City departments to combine
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/28/2011 04:08:41 PM PDT
UPLAND – The city’s government will soon be shrinking.
To address $3.1 million in cuts to the 2011-12 fiscal year budget, City Manager Stephen Dunn has developed a plan to combine city departments and lay off up to 15 people.
“Right now, the news for the day is I’m realigning some departments and the organization’s structure to make us a little more effective and efficient,” Dunn said.
All city departments will be realigned. For example, Dunn will combine the City Clerk’s Office with the Human Resources and Finance departments.
As part of the realignment, Dunn is looking to lay off 15 executive and mid-level managers, which includes some department heads. The cuts could save up to $2.5 million.
“There have been some department heads that I don’t have a role for going into the future and they were told that (Monday). As far as me releasing those details, I prefer to wait another week or so,” he said.
Dunn said the details of the plan should be finalized by the first Saturday in August, when he expects to hold a budget workshop with the City Council.
Dunn said he is focusing on trimming management.
“I’m going to realign the departments, realign my managers and then based on the outcome of that, then we’ll look further into the organization and see if there’s additional cuts,” Dunn said.
By consolidating city departments, Dunn can address concerns over the cost of executive management compensation packages as well as ensure the city runs more efficiently with fewer employees on the payroll.
“I’m focusing on management because I want them to do their job in managing their people and making their people accountable and productive so we get the most bang for our buck,” Dunn said.
The City Council approved the budget on June 13 with $3.1 million in cuts that still needed to be identified.
They approved dipping into the city’s reserve budget to address an additional $1.5 million in one-time expenditures.
Several factors have led to the cuts, including low sales and property tax revenues as well as increased pension and personnel costs.
To read entire story, click here.
Dunn could save a quick 30k by canceling the firework show. It loses money every year. That would be prudent and beneficial.
Here is a novel idea. Get rid of the corruption and the liars! And the incompetence! Fire Chief = $254,000 Division Chief (2) = $215,000 (and the Fire Chief is trying to fill the second Division Chief position)
Battalion Chief (3)(Midlevel management) = $203,000
$7 million fire station. $1.5 million tiller truck that is used dangerously and inappropriately. Only one building in the entire city that is four stories in height. Has anyone heard of Mutual Aid? Helicopter program for a city of only 4 fire stations? How much has the total number of air ship responses gone up in Upland in-order to try to justify this program? I’m sure all the air ship responses within the city of Upland were prudent and benefited the patients. Ya, right and I’ve got some swamp land in Florida to sell you also.
How ridiculous are these numbers? And this is just the Fire Department. And here is what was sent to the City Leaders just yesterday because of their failure to protect the public.
Mayor Ray Musser
Councilman Brendan Brandt
Councilman Ken Willis
Councilman Gino Filippi
City Manager Stephen Dunn
Fire Chief Michael Antonucci
This letter is to officially inform the above identified individuals of the dangerous, unsafe and incompetent misuse of the Upland Tiller Truck currently located at Fire station 164, property of the City of Upland, directly under the control of the above mentioned persons.
The purpose of this letter is to place all responsibility and liability directly on the shoulders of the above mentioned individuals for their failure to provide basic firefighting services for all citizens within the City of Upland and directly placing at risk the lives and property of those citizens of the City of Upland.
– The Upland Tiller Truck is incapable of sustaining a prolonged initial interior fire attack of a structure type fire.
– The Upland Tiller Truck possesses no firefighting pump and only maintains a minimal air pressurized firefighting system of 500 gallons of water and 60 gallons of foam.
– The firefighting system currently employed on the Upland Tiller Truck is proven to be exceptionally inadequate for structure firefighting purposes and was specifically designed for vehicle firefighting functions.
– The Upland Tiller Truck is the only piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164, which fully encompasses the entire northeast portion of the City of Upland.
– The Upland City Council, City Manager and Fire Chief have intentionally, calculatedly and deliberately chosen to place the community, residents and citizens of the City of Upland at extreme unsubstantiated risk by purposely ignoring the inadequacies, ineffectiveness and lack of capability by utilizing the Upland Tiller Truck as the only (stand alone) piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164.
– The next closest piece of firefighting equipment, that adequately meets interior structure firefighting capabilities, is over a ten minute response time away from the original time of dispatch of a structure fire type incident within the fire station 164 district area of responsibility.
