.
What a joke.... The Salisbury Fire Department today is the biggest joke in the area. Along with the city government. Good old boys are working over time. Man poor Salisbury. Barry if you are reading this I hope you are happy. You are an evil no good self serving individual. As are the three stooges on the City council. Wake up Salisbury get some back bone. Jim Ireton you better get your actor's guild card. You need to go into fiction plays...You would do very well as an actor.
45 hours of overtime for the entire year? Or in a month, the post is not clear.
If it's for the year, I'm not sure I see where there is a problem if she's having to do work on a weekend getting a press release out, or attending a ceremony, etc.
Has anyone ever heard about ethics and borderline nepotism?
Smitty, Bingo! Even if there are no rules in the city handbook or fire department or whatever, Bragg and Brown are full-time employees of the city. They are "partners" at home.
Go check out Section 2.04 of the city code. If Bragg is approving overtime for his sweetie, he is violating the city ethics code.
Former SBY Old Timer (gone and probably forgotten)
Man let's have a post solely on that BULL$HIT somebody wrote about GARDO and the HUMAIN AWARD.
Who are his peers that nominated him and exactly for what again?!
Speaking of OVERTIME! I think somebody's imagination is working overtime and is in OVERDRIVE!
WTF!!!!!!
Anonymous said...
What in the hell is wrong the SFD
idiots.
6:01 PM
Better question is what the hell is going on with Jim Ireton. He knows this criminal activity continues to exist in the Salisbury Fire Department but he fails to do anything about it. Mayor Ireton this is corruption and you are guilty. If you are to stressed out to do the job you were hired to do then you need to step down. Quit being a Wuss and quit whining about being emotionally over your head and do the damned job.
smitty240 said...
Has anyone ever heard about ethics and borderline nepotism?
9:54 PM
No but we all know about banging chicks in fire houses and being homewreckers. Ask Acting Deputy Chief Bragg and Firefighter/PIO Melissa Brown what went on while she was a paid paramedic for the Willards Volunteer Fire Department several years ago. Yes Dru you remember taking your little boy there to show him the fire trucks while you got a little quicky! Ask some of the wives of the chief officers of Willards what happened to thier House Medic. She got a little to experienced at polishing knobs so she had to find another place of employment. Thanks Hoppes and Bragg for bringing her to Salisbury. By the way Dru are you paying that child support Mr. Homewrecker?
Anon 6:07 PM What was that? Nothing but a fabricated lie!!
If Hoppes is not even qualified to be an assistant fire chief in the Salisbury Fire Department then how can he be qualified to be the Fire Chief???
Assistant Fire Chief
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
High school diploma with previous experience at the level of Captain or equivalent in a similar sized or larger fire and rescue organization. Completion of courses at recognized fire, rescue, and emergency medical training schools that demonstrates sufficient understanding of commanding a complex organizational unit in a municipal fire department. Demonstrated experience in both incident command of multi-company operations and the administration of a major unit or division of a municipal fire/rescue service. Successful completion of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) is highly desirable.
Note: Effective 1/01/09 a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree is required for this position.
It's not at all uncommon for an organization to have all comments go through one individual or team of individuals, and I think you know that, Joe.
On the other hand, 45 hours of overtime for a PR/Public Relations position is egregious, especially when you consider a) the economy and b) the relationship she apparently has with the acting deputy fire chief. I'm looking forward to your reports on *that*, Joe!
There were several people from within the Salisbury Fire Department that were qualified and made application to the HR Department. What happened to their applications?
Chief Hoppes
The Salisbury FD is "EXCITED " about this award. I think not and we couldn't care less. You may have a tingly feeling since he's done your work for you and run the department.
Your facts are a bit ascue. Gordo started about 1976 in Delmar and got out for 10 years. He answered his calling in 2001 and has been a thorn in Salisbury's ass ever since. He's well short of 35 years. Now if you call going to Indy for FDIC and to visit Josalyn service then maybe 35. NOT!
Gordo took the Fabulous 9 to louisianna and barged his way in. He wasn't wanted or needed but went anyway. The feds told him so and he pushed his way in and did what he wanted. You might have been impressed but we were not.
Now you dont even want to get me started on that firehouse. Shall we start with the land deal ? Ah! I didn't think you would. 10 million dollars of waste that the paid fire chief let him control from start to finish. The white elephant of Salisbury FD.
That humanitarian award with a quarter taped to it might be worth something. His business buddies hand each other awards all the time to scratch each others backs. He doesnt impress us, so shovel your bullshit to someone who wants to hear it.
WOW! ... I think this deserves to be said again.... What a guy! It's no wonder everyone adores him.
"Deputy Chief William Gordy Wins Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award
The Salisbury Fire Department is excited to announce William “Bill” Gordy, Deputy Fire Chief of Volunteer Services for the Salisbury Fire Department was honored at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Annual Meeting today at the Fountains in Salisbury. Deputy Chief Gordy is the 2009 recipient of the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award. He was nominated by his peers for his selfless work with the community for over three decades.
Though being recognized for his philanthropic efforts, via his business, Gordy Oil, Deputy Chief Gordy has been in the fire service for over 35 years and finds this to be his true passion. After September 11, 2001 Deputy Chief Gordy helped to establish a scholarship fund at Salisbury University for children of fallen firefighters. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Deputy Chief Gordy heard of the destruction there, and the slow response of government agencies to help. He organized a response from the Salisbury Fire Department to go down to Slidell, Louisiana. This group became known as the “Salisbury 9,” and they tirelessly worked and searched hundreds of homes for ten days in terrible conditions. While in Louisiana, Deputy Chief Gordy led the “Salisbury 9” from a small work group from Maryland to responsibilities rivaling that of large metropolitan teams that had responded.
