Deputy Chief Bill Gordy is determined to get the SFD ISO Ratings where he wants them to be and the final piece of his puzzle is a brand new Tanker Truck. The problem, MONEY!
There's no possible way he can get the City Council to fall for yet another piece of equipment and the buzz on the street throughout the Eastern Shore is, every one wants the Tanker Truck they currently own and they know they can get it for pennies on the dollar.
At the moment, the SFD has a 1997 Pierce Tanker that holds and pumps out 2,000 gallons of water per minute. Salisbury News has been told this vehicle is in "cherry condition." There's absolutely nothing wrong with that vehicle and never has had issues. That is, unless you're Bill Gordy and you have a certain motive behind it.
Former Chief See and Bill Gordy have done everything they can to reach this ISO goal so this time around they have some how, some way, convinced the Volunteers to put up the $300,000.00 needed to purchase a brand new vehicle they absolutely do not need. The new vehicle would hold around 3,500 gallons and we're told by Firefighters this is a "tremendous waste of money."
The vehicle they have right now is in perfect condition, for starters. Then, if you look around, Fruitland has TWO Tankers, Hebron, Allen, Parsonsburg and Delmar have up to 4 Tankers each. The City is more than protected, yet simply because one individual feels the need to get yet another new toy, the City won't participate, Gordy has again somehow convinced the Volunteers to pony up the cash to purchase the vehicle.
Does the Mayor and Council know this is in the works, absolutely not. While we again watch Police Officers and Firefighters getting furloughed, budgets slashed, Gordy continues to push for more toys. When will Mayor Ireton and Council President Louise Smith finally put their foot down and say enough is enough.
67 comments:
If the money is comming from the volunteers it shouldn't be a problem. The Volunteers need to have their heads examined. Who's in charge of of these idiots. Send the $300,000 to the police , they need it more. Salisbury , land of the insane!
Want to make some money? Open a mental hospital in or around Salisbury.
I believe that salisbury has fire hydrants in many location , however , they may need the use of a tanker when they put out their char-grill. Wake up salisbury , wake up volunteers!
Hire more cops--the fire dept has gotten enough toys.
If the County didn't appropriate monies to the Salisbury volunteers they wouldn't have any. They don't do any fundraising.
I have talked to a lot of Volunteer Fire Companies on the Shore and they are amazed the Politians are letting Salisbury Fire Dept. buy all new equipment and waste money. They are saying it makes all Fire Companies look bad and puts them under suspician of wasteing money. They are also saying that they are happy Salisbury is buying a whole new fleet of fire equipment since this allows them to buy equipment in great condition for pennies on the thousand.
Gordy spends money like he think its his. Salisbury FD shouldn't let him run them like that. Station 16 is afraid to say no to him. They don't need another tanker. They took the one they have from Station 1 and was well maintained. After all, they can't get it out if the duty crew is out on another call anyway. They couldn't even get the new Hazmat truck out in a timely manner the other day to go assist Dorchester County.
Obviously they need the tanker to wash the blood off the streets from all the crime and murders the city has been experiencing!
Gordy doesn't convince the Volunteers to give the money. He walks in and threatens to take it or shut them down. Robbery happens in the SFD too and not just the streets of Salisbury.
Gordy has already bosted to a few of his cronies that he is guaranteed of getting $159,999 for this piece. Is this going to be like the ladder truck deal with Pittsville? He quoted a price and made sure the bids were fixed to make sure Pittsville got it.
We never wanted the tanker to leave station 1. Its in mint condition and we were made to buy a damn ladder truck. Gordy told us if we didnt give him the money he would shut us down. Thats the way he does business. The citizens need to know this is a great fire truck in excellent condition. Getting rid of it would be a waste and a shame.
The mare wants to be fire chief let him make a decision. Oh, Sorry, he isnt able to do that. Carry On.
how can gordy shut down a station?
how did gordy get to be in his position?
isn't there a way to get him out of that position?
maybe the vollies should shut gordy down for once and walk till he's gone
maybe sense of duty calls for that
Kind of ironic that the 2 Career Fire Fighters that got fired were on the board of the Fire Fighters Union that was opposing the tanker, and one was on the budget committee that met with the mayor to oppose this budget.
At least the Salisbury FD has female members....Crisfield FD and some of its members are being sued by a female applicant for discrimination because even though she is totally qualified for the job,the good ole boys dont want women around the station.Nevermind that alot of the current members of the FD are not in prime physical shape.....they are men so its OK
It wasn't just Gordy.AC Steve Records and LT Rick Rathel also threaten the vollies and told us what would happen if we didn't pony up the cash for the truck.Lt Rathel has been in bed with Gordy from the beginning with the new engins,tower ladder and ladder trucks.