- The Upland Tiller Truck, being utilized in this specific manner, fails to meet minimal National Fire Protection Association standards and/or guidelines.
All of the above identified individuals, as official City of Upland representatives, have hereby been notified of the dangerous, unsafe and lack of capability misuse of the Upland Tiller Truck as the only initial and first responding piece of firefighting equipment from fire station 164, for the entire area of responsibility of fire station 164, within the City of Upland.
If this substandard, inadequate and dangerous practice is allowed to continue, and a structure fire incident occurs (which will inevitably take place) within the response district of fire station 164, let it be known that all above listed individuals have been notified and will be held personally liable and accountable for all lives lost, injuries and all property monetary damages that transpires from forth with.
This is not a threat, this is a promise. When (not if) a structure fire occurs within fire station 164’s response district and the Tiller Truck is first on-scene, the City of Upland and each named individual from above will be identified, designated and named within a multi-million dollar law suit due to the fact that you are fully aware of the lack of capabilities and inadequacies of utilizing the Tiller Truck in this manner.
Signed,
Concerned Government Workers for Change
I was not thrilled with Dunn’s appointment to city manager, but at least this is a start. The remaining executives’ salaries need to be reviewed and adjusted substantially downwards. Upland has something like 45 execs getting over $150k and about 15 getting over $200k. Where in the private sector do mid-level managers pull in $200k? Not in the real world……it’s more like $60-$100k. Comparing their salaries to other out-of-control cities as a justification is not the answer either.
The insane “lifetime medical” coverage for anyone that worked for the city for 2 years has to go immediately. Pension costs are skyrocketing and need to be renegotiated as well.
The fire department has tons of isssues and needs a big cleanup, the sooner the better.
David – Thank you for spelling my name correctly.
Ginoffvine@aol.com
you guys need to wake up. The city is paying City Atty Bill Curly and his firm $3 MILLION PER YEAR…$3 MILLION! This is where they need to start.
wake up = BBK
Gino – are you planning on doing anything, or just burying your head in the sand like the rest?
Hey wake up – it’s not only Curley. Just look at that Fire Marshal that was wrongly fired by the Fire Chief. How much has that cost the city so far? How much is it going to cost in the end if Dunn doesn’t step in and do what needs to be done? Pay a little bit now, or pay alot later?
I know this guy and he has the city by the balls because of lies, deceit and fabrications. Why do you think it is so hush, hush? I hope Dunn saves the city alot of embarrassment and money by doing the right thing!
@Pigs, lets see if Dunn can correct past atrocities, starting with that fire marshal that should not have been fired. That would be a good start!
Gino, you never answered the question.
David – I cannot address your issues unless I have all the facts. I have offered to meet with you (at least 3 times) and you have not responded. If you would like to discuss, please advise.
Gino L. Filippi
Ginoffvine@aol.com
David – It is not my policy to address anonymous complaints.
Ginoffvine@aol.com
Sounds like Mr. Lutz is a big CHICKEN! It is very easy to make accusations and then hide behind the veil of the internet. Mr. Filippi’s offer seems pretty simple and straight forward. Ever heard the phrase “Put up or shut up”? Ball seems to be in your court, Lutz
Anonymous- have you looked at the name you use on this blog recently? Let me remind you…it’s “ANONYMOUS”! Who’s really “hiding behind the veil of the internet”?
G-I-N-O, it might not be your policy to address anonymous complaints but it is your duty to do what is best for the city and its people. Firing capable, effective, and successful department heads is not in the best interest of the city. Maybe you should look at what those you have fired have done for the city before you came into the picture a few months ago. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the this anti-local government fervor, isn’t it? Judging by the positions you have taken and statements you have spoken, if the daily bulletin published an article stating puppies were evil, you’d be the first to make sure all puppies were eradicated from upland. You are looking for how to address $3.1 million in cuts and you are paying your city atty $3 million per year…yet you fire dept heads. hmmm, sounds like we need some more transparency into the decision making of our elected officials. Well Mr. Transparency, could you get on that for us?
There,ya happy now?
Gino, here are all the facts. Quit listening to the lies of a select few! When something happens (and it will), you have been presented with the facts and have failed to do anything.
Also, Annonymous – I have used my name, where is your reality not annonimity. I have not made accusations, just presented the facts.
