Demoted PA Asst. Chief Returns to Post

Aug. 11, 2016
The move in Wilkes-Barre came in a department shakeup.

WILKES-BARRE — One of the assistant fire chiefs demoted in a department shakeup will return to his job after his replacement had second thoughts about the promotion announced last week by Mayor Tony George.

Mike Bilski, president of the International Firefighters Local 104, said Ed Snarski accepted the offer extended him to go back to his assistant chief post.

“I just got confirmation from the city,” Bilski said late Tuesday afternoon. Snarski will fill the spot held since Sunday by Robert Suchoski, one of two firefighters promoted to assistant chief by the mayor.

Bilski said Suchoski decided to return to his post as captain and fire inspector.

Suchoski’s decision does not affect an unfair-labor complaint the union filed over the demotions of assistant chiefs Snarski and Tom Makar.

Bilski said he conferred with a lawyer for the union and was assured the complaint would not have to be amended with the Snarski returning to an assistant chief post. Bilski said he still believes Makar’s demotion violates the union’s collective bargaining agreement.

The specific change in question isn’t referenced in the language of the contract, Bilski said. “This has never been tested,” he said, adding the union has a “good shot” at prevailing based on more than 30 years of successful arbitrations and complaints.

The complaint, filed Monday with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, came as promised after the department’s shakeup, which involved the filling of appointed positions with people who fit a leadership profile presented to a screening committee by the mayor.

Twelve candidates applied for the assistant chief posts and the committee — made up of Fire Chief Jay Delaney, Deputy Chief Alan Klapat and members of the mayor’s administration — selected four finalists: Robert Suchoski, Damian Lendacky, William Murtha and John Ostrum. Murtha and Ostrum retained their positions as assistant chiefs. Lendacky and Suchoski, both captains and 19-year veterans, were promoted to the assistant spot, which pays $73,213 annually.

Snarski and Makar both dropped to the rank of captain, each receiving a pay cut of approximately $14,000. Effective Sunday, they returned to front-line firefighting after years of directing the on-scene operations.

In letters dated Aug. 1 informing Snarski and Makar of their demotions, George said, “I would like to extend a sincere thank you for your past service to the City of Wilkes-Barre. I am looking forward to working together with you to move Wilkes-Bare City forward and make it a City that will make us proud.”

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott

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©2016 The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

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