DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, February 06, 2012
Update On Rick Hoppes
The audio link above comes directly from the City's website. It gives you a very brief detail as to how the special meeting ended.
I want you to listen very carefully as what I told you is spot on. The Council HAD to vote NO based on the City Charter.
Shanie Shields and Laura Mitchell voted to break the law by voting yes for Rick Hoppes. Folks, this cannot be done. While there are many of us who truly like Rick Hoppes, he has yet to finish his course and get the degree necessary by law to fill that position.
What you have been fed by the Daily Times and the Mayor is simply a load of crap. Look, we have ALL been working very hard to rid of the Good Ol' Boy system around here. My personal opinion is as follows. The Mayor, Shanie Shields and Laura Mitchell need to stop grandstanding on this matter and start following the letter of the law. The Mayor and Council need to keep Rick Hoppes in as the interim Chief and allow him the time to finish his course and get his degree. At that point they can vote him in as the new Chief.
I have been getting feedback from Firefighters who are upset that Rick was voted down. I tried explaining this last week but I did so in comments and perhaps some of you missed it. Now that you are educated, stop running around acting like Terry, Debbie and Tim are the Anti Christ. They are doing exactly what you elected them to do. The Daily Times and the Mayor are NOT filling you in properly on this matter.
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22 comments:
Something occurs to me here.... can't they vote to change the city charter if that is the real problem here? I think it has been done before to accomplish something they wanted to do.
anonymous 12:37, IMHO, no. The Charter is set up for ALL and not for one. It has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to create the legislation. Rick can wait this out, get his degree and become the next Fire Chief.
" The Mayor and Council need to keep Rick Hoppes in as the interim Chief and allow him the time to finish his course and get his degree. At that point they can vote him in as the new Chief."
Thank you, Joe. This is all we ever wanted! Why is this so difficult? I have a problem with always following "the letter of the law." In come cases, such as this one, there needs to be wiggle room. If Council would follow your suggestion, then it would be a win-win solution for the mayor, the SFD, and above all, the citizens.
"I've always had a problem with following the letter of the law." Do you feel that way with everything or just the wiggle room that you are in favor of?
Feb 6, 2012 13:26 hours,,,Except for the multiple (law suits), legal isues that will come out of the prior hiring process and possibly also the current. The Mayor and Council may have to be aware of organizations such as the EEOC, and NAACP that is watching this issue very close. Many times citizens/ members have used terms such as we don't want outsiders we want insiders. Please educate yourself on the current hiring of many Chief Officers around the country. You would be amazed. You may want to also consider the demographics the City of Salisbury and ensure it compares to the current demographics of the Departments. Looking at your Command Staff and members it does not. When you want to be the Top Dog be prepared for all battles,,,,,,, Just some food for thought,,,,,,
Also thanks for the info Jim I.
A lot if businesses allow exactly what 1:26 has suggested. The person serves in th 'acting' capacity with a specific deadline to complete the academic requirements. Why can't that occur in this case?
Regareless of who ends up being chief - please no frivolous spending!!!!!!
I am just wondering where all these firefighters are that want Rick Hoppes as their fire chief??
Just a year ago the majority of those same firefighters voted down Rick Hoppes for fire chief.
I am told it is not the fact they want Rick Hoppes as fire chief it is more of a fact they don't want another outsider like Jeff Simpson.
anonymous 2:02, know that I am biting my tongue from lashing out at you, but I'm going to be nice here. What in the hell do you think they're doing! Did you NOT read my Post.
Anon 2:09 Where a on earth are you getting your information from? You can't be on my shift!
I really like your position on this Joe, it does show compromise and working together if it does get done in this manner.
If Hoppes has been eligable and has done a satisfactory job as interim, it only stands to reason that he be allowed to get his degree so he can fill the position without controvercy. I like it. I think the fire fighters themselves should have some say in that process. If they want Hoppes, the city should make it happen.
Joe,
Don't bite your tongue, I just don't think that the Council or the Mayor in fact is foward thinking enough to understand what they are opening themselves up for. All that has been read on the several blogs is " we don't want an outsider"....... If the EEOC or even worse the NAACP gets involved you may get a Chief that may be hired that is not as qualified but is endorsed by several organizations that want diversity.........
