No confidence vote on interim fire director david saunders

[Jefferson Firefighters]

JEFFERSON FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 3, 2008


NO CONFIDENCE VOTE ON INTERIM FIRE DIRECTOR DAVID SAUNDERS

WHEREAS, Interim Fire Director Saunders is charged with the responsibility for fire protection of the citizens of East Jefferson; and

WHEREAS, Jefferson Fire Fighters Association has been forced to engage in constant disagreements with Interim Director Saunders over safety, staffing, equipment, department management and unreasonably severe disciplinary actions against fire department personnel; and

WHEREAS, These unprecedented departures of cooperation between Fire Department management and the Jefferson Fire Fighters Association have caused the membership to authorize the use of attorneys to attend all personnel hearings and to litigate issues that should be resolved through an open process of discussion, but instead have cost the Jefferson Fire Fighters Association and the taxpayers of East Jefferson thousands of dollars; and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders authorized the attendance on special assignment of (five) non- union personnel to the Louisiana Firemen’s Association Convention after refusing to allow (two) Jefferson Parish Fire Fighters Association’s trustees to utilize their Association Business Leave provisions and causing them to use vacation leave to attend the Louisiana Professional Fire Fighters Association Convention; and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders has stated in a staff meeting his total lack of concern for the well-being of disciplined personnel and the financial impact on their families; and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders is responsible for failed preparations to provide basic needs, such as food, water and ice and sleeping cots for Hurricane Gustav,

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders neglected to address the struggles of fire personnel and further failed to make adequate preparations for future emergency situations, and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders has added to the stress of fire personnel by ignoring the fact that a substantial (reportedly 68% of fire personnel) sought mental health counseling after their mistreatment during Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath; and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders has refused to allow leaders of the Jefferson Parish Fire Fighters Association to attend staff meetings, which is the first opportunity to discuss ill-conceived plans before they are instituted causing time consuming, unnecessary disputes; and

WHEREAS, Interim Director Saunders continues to ignore the PIAL requirements to maintain the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department’s Class 1 Rating and has allowed serious deficiencies to exist, including the daily lack of manpower, shutting down fire equipment and disposing of a PIAL required spare ladder truck; and

WHEREAS, these actions dramatically reduce the safety of our fire personnel and the public we serve; and

WHEREAS, The Jefferson Fire Fighters Association has sought to have Interim Director Saunders removed from his position as Interim Director; and therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the membership of the Jefferson Fire Fighters Association take a vote of “no confidence” against Interim Director Saunders; and be it further

RESOLVED, The International Association of Firefighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs be notified of this action against Interim Director Saunders; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a request by the Jefferson Fire Fighters Association to the International Association of Firefighters formally censure Interim Director Saunders.