Monday, October 1, 2012

Latest news coming out of the Crowsnest Pass

Just found this on Facebook anybody know anything about this please confirm one way or the other.



"I just wanted to get the attention of the Sun (Facebook friends the CNP too) on an issue in the Crowsnest Pass today. A 34 year volunteer firefighter (Fire Chief) was fired for reasons other than just cause. Reasons that are completely seemingly fabricated. After the municipal council made the decision to cancel the Blairmore Fire Department's 19th Annual Thunder In The Valley fireworks display they have been looking for ways to remove the head of the Blairmore Fire Department and anyone who is not willing to be bullied by the current Mayor and his puppets. Tonight municipal officials called a meeting with Station 24 (Blairmore Fire Department) explaining what has happened. All 11 members to were able to make the emergency meeting turned in their pagers, quitting the department at the disgust of which a 34 year volunteer was treated."


53 comments:

Anonymous said...

Unbeliveable! Who's next Rescue?

Anonymous said...

Check this out, history repeats itself.

http://energeticcity.ca/article/news/2012/04/01/charlie-lake-firefighters-turn-their-pagers

Anonymous said...

What's next?

they just did or are in the process of doing a fire station location study.(wonder what that means)
Get rid of the longest serving Fire Chief.
50% of fire fighters resign. Study comes out we only need half the firefighters because we are going to have less fire stations.

Man it's great when a "strategic plan" comes together.

Welcome to the Crowsnest Pass Mr Munshaw.

John

Anonymous said...

So who will put their name forward now to sit on their committees

Anonymous said...

Do you think the Herald will post the count down to the next election clock again?

I also hope that people do not cast all the blame for this on administration. Remember they are only council's puppets.

M

Anonymous said...

Bully, bully, the mayor has been a bully his whole term. The question still is why does the rest of council fear him so much.
It also appears that the Swimming pool board members got termination notices also.

Anonymous said...

7:19

I wonder if the papers will go after this council like they did the last. (Who are not looking so bad right now)

Anonymous said...

Fire Chief To Do List

Move to Pass
Monday start work pick up shiny new red truck
Tuesday add $12,000 worth of glitter to truck.
Show up to council for photo op.
Move in to Blairmore Fire Chief's office.
Week 2
Ruffle some feathers at station 24
Get rid of 34 year volunteer Fire Chief.
Pick up pagers
Get stinky from shit going through fan.

Week 3
????????

Marty

Anonymous said...

Not the new fire cheifs fault, not administrations fault.The only group that can take the blame is the Mayor and council.

Anonymous said...

Let's not get to focussed on the New Fire Chief, or even administration. The decision makers are the one's that should have the fingers pointed at them.
Is this the Strategic Plan, God help us all.

Anonymous said...

Firstly, do not think for one minute that administration did not have a hand in this decision. They have been known to bring their personal beefs to Council hoping they will be acted upon.

Secondly, the other 3 Fire Departments will be looked upon in a very bad light if they do not support the Blairmore department. Their Chief could be next. They know what they have to do!!!

Anonymous said...

On Facebook site.
Press Release
Effective October 1st, Station Chief Margetak has been relieved of his active duty. This action has prompted conclusion of additional fire service members from the Blairmore Station. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to advise the public that a contingency plan is in place and a protocol has been established to ensure the ultimate safety of the public while the transition takes place. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to thank Chief Margetak for the years of dedication and service and wishes to thank also those fire fighters that remain on active duty.

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

Copied from the Municipal Facebook site.
Obviously the work relieved has a very clear meaning.

"Effective October 1st, Station Chief Margetak has been relieved of his active duty. This action has prompted conclusion of additional fire service members from the Blairmore Station. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to advise the public that a contingency plan is in place and a protocol has been established to ensure the ultimate safety of the public while the transition takes place. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to thank Chief Margetak for the years of dedication and service and wishes to thank also those fire fighters that remain on active duty."

Anonymous said...

