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Chief staying and staying quiet
Coatesville Fire Chief Kevin Johnson will not be stepping down, but that's all he would say about the situation.
City Manager Harry Walker called the chief's momentary impulse to leave a "knee jerk reaction" related to some unspecified frustrations.
City Manager Harry Walker called the chief's momentary impulse to leave a "knee jerk reaction" related to some unspecified frustrations.
“I’m not going to discuss my frustrations in the Daily Local News,” the chief said (in Wednesday's story). “I discussed them with the people I needed to discuss them with.”The chief submitted his resignation letter to city officials two weeks ago. At a City
Council meeting the same night, Johnson would not confirm he would be stepping down, even as other city officials said they had received copies of Johnson’s letter.
...On Tuesday, Johnson continued to be elusive.Asked again about his resignation letter, Johnson replied, “That doesn’t mean nothing. It’s a piece of paper. Is it signed?”
Labels: Chief Johnson, fire department
posted by Daily Local at
9:48 AM
31 Comments:
that's a shame for the city, they could do without
yeah, no one but the city officials like this guy. Guess you could say he fits in, hes a weirdo and he has a confirmed criminal. Who cares. Let the fire department continue to run itself, by the volunteer and career guys, it doesn't matter wether this guys in phila. for 24 hrs working or living in exton. Or wether he is actually in the city. Hes a figure head PUPPET!
i think lentz is a complete jerk off.
I have attended a lot of management classes, read my fair share of mgt books from a vast array of authors regarding management styles. BUT nowhere have I ever read that a manager should make statements with a knee jerk reaction. (Kevin stated it, not my words as reported by the DLN).
SO HARRY, take this opportunity to provide a training course (s) for the fire department, get a spokesperson that understands management and make it a requirement for your department heads (volunteer and career managers) to attend.
A leader/manager is one that takes all information, looks at it and makes an educated sound judgement call that benefits everyone. Not everyone would/will like that decision but it should be based on whats best for the department.
Now if he is being directed by a higher authority then all bets are off and it's no different mgt style than has been in place for 30+ years regarding vol-career relationships.
I think you should stop posting personal comments about "Jim Lentz" It could be bad for your health... This article has nothing to do with the laborers president. He is just looking out for the safety and welfare of his fellow workers. I think he is doing better for the overall good of the department than the so called chief. Quit trying to put him down just because he is a paid firefighter. You have done that in the past, and been proven wrong time and time again. The problem is the management of the fire department. Its people like you who create a hostile work environment for our city employees.
i still think he is a jerk off
The CM and council are just plain stupid. K.jhonson has done nothing for this department form the get go. The fire chief should be ashamed to even call himself a leader and chief. Get your haed out of your ass and do your job. The fire dept and other officers are doing your dirty work, but maybe you like it that way. Council should be ashamed that they are even letting him stay. For What to cause more trouble. The council and fire chief have lost my respect. WE CAN DO BETTER.
if you don't like it. LEAVE
funny how "jr43"'s name has now gone to "anonymous" If you have such an issue with someone on here, mebbey you should leave, and quit focusing on the problem, but look for the solution. The only problem in the CFD are the few rogues that want nothing more than to fight, and no matter what have some issue to blame on the "paid guys". Not the REAL problem. Like a chief who can't decide to stay or go. Thats got upper management written all over it!
funny how your still anonymous....
maybe i have better things to do then sit here all day
any word on the lawsuit one of the four stooges spoke about? Larry ( ), Curlie ( ), Mo ( ) and Kevin.
Feel free to fill in the names as you see fit.
Check Out the City Manager Walkers NEW BLACK JAGUAR.
I guess he got paid by the redevelopement authority when they sold those city owned properties
Go Figure ???
What's Pop Mathe's new car going to be ?
New Jag, someone needs to check into the emergency fund set up by the previous administration.
lehr got one too
So let me get this straight as a taxpayer.
I am seeing headlines that arson fires are on the rise, people are scared, they are looking for leadership from the City department heads and all I see is THE FIRECHIEF COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR A COMMENT, BUT THE ASSISTANT FIRE FROM ANOTHER TOWN COULD BE REACHED and spoke about Coatesville??
Here is a thought, fire the unreachable, and hire someone that can be here to protect us.
Bring us LEADERSHIP to the office,mr. cm and get rid of someone that protects ships for a living.
To 5:30 p.m. - we can look at the article a couple different ways. Maybe the fire chief chose not to call the Daily Lack of News with a comment because they always twist their information around. Maybe the fire chief didn't want to further escalate the events and have copy cats out on the streets for the glory. There are also ongoing investigations and the state police fire marshal did provide limited information. Just food for thought.
Daily Lack of News with a comment because they always twist their information around.
