Firefighter Disagrees With Me And Wants A Paid Only Fire Department, No Volunteers

"I disagree with you Joe on not having an all paid fd. If you can't control them this is what you get. Arguing, bickering, distractions, in-fighting etc. They come and go as they like. They show up or don't show up when it suits them. It's more of a status thing with them than it is of being a professional firefighter/emt. And I'm sure that could be said for some of the paid ones too. But a house divided will not stand. And it sure looks like the SFD is divided."

Publishers Notes: This comment comes from a man who knows absolutely NOTHING about being a Boss, a leader a mentor or someone who leads by example. Honest to goodness, this comments sounds a LOT like Jim Ireton himself.

Nevertheless, what Salisbury is desperately missing is a leader. You must have business experience. You must take risks. Do YOU think it's going to be easy when Joe Albero gets elected as Mayor. Do YOU think every employee that works for the City and is full of crap is NOT going to be recognized by me and more than likely quit before I ever take Office? Of course that's going to happen because I won't take any crap from them and I won't let a single lazy employee stay on board that doesn't carry their own weight.

Life doesn't deal you a perfect hand every time. Set an example. You people are so scared of your own shadow it isn't funny. IF a volunteer is disrespectful, suspend them. The SFD should be the greatest Fire Department on the Eastern Shore. There should be a WAITING LIST to get into that department. This is EXACTLY why I am looking VERY hard at the current leadership there because quite frankly, it sucks.

I know of several Fire Chiefs' that are excellent leaders. They also have a Volunteer Crew. Look at my friend Chris Laramore in Ocean City. One of the greatest Fire Chiefs' Ocean City has ever known. This man blends the paid staff with the volunteers without any problems whatsoever and they respect each other.

The ONLY difference most of you don't know is this. I have run businesses. I have employed and managed thousands of people over the years. When you retain a large staff, there's going to be bickering and arguing, period. Your current Mayor and former Mayor have/had NO EXPERIENCE. So what did they do, they pounded their chest screaming, I'M THE MAYOR AND YOU WILL DO WHAT I SAY, OR ELSE! Why, because they don't know any better. They became BULLIES because they have no clue, no experience and no training on how to MANAGE a large number of people.

Nevertheless, as many of you know from life experiences, just because someone is given the position as manager/mayor, most of them are not very good at it. It's a special gift to do it well. A good manager is no different from having that ONE Teacher you'll remember for the rest of your life. They're out there but they are very rare and very gifted.

So, in my honest opinion, there's a problem with the Salisbury Fire Department between the paid Firefighters and the Volunteers, I will fix that. And I might suggest they start working VERY hard on that problem right now BEFORE I get elected. I'm keeping a VERY close eye on what's going on in that Department, trust me.

In closing, I can't stand when someone uses catch phrases like the one used above, "a house divided will not stand". I also said "I Do" twice. Just because you say til death do you part doesn't mean the other person can fulfill such a promise or commitment. We can only control our own lives and destiny. IF you try to control other lives you will fail. If you can manage BOTH lives with respect, guess what, chances are you'll be together for a very long time. Some people just don't belong in management, even though they've put in the time.