Once all the volunteers quit we can hire/train 8 new govt employees ... should be able to do that for under a million a year.
On the bright side, council will then 'own' Thunder in the Valley. They can bring it back AND have full control. Think of how much money we'll save with council running it!

Anonymous said...

Branded! Municipal Identity and the Selling of Cities

"Talk of “creating a brand” suggests a blank slate, a point of ground zero where we begin the process of establishing who we are. But cities are living organisms, with a legacy of past behaviors and no shortage of current, on-the-ground realities, which means–like it or not–they already have a brand.
...
That is, you can’t escape from who you are and how people see you. You can change it through meaningful action, but you can’t gloss it over.
...
If your leadership fails to engender trust, you can’t sell strength.
...
No matter how pretty your logo or clever your tag, you are wasting your time.

In marketing, this is what’s known as getting the product right."


The media are in town to cover this. We are building on the brand we already have.

Anonymous said...

Well I guess the price is being paid for "not doing it their way" TITV.
We need to do seven more terminations.

Anonymous said...

What is going to be left of this community of ours? They are out of control.

Anonymous said...

how well will their contingency plan work if the rest of the departments do the right thing and turn in their pagers also.rescue do not know how to fight fires and it is a long response time from P.C

Anonymous said...

This was on CJOC radio


Chief Jamie Margetak was let go at the Blairmore Fire Station this week, sparking 9 volunteer firefighters to resign.

The Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass is down a few volunteer firefighters after the Chief at the Blairmore station was relieved of his duties this week. A number of volunteer members resigned after Jamie Margetak was let go. Crowsnest Pass CAO, Myron Thompson says this is an internal human resources matter and he won't be commenting on why Margetak was relieved. He does say however, around 9 volunteer firefighters at the Blairmore station have resigned. Thompson stresses there are roughly still 90 volunteer firefighters in the Pass, so there is sufficient coverage if an emergency takes place. He says they have a contingency plan in place during this transition and also have a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Pincher Creek which will lend assistance if it's needed. - Pat Siedlecki

Anonymous said...

Pincher FD? Now that is resource sharing! Maybe make a quick stop at Walmart for me on the way here?

Anonymous said...

I am hearing that council will over turn this decision tonight.
What do you think Dean.

Anonymous said...

Few things, this WAS Myron Thompson's decision, not council, although council was surely aware. Myron is nothing but a bully, in many cases pointing council in the direction he wants them to go and feeding them bad information. By no means am I discounting council's ignorance, but it is both administration and council together.

Dean, weren't you on council and part of hiring Myron?

Also, do you have any numbers for the fire department budget this year? Last I heard, last years budget was under $200,000 and this year's is already over $900,000. Do you know any numbers Dean?

Anonymous said...

I guess we should all chip in for a congratulations bouquet of flowers for the editor of a local newspaper who single-handedly with biased reporting, managed to achieve revenge by convincing people to remove the old council, who for the most part were much much better, and have this new inept and irresponsible group, mayor included, elected.

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

On the hiring of administration, Council only has the authority to hire the CAO.
They should not be involved in any way below that level.
Myron was hired by Gord Lundy previous CAO about one month prior to the last election. No member of council was involved in the hiring of him or any other administrator outside of the CAO position.
I would suspect if you spoke to any of the present members of council they would tell you the same thing.
And yes some people worked very hard to get rid of the last council which is their right.
But as Mayor Irwin used to say "be careful what you wish for, you may just get it"

One last comment keep in mind that if Council is truly unhappy with the CAO and not pleased with his direction. (Not just public posturing)
They do have the option to remove him. Even the issue of severance would not be that great because of the short time he has been here.

OuttaThePass said...



Seriously??? Pincher Creek is going to assist/respond if needed? Don't know how to tell you all you better keep your garden hose ready because your house will burn the the ground if you are waiting for someone from 30 miles away to save you.
If The Pass does not like what they have for Council get in here and change it..... quickly! Sure this isn't some third world terrorist Taliban government?

