Law firm named in fire chief investigation
The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District has chosen a Southwest Florida law firm to conduct an informal investigation involving its fire chief and recent allegations made by a local fire fighter against him.
Bradley Rothman of Weldon & Rothman, PL of Naples will be in charge of the investigation facing FMB Fire Chief Mike Becker, according to FMB Board of Fire Commissioners Chairperson Carol Morris. At the Nov. 16 monthly meeting of the newly arranged fire board, Becker was placed under an informal investigation after it was learned an emailed complaint (dated Nov. 5) by fire fighter Jen Gordon accused him of violating district policies. Morris was unanimously appointed to contact FMB Fire District Labor Attorney John Hament to obtain a list of previously screened investigators, choose one and have the selected person begin the process. At least four people involved in the case are expected to be questioned.
“We understand (Rothman) will conduct informal interviews during the first week of December,” said Morris, who stated the attorney is known to be a specialist in labor law. “This will probably be followed by a special board meeting around Dec. 16.”
According to Gordon’s email to Capt. Ivan Bestrom (her shift commander at the time of the incident), she stated that Becker had made statements which led her to believe that Dr. Joseph Lemons would have her state paramedic license removed if she did not go through a re-credential process, and her continued employment within the district would be in jeopardy if she didn’t cooperate. After speaking with Lemons, Gordon stated she learned Becker’s statements were untrue, felt threatened and intimidated by Becker concerning her status as a district employee and believed the fire chief had violated policies concerning harassment and violence in the workplace.
This will be the second time Becker is under an informal investigation in 13 months.
On Oct. 20, 2009, Becker was placed on immediate administrative leave with pay at the board’s monthly meeting due to allegations relating to prescription drug abuse and an intimate relationship with a district employee. More than a month later, he was back on duty after the findings of an investigation by court certified mediator Roger Benson determined no wrongdoing. Benson’s concluding remarks stated Becker’s addiction to pain prescription medicine “should not be dealt with after the fact as misconduct.” The board determined not to pursue any further investigation, and two examinations cleared Becker to be fit for duty.
This time, the FMB Fire Board, which includes two newly elected members and one re-elected commissioner who were all sworn in during the Nov. 16 meeting, decided not to suspend or place their fire chief on administrative leave,
During the week, Morris and Hament have been exchanging emails to make sure the upcoming investigation would be thorough. The local fire board chairperson was not particularly satisfied with the previous investigation process.
“I already sent (Hament) a list of possible open questions because I want to be sure that there is no question this time like there were questions on the last investigation,” said Morris. “I’m thinking it’ll take one to two days of investigation.”
At the Nov. 16 meeting, there was an overriding sentiment on getting the process of this investigation going quickly.
“It’s not fair to chief or any of the other parties involved not to expedite this,” said newly elected Vice Chairman Ted Schindler, who made the required motion to begin searching for investigators. “We have the short list which I think we can operate with. We’ll bite the bullet on the cost, but it’s the cost of doing business.”
New business items
Before the matter was brought up, there was an election of the fire commission board officers. Other than Schindler being selected vice chair, Morris was re-elected to Chairperson and Commissioner David Brower was voted in as Secretary/Treasurer.
The FMB Fire Board selected Tuesday, Nov. 30, as a workshop date for the new commissioners to become certified. They will meet at Station #32 at 10 a.m. for the all-day event.
Schindler was appointed to act as the board liaison for the health insurance committee, while Broward will be reviewing attorney fees.
Meetings to be held at Town Hall
The commissioners approved a move to relocate commission monthly meetings to town hall in the near future. The motion was passed by a 3-1 count with Commissioner Betty Goodacre dissenting.
After meeting with the town mayor and manager, Morris found out there would be no fee for the use of the facility and television access. The FMB Fire Board will have to provide their own IT guy for the latter service.
“They said they are ready for us to move over there,” said Morris. “This was a big item coming from a lot of people. They thought it would be really nice to be able to come to meetings, have a place to park or watch it on public TV if they couldn’t come.”
“This is one of the most important boards on the Beach, and that is why I volunteered to be part of it,” said Schindler. “It’s a much more formal location. I think we need public input and, anything we can do to get ourselves out there and with the input from the public, is going to be a step in the right direction.”
