It's Not Overtime That Is The Real Issue

Now this is a major world event story! It is so important that we have had a front page news story, an editorial, a Henderson column and an Editorial cartoon. On Monday there will be an in camera Council discussion about it and I'll bet on Tuesday (maybe even Monday if the Report has been presented already) another major news leak about a Fire Department audit by an outside group. Can you imagine. All of this just to build a case to try and get rid of the Fire Chief, Dave Fields!

Frankly, he probably should go. After all, he was only voted Fire Chief of the Year in 2003 and has been awarded Queen's Jubilee Medal. Check out what he has done for Windsor at

http://www.windsorfire.com/administration/chiefoftheyear.php He really is not all that experienced either: 38 years experience. 14 years with the city the first time, 12 years as chief this time, 8 years with the Fire Marshal of Ontario and 5 years as Nepean deputy chief.

Overtime is a problem at the Fire Department these days but that is not the only problem that the Mayor and Council think they have. Aparently he had the nerve to campaign door-to- door on Mike Hurst's behalf in the 2000 election. (Some people have long memories and can never forgive either) The Budgeteers cannot tolerate that Chief Fields stood up to them by doing his job.

Remember last year the thorn that the Star gave to the Chief by forcing Council to open their eyes to his and their legal responsibilities:

• Windsor Fire Chief Dave Fields: Chief Fields has trotted out the safety card in an attempt to place himself above council's attempt to cut costs and hold the line on taxes. "I can't knowingly recommend budget cuts that would jeopardize public safety," Fields said this week, suggesting he would likely be charged under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act for creating a public safety hazard. But that's a gross misrepresentation of what council is asking Fields to do on the taxpayers' behalf. Like all departments, Fields has a responsibility to look at every nook and cranny of his budget and find realistic cuts that can be made. It might mean doing things differently, or more creatively, but if Fields wants to be a public servant, he'd better make an effort. No one who is spending taxpayers' money should be above accountability.

And in the Editorial from Council's cheerleader, in order to give them guts when they talk "in camera" again (this kind of secret discussion does not bother the Star it seems) :

• "Fire chief Dave Fields, who played the public safety card last year when asked to find budget savings like other city departments, didn't confirm or dispute Halberstadt's figures but admitted there was a problem that was worse than previous years."

No one dared to stand up to the Chief to tell him he was wrong at the time and to do something like the Star ordered. After all the Chief only had to do his usual job but also had thrust on him new duties such as restructuring at city hall, zero-based budgeting and functions under Emergency Management Act. So they waited until this year and went after him, like drastically trying to slash his salary by over $20,000 I have heard.

Remember how Gord Henderson talked about the Police: "Windsor police Chief Glenn Stannard has essentially drawn a line in the sand, declaring that it's "absolutely impossible" to reduce the police budget. In fact, in comments last month, the chief said the issue is how much of an increase he'll be looking for. "

One wonders why the Fire Department gets so much abuse while the Police Department does not.

Interesting way though to get rid of a long-standing employee. Pillory him in the City's only newspaper. Imagine how easy it will be for the City to hire a replacement for him and for several other Senior Administrators and non-union management who have to wonder when the ax falls next on them.