Jack said...

It was good to drive by the CLC this morning and see that it had been removed overnight. Another commitment broken by our Mayor. I believe the snow was flying last night???????

Anonymous said...

The only thing that bothers me is the statement, seemingly for unjust causes. But we don't know that do we. People need to remember two sides to everything. Firings happen all the time, and usually people think unjustified. But I for one do not feel qualified to make a statement or opinion at all.

Anonymous said...

If you set your mind on something - a cause can always be found. And yes, you can spin this in any direction.

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:45 I agree that there are two sides to every story.So when the municapality comes out and tells us the other side of the story then we can make up our minds which side we wish to believe.But until that happens the majority are going to believe that the following happened.Council cancelled Thunder, Fireman do not show up for parade, council gets even madder and says we will show you and finds an excuse to terminate a 34 year volunteer,fellow fireman react by quiting.The public stand behind the fireman.Council once again gets the reporters from out of town into the Pass but for negative reasons again.The municapality pulls a press release off of their facebook page containing the contingency plan. Very strong talk of a petition getting started to have council removed.So until the municapality comes out with the other side of the story, who are we to believe?

Anonymous said...

So I bet council was all over administration last night?

Anonymous said...

Ok folks, it's obvious to anyone that's been watching for the last year, that there's been a pissing match going on with the Fire Department on one side and Council and Administration on the other. I doubt any of those posting on this site, including me, have a clue what the details are concerning this battle -- we may never know. Therefore, I think it is premature for everyone to conclude that the fault lies entirely with Council and the Administration. We all owe a great deal to our volunteer fire fighters. They provide such an important service for the benefit of the entire community. However, what a lot of people seem to be missing is that it is Municipal Council that has the responsibility to ensure there is a properly functioning fire service, and that means they have the responsibility to make the important decisions regarding how the department is administered and organized. Sure, there has to be consultation with the volunteers, but utlimately the buck stops with Council. As much as I admire the dedication of our volunteer fire fighters, I think some of them are being very childish right now. It all makes me wish the community was large enough to support a full-time Fire Department. Full-time employees would not be able to hold the community hostage.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree, 08:54:00 AM 2012
But also remember that the "volunteers" do get paid for each call. I think it is very horrible that they hold people kind of like hostages. They have no right. Somebody mentioned something like a "cult" and I tend to kind of agree. Maybe there was stuff going on that shouldn't have been. Who knows. Maybe the council will decide to say why he was canned, and it may not be good. This ridiculous move could kick them in the butt.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:54, Then why doesnt council come out and in a very clear document tell us all exactly what the plan is? Why terminate a 34 year volunteer? Council and administration are either lieing or are bullies until they PROVE differantly.This is not the way to get change done.

Anonymous said...

change, why are some people so afraid of change?

Anonymous said...

I think you will find that most people do not believe this council is doing a very good job.
We all know the election is only a year away, the results will speak for themselves.

Anonymous said...

8:54: It is obvious to anyone who has been watching, from the beginning of this administration - this council has neither the skill nor the temperament to manage any volunteer organization - never mind the fire department.

Anonymous said...

They did not think the previous council was doing a good job either. They may never think the council is doing a good job. That is why we have elections and you can vote for yet another person who "might" meet your standards. I don't think continual berating does much good.

Anonymous said...

In conclusion, it was evident to all with eyes to see and ears to hear that this mayor and council felt themselves under no obligation to inform the residents they serve with details as to where we stand regarding public safety, and what in fact is our contingency plan? In fact, their actions suggest they brought in the new Fire Chief that they did, BECAUSE of his past experience in cleaning house in his former community, and what we are presently going through was premeditated? Part of a plan for which we are being kept in the dark that includes quite possibly and unnecessarily endangering the pubic in order to achieve their diabolical ends.

... extract from John Prince blog.

Anonymous said...