In the news release from Ireton last week it stated that Hoppes wouldn't have a degree for at least another year. So are you advocating Joe the taxpayers for Mr. Hoppes' tuition for another year? Are you advocating he work on his college degree online while he is supposed to be working as the acting fire chief while on the tax payers dime? This just doesn't pass the smell test.
anonymous 2:37, aka Jonathan Taylor, IF Jim Ireton made that statement, he's an absolute IDIOT.
Rick will finish classes in June of THIS year. The actual graduation is in December. Man, you will pick at any straw you can but once again you are uneducated and have no clue what you're talking about. It's no wonder so many people laugh in your face and behind your back.
Im not 2:02 but I don't see anywhere in your post where it says they are going to let him remain where he is until he gets his degree. I see where you say that is what they should do. Maybe that is the confusion.
anonymous 2:44, Man, I am really having a hard time biting my tongue today because so many of these comments are just plain stupid.
Look, the entire Council vioted YES for Rick Hoppes the first go around. The language changed and the position requires a degree, in which Rick doesn't currently have but will achieve in June.
THREE Council Members are following the letter of the law by saying no. Now, once Rick gets that degree, do you really think they'll turn him down. The answer is, NO, they will not. Of course I'm only going by my experience.
Now, IF I had any "first hand klnowledge" of what the three Council Members intend to vote on in this matter, well, they'd be violating the closed meeting laws. Nice try. This is just my opinion and time will tell.
There was no vote on Hoppes before. The mayor did not advance him to council either time before, remember?
Be careful speculating here about what the council was thinking with their decision.
However, it does sound to me like Ireton was setting this council up. Especially since he said he would take this back up again in June after the budget. June, when you say Hoppes is due to get his degree.
For what it's worth, just because somebody has worked someplace a long time doesn't mean they'll make a great leader. Take my former boss for example. Nice guy, but...
I wish the whiney fireman would quit holding on to the past and move on. You guys are holding up progress in this city. The decision has been made now let's move on.
Speaking of EEOC and the NAACP 1:49pm the current acting chief is on the radar screen of both agencies. This is a fact!
Where was the letter of the law when selecting the previous Chief ? Maryland drivers license, EMT-B, MFRI Fire Officer 3, MFRI Staff and Command. At least 10 years experience in a superviory position to name a few. The person had none of these vital qualifications and slid in the back door only to thrown out the front door. Rick Hoppes has everything except a few college credits for a BS degree. As far as outsiders go their batting o for 2 so far. Wanta go for three and see the same results ? As far as the EEOC and NAACP whats new. Cant be any bigger waste of legal fees than the WWTP at 84 million that we'll never see.
Anonymous said...
I really like your position on this Joe, it does show compromise and working together if it does get done in this manner.
If Hoppes has been eligable and has done a satisfactory job as interim, it only stands to reason that he be allowed to get his degree so he can fill the position without controvercy. I like it. I think the fire fighters themselves should have some say in that process. If they want Hoppes, the city should make it happen.
February 6, 2012 2:28 PM
No it doesn't stand to reason to allow Rick Hoppes to jump through the hoops without the proper credentials and requirements. There were stated deadline and the classifieds and the Mayor/City was negligent allow Hoppes' application to move forward.It should have been thrown out in the beginning. This is the main reason some of the qualifed HR personnel jump ship on Ieton. This is definitely grounds for litigation. The good ole boy system at it's best.
Anonymous said...
Anon 2:09 Where a on earth are you getting your information from? You can't be on my shift!
February 6, 2012 2:15 PM
You are only one person and you are not paying attention.
Anonymous said...
Where was the letter of the law when selecting the previous Chief ? Maryland drivers license, EMT-B, MFRI Fire Officer 3, MFRI Staff and Command. At least 10 years experience in a superviory position to name a few. The person had none of these vital qualifications and slid in the back door only to thrown out the front door. Rick Hoppes has everything except a few college credits for a BS degree. As far as outsiders go their batting o for 2 so far. Wanta go for three and see the same results ? As far as the EEOC and NAACP whats new. Cant be any bigger waste of legal fees than the WWTP at 84 million that we'll never see.
February 6, 2012 6:08 PM
The first half of your point is well taken. The second part leaves a lot to be concerned with. Still we are opening the doors to more litigation and the city doesn't need it. The informed city council members did their homework this time and have to much damning information on the new nominee. Thanks to the numerous complaints about Jeff Simpson they have a more open mind on this process.
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