Mayor Ray Musser
Councilman Brendan Brandt
Councilman Ken Willis
Councilman Gino Filippi
City Manager Stephen Dunn
Fire Chief Michael Antonucci
This letter is to officially inform the above identified individuals of the dangerous, unsafe and incompetent misuse of the Upland Tiller Truck currently located at Fire station 164, property of the City of Upland, directly under the control of the above mentioned persons.
The purpose of this letter is to place all responsibility and liability directly on the shoulders of the above mentioned individuals for their failure to provide basic firefighting services for all citizens within the City of Upland and directly placing at risk the lives and property of those citizens of the City of Upland.
FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS
– The Upland Tiller Truck is incapable of sustaining a prolonged initial interior fire attack of a structure type fire.
– The Upland Tiller Truck possesses no firefighting pump and only maintains a minimal air pressurized firefighting system of 500 gallons of water and 60 gallons of foam.
– The firefighting system currently employed on the Upland Tiller Truck is proven to be exceptionally inadequate for structure firefighting purposes and was specifically designed for vehicle firefighting functions.
– The Upland Tiller Truck is the only piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164, which fully encompasses the entire northeast portion of the City of Upland.
– The Upland City Council, City Manager and Fire Chief have intentionally, calculatedly and deliberately chosen to place the community, residents and citizens of the City of Upland at extreme unsubstantiated risk by purposely ignoring the inadequacies, ineffectiveness and lack of capability by utilizing the Upland Tiller Truck as the only (stand alone) piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164.
– The next closest piece of firefighting equipment, that adequately meets interior structure firefighting capabilities, is over a ten minute response time away from the original time of dispatch of a structure fire type incident within the fire station 164 district area of responsibility.
- The Upland Tiller Truck, being utilized in this specific manner, fails to meet minimal National Fire Protection Association standards and/or guidelines.
All of the above identified individuals, as official City of Upland representatives, have hereby been notified of the dangerous, unsafe and lack of capability misuse of the Upland Tiller Truck as the only initial and first responding piece of firefighting equipment from fire station 164, for the entire area of responsibility of fire station 164, within the City of Upland.
If this substandard, inadequate and dangerous practice is allowed to continue, and a structure fire incident occurs (which will inevitably take place) within the response district of fire station 164, let it be known that all above listed individuals have been notified and will be held personally liable and accountable for all lives lost, injuries and all property monetary damages that transpires from forth with.
This is not a threat, this is a promise. When (not if) a structure fire occurs within fire station 164’s response district and the Tiller Truck is first on-scene, the City of Upland and each named individual from above will be identified, designated and named within a multi-million dollar law suit due to the fact that you are fully aware of the lack of capabilities and inadequacies of utilizing the Tiller Truck in this manner.
Signed,
Concerned Government Workers for Change
Gino, almost forgot. Looks like you have become part of the problem with local government instead of trying to fix it.
“David – It is not my policy to address anonymous complaints.”
Here is the problem with you guys (politicians), you care more about who made the complaint instead of the complaint itself! It does not matter where the complaint comes from, but it does matter if the complaint is valid! Lets hope you change your policy and try to fix what needs fixing!
I know my fellow city employees read this blog. I, and so many others, are so pissed off after the meeting in council chambers last week. I have to say something in-order for the a**holes to know their support from the public and now fellow city employees have expired. I have to say something so they know their lies, half-truths and twisting of the truth is now known by all and not believed by anyone. I’ll name names and dare any of you to tell me it’s not the truth.
Where does Fire get off thinking they are a bunch of victims? New fire station that was ridiculously expensive with extravagant amenities (I’ve been in it, it is nicer than even most homes), $1.5 million ladder truck, $2 million renovation of the old fire station for fire departments use, fire museum, West End Command Post, Pick-up type fire truck, Chronic Cantina, illegal personnel management promotions and terminations. Now we know why the city is in the shape it is in! But don’t forget, they live at work. Wish I worked 2 days and then get 4 days off. Ya right, you’re the victims.
Then those bull sh** answers that they had when they were asked about the ladder truck and the helicopter program. It is unbelievable how arrogant and egotistical Antonucci and his lackeys are. I am just addressing Antonucci and his lackeys, they know who they are and everyone else in the city knows who you are. I have great friends and respect the vast majority of our fire department.