Also, if you are wondering why the community is siding with the fireman and not council.We have known these people forever, we have watched them volunteer and give back to this community, we have a relationship with these people.We all know someone who was or is a fireman.We look at things like Thunder or the Bellevue firemans park or the firemans tea and the list goes on and on.Or we can look at council and ask ourselves, do we know you?, we do not.Can we trust you, has not been proven.What good have you done for the community as a whole?, nothing I can think of.
Council and administration have to come out and clear the air, because the people are surely on the side of the fireman.Maybe council is right but without the proof they have lost all faith of this community.

Anonymous said...

The only thing that is for sure in life, is..... nothing stays the same forever. You need to adapt to whatever happens. Cannot live in the past, must be the present.

Anonymous said...

Change is fine, change can be good.
Change can also be a disaster.
I'm feeling this place is taking the second choice.
Does anybody ever stand up to this council and administration?

Anonymous said...

Dean, correct me if I am wrong but is it not protocol to deal with personal matters “in camera” for a good reason. It would be very unprofessional (if not unlawful) for administration to make these matters public. I am guessing he knows the details of why he was rereleased. It looks to me like he is trying to gather support knowing the administration is restrained by ethics from disclosing cause.
James

Anonymous said...

James,when a respected and a popular volunteer is being mistreated, he gets community support without asking for it. While change can be good, not all change is always for the better. Sometimes people underestimate those who came before them and overestimate their own abilities.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:24 wrote:
"It would be very unprofessional (if not unlawful) for administration to make these matters public."

They also should not discuss personnel matters at a meeting with other firemen present.

What did they tell the firemen (the few who could attend on short notice) that they can't tell the public?

Anonymous said...

This is a direct quote from a story on the Calgary Herald website on October 3,2012 – please go to their website for the entire story.
Calgary Herald:
"There is a lot of rumour and misinformation being spread about, and the fact is the population is absolutely safe,” Decoux said.

Thompson said the municipality is now hiring more volunteer firefighters but is also working with firefighters who want to come back.

smassinon@calgaryherald.com


Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Volunteer+firefighters+walk+after+Blairmore+fire+chief+dismissed/7339320/story.html#ixzz28Hp7kQ3k"

Anonymous said...

Coleman walked out tonight

Anonymous said...

They are BEYOND ridiculous. Plus, I cannot believe there are so many fire stations for such a small place anyways. If I were council I would tell them to get lost. Remove a letter if discipline, how dare them think they have that much power!

Ralph said...

SOLIDARITY FOREVER- Go Firemen Go- We the people are behind you all the way. Lets get rid of Ayatollah Decoux and his disciples.

Anonymous said...

It is incredible that at the last Tuesday’s Council meeting not a word was said about the Fire Department situation. It's beyond ridiculous to see the individual councillors just sitting there and believing they have so little power to affect things. Given the distances and geography of our community, the individual fire departments have served us very well over the years. The members of these fire halls volunteer and contribute to our community in many different ways, more than can be said briefly. A restructuring and consolidation that results in huge cost increases to all the taxpayers makes absolutely no sense. It will take a very serious effort to unwind this madness.

Jose said...

Anon 04:28
Perhaps your are correct re the number of fire stations, but don't you also think that 5 or so top level Directors/Managers and their 20 assistants to handle 50 Outside employees in a town of 5,500 souls is going overboard?

Just where did this structure come from - Consultants and a top dog that had no worry about where the budget came form for the School District?

Jose

Anonymous said...

Ah yes,it's good to see the Pass hasn't changed. The good ol boys club still exists, and change is bad. Jesus that's why your population continues to shrink,businesses leave, or refuse to move there, and the Pass delusions continue. You teach your children the same narrow minded thinking your parents taught you, and life stays the same. You elect idiots for council and other high ranks, and then bitch about them! I am sorry that your "firehouse club houses might shut down, but life goes on...maybe you can meet at the Green Hill or Grand instead. The best thing for the Pass is "Burn Baby Burn" and start over with normal people!!!!

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