I received the packet from the Golden's Bridge Fire Dept. on Wednesday. Lt. Alex Roth is bringing me up on charges to be removed from being Captain. I will fax you the documents.
I stood up at the monthly department Tuesday evening and hung the "YOU'RE NEXT BITCH" hanger on the front desk as I spoke. I said "This was put on my gear on May 7th. This was the culmination of six months of abuse I had been put through in the department." I then took them through the history of verbal abuse, insubordination, gear tampering, the trap I set on my radio and how I had calculated how long my radio was left on through testing on drill nights. I told them I would not name names but the document I had in my hand has the names of the people involved. I explained that I was working with you and the district. I explained that now I was informed at Noon that day that I was being brought up on charges by Alex Roth via a phone call from John Winter. I said "I didn't ask for any of this". At one point I also stated that this was 'pathetic'. I was extremely calm during the entire time I spoke which was roughly 5 minutes.
I handed secretary Weigert the letter I had written to bring insubordination charges up on Lt. Roth. Eric Stand stood up when I was done and his message was essentially "how could we let this happen?". No one spoke in reply.
Later in the meeting Al Melillo stood up and try to push for action on Lt. Roth's document to bring me up on charges. President Winter stated that he would act on it next month. Al stated since I had 'opened the door' on the discussion that we should act. He asked why the department had not been given a copy of your letter to George Roberts. I explained that a copy was given to Walter Hughes. I then offered to have President Winter read it in front of the department. He declined.
At one point we had an exchange to which I said "My lawyer has advised me to not come back while you are in charge". And then the room exploded "Why the fuck are you here?" - James McManus. Others saying similar. I said "not you in particular but when Walter Hughes is not here".
Domenic Melillo stood up and stated that I should "handle this like a man not a coward" and took us through some vandalism that must have occurred to him in the past prior to me joining GBFD. He stated his car was vandalized, his boots tampered with and other things. He then stated that I 'started this' and the department is now an embarrassment in the community. I was looking directly at him the entire time and suddenly he begins to yell at me "Don't look at me, don't fucking look at me" repeatedly. Unfortunately it was quite clear that the department has gone completely hostile towards me.
Al Melillo stood up and asked President Winter if he had authority to suspend members since he is ranking officer. President Winter said yes.
After the meeting ends, Al walks over to me and tells me to come to the office with him. I ask first for Ned Canora to come with me as a witness, but am told by Al no. I ask if he is going to suspend me. He directs me to come with him.
We go into the chief's office. Al is clearly nervous as am I. I state that my legs are shaking to him. He tells me to sit down. He asks what is it going to take to get me to come back. We talk for 15 minutes or so. I state that he has influence over Lt. Roth, His Brother Commissioner Robert Melillo, His father Domenic Melillo. He tries to state he does not. I tell him he knows he does. He says he can "squash" Lt. Roth's request to remove me as Captain. I state 'of course I would want that'. I tell him "you know who is doing this to me". He does not disagree, he just does not say anything.
He then offers to me that he will not run for Chief again if that is what it will take to get me back. He is emotional at this point. We had both stated earlier in the conversation that we are both on the verge of tears over this idiocy. He states he wants to remain a firefighter and a driver but will not run for Chief if that will bring me back. I told him that the wounds I have are very deep and I have to think about it. It was a very cordial discussion but both of us were completely run down from the entire experience. As I stood up to shake his hand as I walked out he said "I guess I will see you in court". I had told him that I was understanding that he was being sincere with me and I appreciated it.
Upon reflection this all occurred 10 minutes after he was pushing to have my charges against me read out in front of the department. So I don't know what to believe to be honest.
I stopped outside to briefly chat with Lou Velasquez, John Winter Jr. and Robert Hunt on the back steps. Right inside the door, you could see Alex Roth and James McManus peeking through the windows cracking jokes to the members still inside about me. Assumedly to continue to win favor by making a mockery of me.
John Winter then approached me in the parking lot and stated he had taken the copy of my letter containing the charges against Lt. Roth. He asked me to remove the reference to Chief Hughes' daughters from the letter. I stated that this statement demonstrates the lack of respect that Lt. Roth shows for others beside myself. He agreed. He stated I must submit the letter in triplicate to Secretary Weigert to be read off at the next monthly meeting.
I spoke to Walter Hughes this morning to ask for his preference on the inclusion of the statement that President Winter asked me to remover. Walter said he would review the letter and let me know.
I would like to submit to you now what I feel should be our proposition on how to remedy the issues at GBFD:
We should request:
- Robert Melillo to resign as Commissioner and Engineer of GBFD for his actions, bias and disregard for members of the department and to sign a document that he cannot pursue a Chief's position or Executive postion in GBFD.
- Joseph Simoncini to resign as Commissioner for the financial gain on the T-Shirt proceeds through the forced purchase that used GBFD Department money allocated for a wetdown celebration which had to be canceled due to this transaction and to sign a document that he cannot pursue a Chief's position or Executive postion in GBFD
- Albert Melillo to sign a document that he cannot pursue a Chief's position or Executive position in GBFD. He may remain as 1st Asst. Chief until the end of term.
- Alex Roth to be suspended from GBFD for a minimum of 1 year from date of suspension for consistent, documented insubordination.
- Repeal of the charges brought against me by Lt. Roth to be read at the December GBFD meeting
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