Do they think everyone is stupid except for them? Developers paid for the truck. Come on. I am so sick and tired of the lies, half-truths and twisting of the truth. Lewis paid a development fee of $1 million, which was used specifically for that uneeded and imprecise ladder truck. If Antonucci didn’t swindle that $1 million from Dunn and the ex-mayor, the development fees would have went into the general fund, as they should have, and would have helped to offset the crap we are in now. So the developer did not specifically purchase the ladder truck (as Fire would like us to believe), Antonucci misappropriated those development funds for Fires use, and they decided to purchase that big useless, bloated, 10 personnel position (costwise) piece of nothing. The money that ladder truck cost could have paid for 10 personnel positions for 1 year. And then what about the other $500,000 to equip that monster. Outrageous! And according to most people it can’t even put out a house fire until another fire engine gets there.
And then that answer for the helicopter program. “It makes the city money”. Isn’t there a law that says a city program can only ask for reimbursement of its costs, but is not allowed to “make money”? It sounds like another bull sh** investigation the city is going to have to endure when the FBI finds that out. Or they are again telling us only the partial truth. A little city like Upland with a helicopter, if it “makes money” why isn’t every other fire department doing it? Does Rancho or Ontario have a helicopter? They are twice to three times the size of Upland. I’m sure we have had the wool pulled over our eyes on this topic.
I am so disgusted with Antonucci and his little followers. Wish I could make over $140,000 a year in pay and benefits as the world’s greatest fire inspector and investigator and the highest paid general employee in the city of Upland. Especially when I failed the fire inspector certification test and came from Von’s with no experience what so ever. Wish I was a mid-management Battalion Chief that could make over $200,000 a year. And yet Code Enforcement is now going under city hall instead of the police department. I guess being married to the interim chief of police makes you qualified for the code enforcement legal issues.
I like what was in the Dailey Bulletin the other day. “I think there is a lot of bad management.” You think? And now fire is whining and crying, but yet they are the ones that have spent the majority of the money in the past three years!
Also one last item. Gino, I read what you said. I agree with David Lutz, that is what the problem is, nobody wants to recognize any problems or complaints unless they know where they came from, so they can lie, tell half the truth or twist the truth to their benefit. Just because people want to remain anonymous does not mean the complaints are not real and valid.
Mr.Lutz, here is the issue: you are the one who is making accusations, not me. Mr. Filippi has apparently asked you three times to meet with him to discuss your accusations yet you continue to hide like a chicken. If you really have facts, have the courage to meet with our council members and discuss your “facts”. Otherwise, go on with your life and stop being a blog troll. It just seems very odd to me that you and the other half dozen or so on this site continue to yammer the same old crap about our fire department but none of you will step up in person,as requested,and have meaningful dialouge with city leaders about it. That tells me that there is more to this than you are presenting (ie:presonal vendetta). Don’t mean to be disrespectful,but I’m calling your BS- whoever you really are,you have some sort of vindictive issue with the FD-deal with it properly or shut up and get on with your life.
oh, and “City Worker”, if that is who you really are, thank you for posting on your own time for once, instead of ours. You seem to have a lot of hostility toward the FD, can you actually back up any of this or is it just sour grapes? There is a proper procedure within a city structure to file a complaint, use it or find another hobby…
@Smitty, you obviously don’t know how the city of Upland works. If you say something, that makes you the bad guy in managements eyes and they do everything to make you miserable. I do have sour grapes towards a very small amount of people in our fire department (4), but everything I mentioned is the absolute truth (no lies or half-truths). The rest of us are trying to do everything we can to help the city and preserve our jobs, but these four prima donnas in the fire department believe they don’t have to change and are untouchable and they throw into our faces everyday. They lie and tell only the partial truth about everything. Me and my friends are tired of it!
@Smitty again, please read my above post again. Let me know where there are any lies or half-truths. There are not.
WINO – If you would like to discuss the issues face to face and learn more about my beliefs and positions, I will make myself available to meet you per your schedule.