Deputy Chief Gordy was vital in the design and construction of the new Salisbury Fire Station 16. He helped keep the project on schedule, finishing ahead of time, and under budget. He is instrumental in helping to run the Salisbury Fire Department, and does so on his own time as a volunteer. He is on call for the department for a full week at a time; he has missed countless family gatherings and personal commitments.
The Salisbury Fire Department is extraordinarily proud to have someone as committed, professional, humble and giving serving and leading us. We congratulate Deputy Chief Gordy and his family on this honor."
Thank you Joe for reporting this.
Is there anything on the shore that has any credibility? If these awards are "fixed" then what about others? This entire area is the bizzarro world. Businesses that only hire family and friends, crime thats sky high, gangs in the schools, and all the wasteful spending yet murderers and armed robbers are running around taking money from banks like its candy. Who in the hell made those claims I read about that talked the shore up for its quiet and safe lifestyle? Not to mention all that high quality of life BS. Ive noticed a pattern among local ppl, they know absolutely nothing about what is really going on in their hometown. I guess thats how they came up with the quiet and safe BS. Ignorance is truly bliss.
I'm gonna hurl. Right now.
This made me sick reading it. And I thought that I'd already seen and heard the worst. Wrong again.
Is there anything that the poor people of Salisbury can be proud of? Crime rate? No. Fire Dept.? No.
The public works dept.? Not even close. The downtown area, plaza? Empty and going to seed. WAIT! I've thought of something!!!!!
www.SBYNEWS.com!!!!! Doing well, growing, doing good for the citizens..without the exposure and the light being shed upon these DARK areas, we'd be without hope.
Mayor Ireton, please realize that this city isn't going to turn around without your almost superhuman efforts...it's our last hope that you'll clean house and start over with these departments.
Please do what needs doing.
The same reason why Wicomico County needs one.Waste of money.
A humanitarian award given out by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is bogus and obviously fixed with good timing for a future appointment. Just like the selection committee for the fire chief who investigated these claims about Gordy? No one, they are going by what they are told.
Does it matter that Bill Gordy holds the purse strings to the MILLION Dollar account that is being handled by the Community Foundation for the Station 16 Volunteers? Anyone care to elaborate on the fire department being worth more than a million dollars? Jim Ireton are you aware of that?
WOW!!!!!!!!!
No Shame
Anybody going to file an ethics complaint against the two lovers?
Hoppes must be a serious idiot if he's put one lover in charge of another.
These people give firefighters a bad name.
Wow ! Somebody else knows about what happened at Willards. How about the other two times she was caught having sex on duty. Remember behind bethel church and the ambulance wouldnt start. Oops ! forgot to turn that battery switch off. Then there was that little encounter behind Gumboro's firehouse. Caught again. I see a pattern here. Do we have time to go into all the encounters with the Fruitland membership ? Does Ed Leither sound familiar to ya ? Oh thats where you met Drew. We dont have time to go into the two married police officers in Princess Anne or the State Trooper today. We'll get back with ya.
Chief See and Hoppes have repeatedly been told about the relationship and nepatism. They agressively deny the facts and continue to allow them to work together. No manager in his right mind would allow even a hint of this to take place.
will the new fireboat have sleeping quarters???? there is to much sex being had around the fire houses on land.....
Sunday November 8, 2009
Acting Deputy Chief Drew Bragg on duty working Assistant Chief 1 duty0700-1700. Paramedic M. Brown on duty 0700-0700 Paramedic 2. Acting Deputy Chief Bragg supervising all on duty career personnel for the Salisbury Fire Department.
Wow she is a very friendly girl!!
Allow me to weigh in on this issue since I work in the legal field. I do not know the individuals in question and I'm going by what the readers have posted.
The person in the fire department that is permitting this to happen needs to cease immediately. The perception is overwhelming by all accounts posted here. The arena and enviroment could easily lead to trouble for whomever authorizes this to happen.
Nepotism is the terminology for these actions and can lead to trouble if not quickly addressed. I would strongly suggest that your department take the appropriate actions to eliminate any perception of favoritism. It is easily corrected and eliminates a legal mess. Thank you to all fire and mediacl workers for the fine job you do everyday.
Nothing personal Melissa. Just facts.
11:43 that will never happen around here. Accountability is non existent on the eastern shore and favoritism is as common as chicken farming. Get used to it.
All this time I thought woman had to be smarter to get good jobs-turns out you just gotta sleep with the "right"dude
Drew Bragg is a douch bag, ego maniac.I know I use to work with this guy at gaystar ambulance.He left his wife and kid for the firehouse tramp she like's everyone's firehose!
Gaystar Ambulance, thats a good one. Thats a post in its own right there. I know its a private company but these people transport your Moms and Dads. Investigation needed there.
As for the SFD to stay on topic, yeah the like to spend your money thats for sure. There is so many ways money could be saved in the fire service. This is uncalled for overtime. Getting a fire 10 minutes before your shift is ok, but not 45 hours of...well we don't know of what.
Sounds like two me. the real fire is occuring in the fire house. You will need more than the hose and water to put that fire out.
Joe and Ghanima, is it possible to keep this topic at the top? It is time to keep the pressure on Ireton to do the right thing in his choice for Fire Chief. If we let this one go Hoppes and Gordy stay in power and the city continues to lose millions as well as manpower. The other blogger is now turning it into a career versus volunteer thing with this post.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Is The Firefighters Union Trying to Pull A Power Play?
This is evidence that Gordy and Hoppes is using JT as their mouthpiece. Please keep the pressure on the city. We need it and thanks for the good work.
I hear there is going to be on open interview session or something like that for the "top" 3 candidates for Liarton's fire chief appointment? Does anyone know when and where?
please tell me the princess anne officers that this woman has been associated with, initials wil do just fine
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