AC Records told the 16 vollies if they didn't start covering second calls that there area would be split up between station 1 and station 2. This is the same guy that never comes around and is never seen at the fire house. 16 vollies are being flushed down the drain by its leadership.
Every public official has a shopping list - and there is always a Salesman involved
somehow they all feel entitled to the perks that go with that sale..
just another one of our free lunching public sector at work
How come the County Executive is not looking into this type of abuse with the budget? He allows County money go to useless spending and other non-profits and wants to raise taxes for irresponsible budgets such as this. If equipment is needed I am the first too say give it to them. To keep up with the "Jones Mentality" means cut their pay and benefits to pay for their wants. This is not the time for irresponsible spending.
1:44 Women should be home tending to the kids - not out doing man's work.
7:27 Oh hail no.
But they are hero's. Just ask one of them.
i mentioned this the other day to my cousin how fight companies (ALL of them) love their toys.
Unfortunately the blame to these lingering problems can be pointed at Jim Liarton, Louweasel Smith and Shamey Shields. Sixteen months in office and Jim Ireton has allowed this cancer to continue to fester. Cancer is terminal and that is where the once great Salisbury Fire Department is headed. The irony of this situation is the good people who endorsed and supported Jim Ireton and Louise Smith for the betterment of the fire department and the city. Those two individuals should be ashamed of themselves and admit the lied and betrayed good people to get their support, money and votes. This city will continue to be the laughing stock of the Eastern Shore and the state of Maryland until those two either shape up or ship out.
ISO does not require a tanker for a lower classification and besides, if you cannot reach a class 2 or 3, then there is no benefit to the residential community. Get someone in there who knows what they are doing, PLEASE!
This incompetence is malfeasance in office and should lead to the termination of all parties involved. Jim Ireton and Louise Smith if you can not handle this situation appropriately and accordingly then you should step down. The city of Salisbury does not need to invest in a new "tanker." If you remember correctly the city is investing $80 million dollars in the waste water treatment plant. What does that mean you ask? It means that the city has water and sewer services so why would the city fire department need a water tanker to shuttle water to the fires. It means that the city has fire hydrants placed several hundred feet apart throughout the Salisbury so there is no need for a brand new tanker truck. The city has no obligation to provide a new tanker truck and maintain it with insurance and maintenance for calls out in the "county." Like a commenter mentioned earlier there are numerous tanker trucks in surrounding fire departments. Let go your stupid egos and place the county departments on Salisbury's first due fires in the county. How often is Salisbury's "engine/tanker" dispatched to fires anyway. I will tell you, RARELY. That money could have been redirected to the furloughs the police officers and firefighters are getting at this time. The leadership in the Salisbury Fire Department is the worst it has had in years.
This article is to important to get lost so I am respectfully requesting that you resubmit it to the top. Thanks for the job you do for us low life peasants.
As bad as the city needs 3 new ambulances and paramedics this is what the fire department leadership is allowing? Am I missing something here? The Salisbury Fire Department has ambulances with over 100,000 miles on them and they are always broken down and out of service. The fire department is down 7 alloted paramedics and several have quit or been fired in retalliation and this is condoned by Jim Ireton and the city council. What in the world is going on here? The city allowed these thieves to spend millions on on an unneeded fire palace, 5 new fire trucks, the rehab of 2 newer fire trucks and a brand new Crown Victoria sedan with free gas to Bill Gordy. When will the insanity end. In case Jim Ireton forgot his campaign platform tagline was "Help is on the Way?" If this is the type of help the tax payers expected then Jim Ireton would have never been elected Mayor.
Jim Ireton allowed Rick Hoppes to fire two dedicated employees based on retalliation. They were good employees with impeccable records and fired on minor infractions that should have been dealt with inhouse with suspension without pay and then a probationary period. How ironic that these employees were fired not long after the career firefighters vocally supported someone other than Rick Hoppes for the position of Fire Chief. How Ironic that the acting deputy chief Bragg was known to be having innappropriate relations with one of the employees wives. Jim Ireton didn't you promise the fire department firefighters and paramedics that you wouldn't allow retalliation? Jim Ireton you lied to each and everyone of the good employees of the fire department. You need to step in and rectify these problems immediately or step down.
9:57 understand this is volunteer money being spent. That money came from the county, and the Lacey fund. This money needs to be used towards equipment, however not a tanker. Ambos would be a better use of the moneys.