Lets explore that statement, I will take it that since they ALWAYS twist their information around and I have read the following, making these statements now true:
No drug problem exist in Coatesville,
City Council is the best ever elected, firefighters are working together harmoniously, department heads are taking the city into an economy boost that has never been seen before--well you get the picture.
ALWAYS-NEVER-FOREVER are words that should be used carefully.
Please focus on the point of the comment "Leadership".
During the first Gulf War General Schwarzkopf (sp) was on TV each night letting the US Citizen (and those that were fighting us, yes they were watching CNN) abreast of what was going on. The information that was not fit to be shared, he stated, "WE are on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know". It was information just the same ( not, unavailable for comment) and it was broadcast several times a day.
During the crisis in NY the Mayor was on TV numerous times a day with reports that helped calm the nerves of NY citizens and the nation.
Information was shared, he was NOT unreachable but there in the public eye available to answer the tough questions with the information that could be shared.
I could go on but I trust you get the point.
Now how do rumors and decention get started and run amok? BY the act of silence on the leaders part and allowing others to make their ideas known.
Reporters have a job to do just like you and I. We may have chosen a different career path but we do our job to the best of our ability with the intent of keeping our business growing or we would be out of a job. Reporters are no different. We may not like the job they do, or think they report news we don't agree with, but they are doing what their supervisor directs them to do.
So to get back to the leadership part of my statement, It has been several days and the silence from the lackluster leadership of our emergency responders is deafening.
July 23, 2008 5:30 PM,
There you go, blame the arson problem on the fire chief, especially because he couldn't be reached for comment....Hmmmmm, maybe he was at work! What does one persons profession have to do with anything? And since when has it been the responsibility of the FIRE CHIEF to notify the public about POLICE MATTERS! After the fire is out, State Police and County Fire Marshalls investigate the cause of the fire, the scene is turned over to them. It is no longer the responsibility of the fire departments.
Who care if a neighboring assistant cheif made comments about the fires, did he state incorrect information? Did he lie to the paper? I didn't think so.....
Instead of being so quick to judge someones job performance maybe you should try being in their shoes and doing their job, bet you won't do so well. Perhaps the fire chief was on vacation or perhaps the POLICE DEPARTMENT told him not to answer any questions because it is a POLICE MATTER.....
Please show us where the comment was made to blame the arson fires on the chief ????
Answer no where.
The statement was made, that he demonstrated his lack of leadership ability by not making any statements that could possibly calm some fears. This would have no bearing on a police investigation.
It was stated that he could show leadership ability by commenting on what steps residents could take to assist in this troubling time.
Is it your belief the only part the volunteers play in the area is to respond, put the fire out and then go back and wait for the next incident? Well maybe it is time they did more than that and did more for the community to squelch the fears of residents.
One idea that immediately come to mind: fully staff the West End with firefighters each evening and over night to rapidly respond to fires that are occurring as reported in that area of town. Faster responses may allow firefighter to be on scene before the fires get to a point lives are lost or structures are lost. A large public showing of firefighters may cause the individual(s) to move on. It worth a shot because apparently what is being done now appears to be failing. Try a plan B.
What steps have the volunteers been making to have others join their department to increase their membership or is still the close nit thinking, we only want our own kind in the clubhouse?
Again it all points back to leadership or the lack there of by the officers and the chief.
I thought the chief was a department head? How many other department heads in the City consider their main source of income outside the city? The point I will stick to is leadership the residents of our City deserve.
So let me get this straight as a taxpayer.
I am seeing headlines that arson fires are on the rise, people are scared, they are looking for leadership from the City department heads and all I see is THE FIRECHIEF COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR A COMMENT, BUT THE ASSISTANT FIRE FROM ANOTHER TOWN COULD BE REACHED and spoke about Coatesville??
Here is a thought, fire the unreachable, and hire someone that can be here to protect us.
Bring us LEADERSHIP to the office,mr. cm and get rid of someone that protects ships for a living.
July 23, 2008 5:30 PM
Right here! This entire mess can not be straightened out by placing the blame on one person. How do you know that the Fire Chief was told not to comment on the rash of suspicious fires? While he is the department head for the fire department, he also has bosses. City Council, City Manager, Police Chief because again, once the fire is out the incident is turned over to the Fire Marshalls Office for Investigation. Assisting the Fire Marshalls are, get this, the POLICE DEPARTMENT. Imagine that, a fire scene is also a crime scene until a cause has been found. If the cause is determined to be suspicious the Police Department, Fire Marshalls, AND Fire Department are responsible for securing the building.
You can blame the Fire Chief all you want but like every other company, business, organization, teamwork is required to make the city operate. Prove to me why it is the Fire Chiefs responsibility to make comments about an on going criminal investigation! You don't see firefighters, the chief included, making comments about bank robberies do you?
