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Fire Chief on administrative leave
Just received this, from Mayor Dean Bunkers:
Press Release November 11, 2009
Layoff:
On Tuesday, November 10, the Fire Chief of Ocean Shores was placed on administrative leave, with pay, pending further action by the Mayor. The Mayor has advised Chief Jim Hodges of his intention to recommend to the city council that the position of Fire Chief be eliminated as of December 31, 2009. The Mayor will be asking the city council to reorganize the Fire Chief and Chief of Police duties into a single FTE, i.e. Director/Chief of Public Safety. In anticipation of that action Chief Hodges was placed on administrative leave with pay.
City procedures require that certain steps be taken before any final decision on the layoff can be issued and those steps are proceeding. The layoff of the Chief will be a painful but necessary decision brought on by the worsening fiscal crisis facing the city.
The Mayor has expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication of Chief Jim Hodges and thanked him for his years of service to the citizens of Ocean Shores.
The Police Chief is now acting as the interim Fire Chief.
that’s what i thought too,Phillip.
That sounds like an awesome idea Fritz. I’m sure they would be more than able to find staff members who would gladly get out of school for the day to supervise. They could rotate them on a daily basis.
i would like to see the high school start a Library Club. students could not only get credits for running the library but get credit for community service which looks good on a college application.
Since they seem set on closing the library…
Now that we have the new fire station next to the police station next to the library, maybe the Police Chief could also open the library next year and have volunteers run it like friends of the library.
I doubt anyone would mess around in the library if he was in charge.
This is an excellent move that taxpayers have wanted for years. Every department should be scrutinized for cost savings and job eliminations like this. After all these years of incompetent city managers chosen by incompetent city councils, we have a competent Mayor chosen by the people.
I’m impressed! Thank you Dean.
Way to go Dean. You made what I consider a statesman like decision.If the council cares at all about the City and its citizens they will vote this in.
Right on Mr. Mayor!!!
Wow! I am stunned. The “Good Old Boy” network has had this town in a stranglehold for so long it is hard to believe this happened. I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel and good things ahead. Congratulations Mayor Bunker. We will still have the monument . . . fire station to pass every day but maybe now it can be the police station too.
I commend Mayor Bunkers for making this hard decision and I hope that the City Council will adopt his recommendation. The Mayor has my support in this decision which is the first of many tough changes for Ocean Shores to meet its financial obligations and balancing the operating budget of the City.