8/2/2019 Fire Chief Brian Duggan responds to vote of no confidence

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Professionalism through Courage and Dedication

Northampton Fire Department26 Carlon Drive, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060-2373

Telephone: (413) 587-1032 Fax: (413) 587-1034

Assistant Fire Chief: Duane A. NicholsDeputy Chiefs: Jon Davine, David Gagne,

Timothy McQueston, Christopher W. Norris and Stephen Vanasse

Website: Http//: www.Northamptonfire.org

April 27, 2012

For Immediate Release

Chief Duggan Responds to Vote of No Confidence

On April 5, 2012, the Northampton Firefighters Union sent a letter no confidencein Fire Chief Brian Duggan to Mayor Narkewicz and Council President Dwight.Chief Duggan responded to this action with the following comments:

Sadly this action indicates a contentious labor/management path that reflects onthe entire organization.

I have served as a Massachusetts Fire Chief for a quarter of a century and have

been in Northampton for the past fourteen years. During this time, I have astrong record of positive performance and accomplishment working for threemayors and working with our staff to move the Northampton Fire Departmentforward as both an example and regional leader.

During my tenure, I have been a passionate advocate for the department and Ihave a strong history of recognizing our personnel for the exceptional work thatthey do. My praise and recognition is a matter of public record. As theDepartment has grown and taken on new roles to protect our community, I havedelegated responsibility to our staff and provided our people with theopportunities for participation in the selection of apparatus, equipment, turnout

gear and station fittings, we have established several working groups that fostercollaboration.

Although I am not sure what this vote accomplishes, it represents a politicalagenda in a fiscally desolate time and a conflict-based attempt to both erode thetrust that I have built with the community and influence Mayor Narkewicz intosettling a more lucrative contract. As evidence of the tactical nature of theseevents, the Union leadership held this letter from public release as a bargaining

8/2/2019 Fire Chief Brian Duggan responds to vote of no confidence

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VNC Press Release April 30, 20122

chip. The fact that this letter was held from the public indicates that the realissues are economic.

The last several months have been contentious and a vote of no confidence hasbeen transformed into a weapon of intimidation. As a tangible example, as we

approached a recent arbitration hearing the Union President threatened a vote ofno confidence in a Deputy Chief who was to be a witness for the City.

As Northampton has faced difficult fiscal times, I am in an unpopular position thathas required me to say no. Considering that the majority of issues noted have aneconomic basis this is more of a vote of no confidence in the policies of our Cityand our appropriated budgets than in myself.

Recently President Hatch wrote a letter to the editor of the Gazette. This letterwas filled with misperception and factual inaccuracies that were rebutted byFinance Director Susan Wright. Consistent with this trend, many misperceptionsexist within the April 5, 2012 letter of no confidence.

Our firefighters are exceptional people who serve the City well and perform avery difficult job. We have accomplished a lot by working together and my doorremains open to the collaboration that is in the best interest of the City as wecontinue to face economic challenges.

These allegations lack due process. If I did that to a one of our firefighters, Iwould have violated the employees rights. This is an opportunity to utilize thedefined process for addressing issues of this type and I would welcome animpartial outside investigation.

I have proudly served as the Fire Chief in the City of Northampton and willcontinue to do so for at least the duration of my appointment. Working as amember of the Cities management team has been and will continue to be thehighlight of my career.