Staffing the Firehouses is a great idea, put more firefighters, career and volunteer, on the street faster. Good idea, but your issue is, again, that the Fire Chief is not making a comment about the suspicious fires. Staffing levels are not going to help stop arson fires.
You want some tips, here you go....Form a townwatch, stop defending the criminals that roam the streets at night, take back your streets, approach your councilperson with your concerns/issues. I doubt you'll get anywhere with that but it's worth a shot......
Where did I say my belief was that the volunteers only responsibilty was to put the fire out and go home? I didn't think I did, you assume so much and yet you know so little. The next time I'm driving home from work, I think I'll volunteer my ass to pull someone over and I'll volunteer my ass to write someone a ticket, I bet the cops will love that.......
I blame the career firefighters for this, they should make a comment to the paper after all it is their responsibility to ensure safety of the residents isn't it? Please not, the last paragraph was heavily laced with SARCASIM.....
While it may sound like I'm defending the Fire Chief, I'm not. But let's place the blame where the blame is do and not on one person! Blame the City Manager, ultimately he is responsible for running the entire city, blame city council for their lack of intelligence and their mismanagement of the city, blame thew police chief for dismantling what was a proactive police department.
I can't believe I wasted my time and your tax dollars to type this.....
I almost forgot your recruitment slam.....Have you ever tried to get people to volunteer their time? Before you assume that I am a career hater, I am both a career and VOLUNTEER firefighter.
If you have ideas about how to get people to volunteer their time to go and get the required courses I'm all ears! Volunteerism is on the decline, has been for years. I'd seriously love to hear, or see in this case, ideas on how to get people to join the fire department.
Someone please tell what kind of leader the fire chief is when he is showing up to fire scenes in flip flops and a t-shirt. What kind of example is he setting for the other memebers. I blame city council and the fire chief for all the shit that keeps happening and they allow it to happen. The chief may think he runs the department, But that is only in his mind. The career and other memebers are doing his job for him. ItIS TIME FOR A NEW CHIEF.
don;t forget about the love bites on his neck and the cigerettes.
The fact he shows up as he does speaks loudly about his attitude toward the position he holds.
Now I am going down a path that I can only assume will get responses both positive and negative.
1). Do I have ideas, sure I found them by looking at successful departments, volunteer, combination and career. All free and on the Internet. Officers of these departments will be glad to share their success and failures with you. You can do the same if you put the effort into it.
Think outside of Coatesville and see what other departments are doing.
Heck, they even have training in FLA designed for volunteers, geared for volunteers and combination departments. Google it INAFC.
2) Host a speaker from these successful departments, charge a fee and I bet you would earn some money as well as increase, if only for the weekend, a small boost in Coatesville economy.
3)Chiefs attire is based on his attitude toward his job. I cannot recall more than a handful of successful leaders that don't dress for success. Read successful leaders.
3) Open house, speaking at local clubs and organizations, informational booth at the local festivals around Coatesville. Takes work and team building for those involved.
4) Create handouts, I am sure you have an officer that is good with computers that has the skill in creating such a item.
5) Get the public involved, open the doors to the station and hold safety meetings and inform the public what to watch out for or how to change their behaviors toward fire safety.
6) Form a mutual aid committee why the departments around us to gain insight how you can work together.
Well there you go 6 areas you can explore and work on, or you can choose to look the other way, cry poor us, somebody come help us, unfortunately when they do and the ideas are not what the select few chose to agree with and be open-minded about we will strike down these ideas create turmoil and decention the same as we for years (and recorded in City Council minutes).
We do have people that want to get involved but when the doors are closed( figuratively) and it appears as a good-old-boy club we stay away. Invite us, we may come. Mexicans, Blacks, educated, and others but you have to put the effort into it.
Car dealers do not count on the walk in buyer- but rely on advertising and making the customer feel they are welcome to the dealership.
Is the fire station any different?
Lets' look at this for a moment. Maybe the fire chief showed up in flip flops and shorts, so what. did anyone take into consideration he might have been on vacation. When was the last time any of you critics showed up for work while on vacation? It is easy to judge but you should have your facts straight first. In light of the recent fires, I think that shows his dedication to doing the right thing.
Yes we have all gone into the office at one time or another in ones career while on vacation if for only to pick up a pay check.
HOWEVER for the most part my office does not consist of toxic gasses, flammable liquids or flammable gasses, flames, broken glass, chance for explosions, collapsing structures, toxic runoffs, hazardous materials and various other life/health threatening opportunities.
I am also aware firefighters generally bring their office suits with them in there vehicles, BUT THEY MUST BE WORN and worn correctly to be affective.