Law firm named in fire chief investigation
The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District has chosen a Southwest Florida law firm to conduct an informal investigation involving its fire chief and recent allegations made by a local fire fighter against him.
Bradley Rothman of Weldon & Rothman, PL of Naples will be in charge of the investigation facing FMB Fire Chief Mike Becker, according to FMB Board of Fire Commissioners Chairperson Carol Morris. At the Nov. 16 monthly meeting of the newly arranged fire board, Becker was placed under an informal investigation after it was learned an emailed complaint (dated Nov. 5) by fire fighter Jen Gordon accused him of violating district policies. Morris was unanimously appointed to contact FMB Fire District Labor Attorney John Hament to obtain a list of previously screened investigators, choose one and have the selected person begin the process. At least four people involved in the case are expected to be questioned.
“We understand (Rothman) will conduct informal interviews during the first week of December,” said Morris, who stated the attorney is known to be a specialist in labor law. “This will probably be followed by a special board meeting around Dec. 16.”
According to Gordon’s email to Capt. Ivan Bestrom (her shift commander at the time of the incident), she stated that Becker had made statements which led her to believe that Dr. Joseph Lemons would have her state paramedic license removed if she did not go through a re-credential process, and her continued employment within the district would be in jeopardy if she didn’t cooperate. After speaking with Lemons, Gordon stated she learned Becker’s statements were untrue, felt threatened and intimidated by Becker concerning her status as a district employee and believed the fire chief had violated policies concerning harassment and violence in the workplace.
This will be the second time Becker is under an informal investigation in 13 months.
On Oct. 20, 2009, Becker was placed on immediate administrative leave with pay at the board’s monthly meeting due to allegations relating to prescription drug abuse and an intimate relationship with a district employee. More than a month later, he was back on duty after the findings of an investigation by court certified mediator Roger Benson determined no wrongdoing. Benson’s concluding remarks stated Becker’s addiction to pain prescription medicine “should not be dealt with after the fact as misconduct.” The board determined not to pursue any further investigation, and two examinations cleared Becker to be fit for duty.
This time, the FMB Fire Board, which includes two newly elected members and one re-elected commissioner who were all sworn in during the Nov. 16 meeting, decided not to suspend or place their fire chief on administrative leave,
During the week, Morris and Hament have been exchanging emails to make sure the upcoming investigation would be thorough. The local fire board chairperson was not particularly satisfied with the previous investigation process.
“I already sent (Hament) a list of possible open questions because I want to be sure that there is no question this time like there were questions on the last investigation,” said Morris. “I’m thinking it’ll take one to two days of investigation.”
At the Nov. 16 meeting, there was an overriding sentiment on getting the process of this investigation going quickly.
“It’s not fair to chief or any of the other parties involved not to expedite this,” said newly elected Vice Chairman Ted Schindler, who made the required motion to begin searching for investigators. “We have the short list which I think we can operate with. We’ll bite the bullet on the cost, but it’s the cost of doing business.”
New business items
Before the matter was brought up, there was an election of the fire commission board officers. Other than Schindler being selected vice chair, Morris was re-elected to Chairperson and Commissioner David Brower was voted in as Secretary/Treasurer.
The FMB Fire Board selected Tuesday, Nov. 30, as a workshop date for the new commissioners to become certified. They will meet at Station #32 at 10 a.m. for the all-day event.
Schindler was appointed to act as the board liaison for the health insurance committee, while Broward will be reviewing attorney fees.
Meetings to be held at Town Hall
The commissioners approved a move to relocate commission monthly meetings to town hall in the near future. The motion was passed by a 3-1 count with Commissioner Betty Goodacre dissenting.
After meeting with the town mayor and manager, Morris found out there would be no fee for the use of the facility and television access. The FMB Fire Board will have to provide their own IT guy for the latter service.
“They said they are ready for us to move over there,” said Morris. “This was a big item coming from a lot of people. They thought it would be really nice to be able to come to meetings, have a place to park or watch it on public TV if they couldn’t come.”
“This is one of the most important boards on the Beach, and that is why I volunteered to be part of it,” said Schindler. “It’s a much more formal location. I think we need public input and, anything we can do to get ourselves out there and with the input from the public, is going to be a step in the right direction.”