Former fire commissioner gives views
To the editor:
I have just returned from the monthly meeting of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Commission. I am compelled to write and let you know what a disaster we are all facing with the present board with the exception of Commissioner Goodacre and Commissioner Scanlon.
This board, with the exception of the above mentioned commissioners, is in one word – dysfunctional. The board is charged with protecting the taxpayers’ dollars and not with protecting the fire union. An example of this dysfunctionality is Fire Chief Mike Becker was instructed to present to the board a recommendation on the by-laws to be used by the board to conduct the meetings and to conduct the district business. This is absolutely not the responsibility of the chief to write a set of rules for the board of commissioners to be governed by. That’s a great example of the tail wagging the dog! But, better yet, those instructions given to the chief by the board is an entire set up to me.
It is not the fire chief’s job to tell the board how to conduct the business for the district; it is the elected officials that the taxpayers voted for to do this job for us. If these commissioners cannot write a set of by-laws which, by the way, I submitted to them several months ago (a set of by-laws that was used in this district for years and which was apparent to me today that this board did not even look at or evaluate), then they are not doing the job that they were elected for. Instead, this board wants the chief to do their work for them, and I would recommend that the chief decline that assignment. I feel that this is another attempt to remove the chief from his job.
There is an apparent vendetta against Chief Becker, led by Commissioners Carol Morris, Joe Schmidt, Ted Reckwert and the fire union, which does not give us taxpayers any chance of saving our dollars or having an impact on this board on what decisions are made. These commissioners just cost the taxpayers in this fire district more than $22,000 for an investigation that was brought on by a disgruntled employee and the fire union and which, by the way, had no merit and was only motivated to remove the chief from his office. It was supported by Commissioners Carol Morris, Joe Schmidt, Ted Reckwert.
Everyone needs to attend all the Beach Fire Commission meetings (third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m.) and let your voice be heard loud and clear. There is a problem with Commissioners Carol Morris, Joe Schmidt, Ted Reckwert, and everyone should be aware of this and react appropriately.
G.P. “Flip” Harby
Fort Myers Beach