In response to 10:55 AM's comment about needing ambulances and paramedics the best solution would be to separate the EMS division from the fire department. A separate EMS division under a fiscally responsible leader would ultimately save the tax payers millions of dollars in the long run. Not only saving millions, but saving lives as well. Nothing against the current providers, but the leadership in the fire department could care less about the EMS component and that is obvious by priortizing funds for fire trucks instead of ambulances. Is Bill Gordy or Rick Hoppes even certified as paramedics? Do Rick Hoppes or Bill Gordy even take shifts riding the ambulance or doing patient care? Has Rick Hoppes or Bill Gordy even done their time on the ambulance? How can either of those 2 even come remotely close to understanding the needs of the citizens or EMS providers when they have never even done there time in the back of an ambulance. A fire department that has of 90% of it's response by the ambulances and EMT's/paramedics should not be led or governed by 2 ineffective and incompetent "leaders" is borderline criminal. If the Mayor and council did the right thing and separated the EMS division they could house them in the old fire department which is already owned by the city. It would be the wise and cost effective thing to do at this time. I am quite sure many members of the fire department responsible for EMS care would not hesitate going to that old fire station and being out of the control of Hoppes and Gordy. Mayor Ireton do the right thing now.
Laughing stock of Maryland is right. The Local made the decision to get in bed with a candidate and it has come back to bite them in the ass. You can speak out against him as easy as you spoke for him the way I see it. The two firefighters who were fired were good people and a great loss for Salisbury.I have no doubt that they were retaliated against by the Pirate and Hoppes allowed it to happen. Of course Gordo loaded the gun and let them fire it. Salisbury needs ambulances bad. They begged for new ambulances and the budget granted them one meesely unit. Well they didnt need it all that bad I guess. July 1 the budget was struck and they havent done the first thing to get a new rig. No specs,blueprints or bids. Notta ! On the other hand the Lieutenant mentioned earlier has had bluprints for a tanker for months. Joe, you gotta stay on top of this story. Your on to something big.
Great comments for 10:55, 12:23 & 1:18 except I disagree about getting in bed with a candidate. The other candidate is/was in bed with Gordo.
Joe, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeee bump this to the top later so the public is aware of whats going on.
You are doing a real public servce!
I like most people are
tired of the cry baby firehouse !
They won't be able to respond to a fire with the tanker because they'll be out on their fire boat. Buy ambulances not things that we don't need. get rid of inept leadership and take care of the people who actually do the work. Jim, Louise, rein in Gordy and Hoppees or leave yourselves.
I cant believe that out of all the fireman that have been exposed and witnessed the threats and blackmailing and conspiracies....time after time.....isnt there even ONE of you man enough to do the right thing on behalf of the citizens.... that you so proudly boast how you protect and save lives? Hasnt it crossed either one of your thick skulls that this crap is against the law?!?!?! Blackmail, fraud, theft, conspiracy,.....all the big bad fireman are now skeert to do the right thing?!?!?!
You chicken sh!t fakes outa be run out'a town with the crooks!
Salisbury should not have paid firemen! It is stupid to have paid firemen in this small town. These butt-heads do nothing but milk the budget and do less work every year.
I've talked with 4 of them since this post started a few days ago. They laugh and say , it's the easiest job they ever had , one works 2 other jobs because of the 24 on and 72 off. He said he sleeps doing his 24 on so he can work the other jobs. He said they all do this!
¡uʍop ǝpısdn ǝɔɐןd ǝןoɥʍ ǝɥʇ ǝʌɐɥ ʎǝɥʇ ǝʞıן spunos
Daddio, they sure do!!
Gordy is running the SFD plain and simple. He has been since he stepped foot into SBY. Hoppes and Bragg do what they're told. Ireton(THE MAN)is thick with the thieves. Smith and Shields don't have a clue. Not only is Salisbury wounded by these "officials"...dedicated employees lives are being turned upside down also. There is no one out there to stop the turmoil, no one. When the top officials are all united with the dirty deeds there is not much that can be done. The old saying "You can't fight city hall" may have originated in this town.
11:09 you hit the nail on the head. Jim Ireton is definitely thick with thieves. He led the majority of the firefighters to believe that he was going to remove Gordy from power just to get their vote. Then he gets their support, gets elected and then treats the firefighters like second class citizens. The 2 that just got fired by Hoppes, Gordy and Bragg were two of Iretons biggest supporters. Jim Ireton you should be ashamed of yourself for allowing Comegys supporters to retaliate YOUR supporters. You are weak my friend. You need to get in your little pickup wannabe truck and get back over to Rehoboth Beach and pack sand.
9:10 Daddio I love that! Pretty creative.
