SloppyJoe is Offline

From the Jersey Journal today:

<font size="4">2 on council call for making Rogers fire chief </font>Friday, March 28, 2008
By RONALD LEIRJOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The top-ranked candidate for Bayonne fire chief has at least two members of the City Council in his corner, although the choice is strictly up to interim Mayor Terrence Malloy, who interviewed the contenders on Wednesday. Deputy Chief Gregory J. Rogers, who placed first on a state Department of Personnel test for chief, sounded hopeful about his chances although he'll be up against his boss, current Acting Chief Patrick Boyle, who was third on the test. Deputy Chief Joseph Hurley was second. Under DOP regulations, the city can pick from the top three scorers but needn't select the person with the highest score. Rogers said: "I have been with the Bayonne Fire Department for 27 years and have risen by merit through all the ranks. I come highly qualified . (and) I'm excited at the prospect of serving the citizens of Bayonne as their new chief, and will work with the current administration and council to provide services in a responsible manner." Boyle, a 29-year Fire Department employee and a veteran, declined comment, and Hurley couldn't be reached. Malloy, who has until June 20 to name a permanent chief, doesn't need City Council ratification of the appointment, but Councilman-at-large Anthony Chiappone and Third Ward Councilman Gary LaPelusa are pressing the mayor to promote Rogers. "It would be a travesty if the No. 1 guy doesn't get the job," Chiappone said. "Gregory Rogers should be appointed. . The public needs to be shown that we're doing things the right way." And LaPelusa said: "I'm not in favor of the 'Rule of Three.' I'd urge the mayor to go with No. 1 on the list." First Ward Councilman Ted Connolly and Second Ward Councilman John Halecky each said they'd trust the mayor's judgment. Council President Vincent Lo Re Jr. didn't return phone messages.

The top four are:

NUMBER 1: Rogers Lives over an hour away from Bayonne

NUMBER 2: Hurley Lifelong Bayonne Resident: earned all promotions

NUMBER 3: Boyle Lifelong Bayonne Resident: promoted up

NUMBER 4: Coughlin

<font color="#0000ff">Editor's Note: 1) this post has been edited from the original in order to remove any litigious content 2) this post does not reflect the opinion of the website owner.</font>

Disharmony on FD and deep PooPoo in the LRA, are we getting our moneys worth? No, we have given patronage jobs to supporters who can’t cut the mustard. Joe Doria’s former Secretary is an assistant director on the LRA. Her last name happens to be the same as the chief of the BFD. From what I can tell both make over 100k, and in my opinion both are helping drive these 2 departments into the dumps. You can say what you want about the Army, but they now something is rotten in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Denmark</st1lace></st1:country-region>.<o></o>

Is it also just coincidence that the best friend of the chief, a former deputy chief in the BFD (and now current local tv show host) has a family member who shares the same last name working at the BLRA? Someone who comes straight out of college, with no field experience.

Connect the dots. A secretary for Doria, her husband, her son, all big money jobs for the city. Now the best friend of Doria and his daughter, get huge promotions which come with all big money jobs. Now Doria leaves and the illusion of a beautiful world goes too, and now they are looking to jump ship. <o></o>

The new Mayor may have good intentions, but the damage is done, and exiting deals are still being made. I believe the new Mayor still takes some direction from the old one, we can’t vote him in this November.<o></o>

Editors Disclaimer: Names have been removed from this post. This post is the opinion of the writer only, and does not express the beliefs of the Bayonne Public Advocate or it's editors. However, in keeping with the mission of the Advocate, we will present all stories that are of concern to the citizens of Bayonne.

As a retired former member of the Bayonne FD I would like to express my opinion about things going on in the Department.

In my opinion the morale of the FD has plummeted due mainly to politically motivated promotions while Joe Doria was Mayor. The funny thing that taxpayers might like to know is that in order to get one political friend up the chain the city had to promote unneeded candidates in front of him. So in essence the city had to pay over 6 men 15% raises in promotions to reach one politico.

Now that Doria has left, the politico in question is due to retire as provisional chief of the Fire Department. The reader should note that Mr. Doria gave him the chief title a day before leaving town. I believe that most likely this politco will leave because he no longer has political protection from the Mayor.

Sadly, the story does not end here. As with so many departments in the city of Bayonne, the same family name seems to pop up entirely too often. In this case, a close relative of the politico in question, who has been (in my opinion) purposely placed in a slow company will be promoted before his elder relative leaves. This means that possibly up to 15 men might be promoted before the summer just so that this one lucky family member can be reached.

Believe me the tax payers deserve better and need to be aware.