June 28--Syracuse Fire Chief Paul Linnertz stood in front of over 100 firefighters on Wednesday and rejected their decision to censure him in a union vote a day earlier.
Syracuse.com reports that the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association expressed its disapproval of the chief in a vote Tuesday, accusing Linnertz of making decisions that the union says put the public and firefighters at risk. The association also accused the chief of creating a hostile work environment.
Firefighters from Syracuse, Buffalo and even New York City were on hand at a press conference in front of the South State Street fire station as Linnertz dismissed the censure, which received scoffs from many of the firefighters in attendance, according to Syracuse.com.
Linnertz pointed out that the resolution came from the state association and not from his local firefighters.
"It doesn't impact me," he said. "They're not from Syracuse."
Officials had called the news conference to announce that the city had been awarded the highest insurance rating in its history, but the proceedings quickly devolved into pointed questions about the censure.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner praised the fire chief's leadership, saying that with his help the city has avoided having to lay off firefighters.
"These are challenging times," the mayor said. "Paul Linnertz makes decisions at my behest."
Miner said she wasn't surprised that firefighters are frustrated, but she added that the cash-strapped city can't continue spending money it doesn't have.
While both the mayor and the chief insisted morale remains high at Syracuse's fire stations, the head of the local firefighters' union disagreed. Paul Motondo, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 280, says firefighters are tired of having their opinions ignored.
"Our occupation is a brotherhood. It's a brotherhood. It's a family," he said. "We need the family back together."
Motondo says he hopes the resolution will open up a dialogue between firefighters, the chief and the city.