11:09 PM we the citizens of Salisbury need to fight city hall. The problem we have is that no one is fighting city hall and we are all being screwed over. We are stuck with Jim Ireton for the next 3 years unless we do something about it. My suggestion is a recall petition if he doesn't remove Hoppes and Gordy from the leadership of the Salisbury Fire Department. We can't continue to waste tax dollars on them. Their wasteful spending is causing increases in fees and taxes such as water and sewer and other things. Fight back now!
What a bunch of whiney babies. Make up some terrible situation, post it and let a few baby fireman post negative posts. A lot of people are getting really tired of this and hope we get back to real news someday.
I wish people would stop saying that the FF's helped get Ireton elected. Out of 60+ employees (at election time) Only about 5 actually live with in city limits and were able to vote for Mayor Ireton.
Gordy and the Pierce Lieutenant had plans of going straight to Pierce to build a tanker. Someone in city hall has made them go through the bid process. That doesnt make Mr Vincent or Lt Pierce happy but it will save some of the wasted money.
If they don't buy it from Pierce then Gordo won't want it.
The only way Gordo benefits is to buy the equipment from Pierce. Otherwise it makes no sense to buy it at all.
Forget what that $300,000 would do for salaries of furloughed firefighters. That money is just a waste period. A tanker truck is just what is says. It hauls water to a fire. This truck has a pump, a cab for 8 firemen,hose, tools just like an engine. It can be used as a back up or front line truck. If you cant make good use of 2000 gallon with all the tankers around you, your pretty sad. Someone at the top needs to wake up a realize we're in a depression here in the U.S. of A.
Quit your bitchin if your not gonna stand up for yourselves. Its a done deal and The Mayor aint gonna stp this tanker. Gordo is slick enough to fund it through the vollies to get another toy. he only people who can stop him are the citizens who make donations and the county fathers. When that well runs dry then Gordo will move on. As long as there is money to spend he will find a way and a toy.
Wonder if Dave Merritt knows what a backstabber Lt. Rathel is....Since he is just using him because he needs another bid..knowing that they are going with the Pierce Clan...Merritt wish you could come and clean house...
Joe
As a taxpayer I appreciate you providing this format for the firefighters to speak out. I dont see it as whining at all. When I make a donation to the fire company I assume it will be spent wisely. I have no way of knowing what its used for. You trust the fire chief to use it wisely and help me if I need it. From what I'm reading here I dont believe thats happening. I appreciate these firemen for bring the waste to light and hopefully saving the citizens hard earned dollars. My next donation may not come without some deep thought. Somebody up at city hall needs to wake up and put an end to the waste.
AM
Anonymous said...
What a bunch of whiney babies. Make up some terrible situation, post it and let a few baby fireman post negative posts. A lot of people are getting really tired of this and hope we get back to real news someday.
8:01 AM
Is this Gordo, Hopeless or the Pirate(Pooky's Man)?
Anonymous said...
I wish people would stop saying that the FF's helped get Ireton elected. Out of 60+ employees (at election time) Only about 5 actually live with in city limits and were able to vote for Mayor Ireton.
8:31 AM
You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Because of the Career Firefighters endorsement is the reason I and many voters in the city voted for Ireton over Bob Caldwell and Gary Comegys.
Anonymous said...
Wonder if Dave Merritt knows what a backstabber Lt. Rathel is....Since he is just using him because he needs another bid..knowing that they are going with the Pierce Clan...Merritt wish you could come and clean house...
10:24 AM
Not only is Rathel a back stabber, but if you do a back ground check on him you will see that he was suspended from the FD stemming from criminal charges in Delware several years ago. He was harassing a female late evenings a convenience store. He was also caught dressed in drag. The only reason he got his job back is because the DSP trooper didn't show up to court and the charges were dropped.
This is important information. Considering the city council meeting is this evening maybe this could be posted back at the top. Thanks.
1:00 PM
Tell us what you really think.
Come on now, don't hold back this time.
First of all grave digger is not who it implies. This is a poser who is taking the light off themselves. So, to the poser change the name even though you are correct!