But hey what do I know. I along with the other taxpayers will be footing the workers comp payment when he or others that follow his actions get hurt and out of work.
Before you say workers comp would pay, who do you think pays the City portion of the bills?
Hey 1:26, you asked for suggestions herre is one from our own state.
Firefighters are public servants who risk their lives by running into burning buildings. Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones wants to make sure the men and women in fire gear look like the people in the communities they are serving.
"You want to have a diverse culture in the bureau because there is a diverse culture in the city. It makes people more confident in the emergency services unit," Jones said.
A recruitment drive is under way, and Jones wants to target women and African-Americans. He said the national average of female firefighters in a department is 4 percent, but in Pittsburgh it's less than half that.
your welcome.
Now you can jump on the band wagon and start a simular project.
VolunteerFD.org Newsletter (Newsletter@VolunteerFD.org)
Symposium in the Sun International Association of Fire Chiefs Combination and Volunteer Fire Chief Division.
Conference at-a-Glance
The 2008 program includes the following popular sessions and events:
Thursday, October 30
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Preconference Session: Five Alarm Leadership
John Salka, Battalion Chief, New York City Fire Department, NY
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Networking Reception
On the beach
Friday, October 31
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8 am – Noon
G1: General Session
Fifty Ways to Kill Your Brother
Rich Gasaway, Fire Chief, Roseville Fire Department, MN
What Is Your Leadership Attitude
Eddie Buchanan, Division Chief, Hanover County Fire Department, VA
Saturday, November 1
7 am – 8 am
Breakfast
8 am - 9:30 am
101: Creating a Successful Combination System
Ted Aroesty, Executive Director, Brighton Fire District, NY
Offered again at 1 pm (Session 301)
102: Successful Benefits & Incentive Programs in Combination and Volunteer Departments
Facilitated by Norvin Collins, Battalion Chief, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, OR
Offered again at 1 pm (Session 302)
103: Functional Consolidation Without Legal Consolidation
Mike Montgomery, Fire Marshal, Harris County, TX
Offered again at 1 pm (Session 303)
10 am - 11:30 am
201: Combination Leadership
Mike Morgan, Chief, Rifle Fire Protection District, CO
Offered again at 3 pm (Session 401)
202: New Labor Management
Eric Bernard, Executive Director, Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association
Offered again at 3 pm (Session 402)
203: Recruitment and Retention
John Buckman, III, Chief, German Township Fire Department, IN; Fred Windisch, Fire Chief, Ponderosa Fire Department, TX; David See, Chief, Salisbury Fire Department, MD
Offered again at 3 pm (Session 403)
11:30 am – 1 pm
Lunch
On the beach
1 pm - 2:30 pm
301: Creating a Successful Combination System
Ted Aroesty, Executive Director, Brighton Fire District, NY
Offered previously at 8 am (Session 101)
302: Successful Benefits & Incentive Programs in Combination and Volunteer Departments
Facilitated by Norvin Collins, Battalion Chief, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, OR
Offered previously at 8 am (Session 102)
303: Functional Consolidation Without Legal Consolidation
Mike Montgomery, Fire Marshal, Harris County Fire Department, TX
Offered previously at 8 am (Session 103)
3 pm - 4:30 pm
401: Combination Leadership
Mike Morgan, Chief, Rifle Fire Protection District, CO
Offered previously at 10 am (Session 201)
402: New Labor Management
Eric Bernard, Executive Director, Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association
Offered previously at 10 am (Session 202)
403: Recruitment and Retention
John Buckman, III, Chief, German Township Fire Department, IN; Fred Windisch, Fire Chief, Ponderosa Fire Department, TX;
David See, Chief, Salisbury Fire Department, MD
Offered previously at 10 am (Session 203)
8 pm – 9:30 pm
Networking night
Sunday, November 2
8 am – 11 am
G2: Closing General Session
Kelvin Cochran, Chief, Atlanta Fire Department, GA
Hope you see how easy this is to get ideas.
Attention Ed, pass this around to your other City Council members. See anything on this program that may be addressing any problems in the city?
Check the speakers = all renowned leaders in the volunteer, combination and career fire service.
four site are interesting to say the least. So volunteer officers, which of you will be using the relief association funding to attend? You cannot say the city is broke and cannot go (because we contribute to the relief funds as a result of paying into it every year due to our car insurance we are required to maintain)to attend the Fla training. I see where it would be money well spent.
Chief I know after this year you will be attending correct? Lead by example.
If the the fire chief is on vacation or not, he is still attending a public function and is in the public eye. This is not the 70's or 80's. You need to look professional. Oh thats right you get what you pay for! once you look like crap ,act like crap you will always be a peice of crap!
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