Lets get some stuff straight.. 16 vollies cannot get out most of the time since they are about nonexistant on a scene. 16 does not need the tanker in the first place. Station 1 does you can look out the front doors of station 1 and see non hydrant areas. yes that is right there are areas around Salisbury that are covered by the Salisbury Fire Department that don't have hydrants. More than one thinks that is not from around here and commenting on this site. Now the EMS side where is all the money for the new ambos oh they make money for the calls they run what happens to that money? Why should the vollies fund them? plus all the miles are from running calls and riding around all the time just look. They are never where they are stationed half the time they are at 16 so move them back up there and free up space at 2 and 1 for some of the other equipment at 16 to move there so they can get out unlike where they are now.
the only reason tanker 16 is special called 2-3 times a year is because it is tanker 16 now, not ENGINE TANKER 1-1. the county fire deparrtments hatge station 16 plan and simple because they suck!
no need for a new tanker move the old one back to station one problem solved.there are non hydrant areas in station 1s first due and most of fruitland is non hydrant.they took all of the so called "special" equipment and relocated to station 16.such as rescue 2 which is now rescue 16.the majority of mvcs with rescue occur on the north side near and around the bypass.so if the 16 duty crew is at panera for dinner around 5ish and there is a rescue up there they have to fight traffic all the way back to 16 get the rescue and come back.the volunteers or career guys at station 2 could get there in a quarter of that time.there is no strategic planning here at least none with the citizens who they help in mind.
If you get ride of paid guys then we at county stations will have to get up in the middle of the night to respond when the city volunteers scratch on the calls they pick and choose to go on. Please keep them
I remember back when See told the vollies that he would never get in the tanker business.Has this changed to quick or is it a way to get control of the county funds and the lacey funds!Joe Public these funds were set up for the vollies and the administration have no control over how they use them.SFD vollies keep your eye on past chief See.He is your snake in the grass that is feeding garden snake gordo! Joe Public think twice before you make your donations this fall!
11:04 you are correct I don't know what I am talking about.. There are 7 voters in the fire department at the time of the election.. There 2 employees I am not sure about but, I believe they to lived out side of the city limits... These career people do not have true vested interest in the city like the volunteers who actually live with in the Salisbury Fire District/City. The career members endorsed based solely on the candidate who said they would give them more money..
Bunky Adams, lives in the county can't vote
Pat Andrews, Lived the in the city limits
Dru Bragg, LIves in city limits
Zach Bridges lives in Delmar
David Brimer
Gerald Brinson lives in frankford DE
Melissa Brown lives in the City limits
Mike Carbaugh lives in Hebron
Aaron Coloe Grove Live in the city limits
David Cox lives in Dorchester county
Eric Cramer
Lorenzo Cropper lives in the county
Mike Davis lives in the county
John Dennis lives in VA
Joe Derbyshire lives in Hebron
Larry Dodd lives in the city
Mike Donaway lives in county
Heid Etherton lives in PG County
Rob Frampotn lives in Talbot county
Jimmy Gladweel lives in the county
Jon Gray lives in the county
David Haines lives in worcester county
Patrick Herman lives in DE
Greg Hoppes in the county
Rick Hoppes in the county
David Insley in the county
Jay Jester in Wocester county
Jeff Jewell Queen Anne county
Zak Keenan at time of election lived in DE
Erik Johnson in the county
Nick Kinhart in the county
Andy lecates at time of election lived in the city
Bryan Lewis in the county
DJ messick lives in DE
Cory Mitchell Lives in the county
Steve Mizell lives in city limits
Brooks Morris lives in Delmar
Chris Obarsky lives in Fruitland
Doug Parker lives in Hebron
David Phippin in the county
Donnie Phippin Hebron
Ginger Phippin Hebron
Rob Quillen lives in VA
Chris Rathel lives in the county
Rick Rathel lives in the county
Brandon Records the county
Bryan Records the county
Kara Rhode Fruitland
Darrin Scott Delmar
Chris Truitt in the county
John Tull in the county
Rick Tull in the county
Chris Twilley fruitland
Jill Walbert lives in the city
Tony Webster in the county
Ron Wismer, Northern DE
Anon 9:04 PM said Dru Bragg, LIves in city limits
Dru might live in the city but the deadbeat dad doesn't pay city taxes. He is mooching off his girlfriend and she is the one that pays the city taxes. What a slug, he is nothing but a parasite!! LMFAO
9:04
Thank you. And I suppose you live in Anonymousville?
Gordo is our best chance at success. Look at his businesses. He clearly knows what he is doing.
Salisbury could use a traditional tanker like 3500 or 4000 gal 2 man cab tanker truck. and it should be placed at station 1 whare it will get out and used when needed, not left in the station 16 whare it might or might not get out at all. Fruitland sold and did not replace the small older tanker and we need more available water on the station 1side of the county.
Gordo and Hoppes need to go. Jim Ireton is either to stupid to realize that or he is to much of a PU$$Y to make a decision!
11:41 AM could you please tell me what "whare" is?
12:16 AM I noticed you live in Anonymousville also. What us you name so that we can see where you can validate your comment about Gordo being the best choice?
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