Gino L. Filippi
Ginoffvine@aol.com
Hey Smitty – Shut up! Everytime someone tells the truth about something, you dismiss it as a personal vendetta. I’m sorry you are so thick headed or can’t comprehend your reading. Why don’t you address the facts that have been presented? Can’t? Because it is the truth and all you can do is accuse people of having personal vendettas or vindictive issues. You know what Smitty, City Worker and David Lutz have put up and I hope they don’t shut up until things are changed! Smitty, here is a quote you like “put up or shut up”! City Worker and David Lutz have provided the truth and the facts to support that truth. And you call people names. Why don’t you address the facts from previous posts. I think we all know why! The truth hurts?
David Lutz even posted his facts twice, but yet you call him a chicken. Where are the accusations from this group? They have presented some very serious safety concerns and you dismiss them as person vendettas. Who is the real chicken, Smitty?
Smitty, for your benefit, these look like facts to me. Here they are again. Ya, right, sounds like a personal vendetta and vindictive issues to me (sarcasm) Really, does it sound like a personal vendetta or people concerned for their safety and their families safety? Address the below facts or as I said earlier, you can’t because the truth hurts you!
FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS FACTS
– The Upland Tiller Truck is incapable of sustaining a prolonged initial interior fire attack of a structure type fire.
– The Upland Tiller Truck possesses no firefighting pump and only maintains a minimal air pressurized firefighting system of 500 gallons of water and 60 gallons of foam.
– The firefighting system currently employed on the Upland Tiller Truck is proven to be exceptionally inadequate for structure firefighting purposes and was specifically designed for vehicle firefighting functions.
– The Upland Tiller Truck is the only piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164, which fully encompasses the entire northeast portion of the City of Upland.
– The Upland City Council, City Manager and Fire Chief have intentionally, calculatedly and deliberately chosen to place the community, residents and citizens of the City of Upland at extreme unsubstantiated risk by purposely ignoring the inadequacies, ineffectiveness and lack of capability by utilizing the Upland Tiller Truck as the only (stand alone) piece of firefighting equipment responding from fire station 164 for the entire response district of fire station 164.
– The next closest piece of firefighting equipment, that adequately meets interior structure firefighting capabilities, is over a ten minute response time away from the original time of dispatch of a structure fire type incident within the fire station 164 district area of responsibility.
- The Upland Tiller Truck, being utilized in this specific manner, fails to meet minimal National Fire Protection Association standards and/or guidelines.
I just can’t leave it alone this morning. Smitty, here is another person with a “personal vendetta”. This was in the Dailey Bulletin, Opinions Section:
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:37 AM
The half-truth
Regarding the article depicting Upland Fire Department’s ladder truck, I see some striking similarities with the City Council. We only get the half-truth and are told what we want to hear.
Yes, the ladder truck is a poor choice for a first-response vehicle. We are told the truck contains 60 gallons of water. A typical engine contains at least 500 to 750 gallons of water, and is equipped with two “attack” hoses that are specific to firefighting. The ladder truck falls short of this.
The misconception that CalOSHA prohibits firefighters from making entry until additional resources arrives is only half of the truth. Policy is waived if there is a life in peril. In other words, if the ladder truck shows up, and a mother screams that her child is trapped inside the house, do you think Upland would tell her to wait until the next engine arrives? If that is the case, then we need to be looking elsewhere for fire protection.
Most, if not all, agencies are able to make a rescue to save life without backup resources on scene.
Unfortunately, we go back to the original issue. If the ladder truck isn’t properly equipped to suppress fire while a rescue is made, then it not only endangers firefighters, it delays the saving of human life.
Additionally, the city code makes reference to mutual aid with agencies to allow the closest resources to be dispatched. For Station 164, the closest resource for them would be Fire Station 12 located at Euclid and 24th Street. Since this is a county resource, Upland chooses not to use them even if your house is on fire and in view of that station.
up who are making their concerns known. The ladder truck does not fit the profile for our city’s needs, and when someone is hurt because of this, the lawsuit(s) will fall in line with the rest of those pending against the city.
JOHN WOOSTERMANE
Upland
Quincey gets furniture, but nothing else
David Allen, Staff Writer
Created: 07/02/2011
IN UPLAND City Hall, the Great Office Furniture Standoff has ended with no shots fired. Newly promoted City Manager Stephen Dunn couldn’t take possession of his office because it was full of furniture belonging to his predecessor, Robb Quincey.
Quincey, who was placed on leave in January, was fired May 4. He had paid for the furniture himself, so it was his by rights.
In a May 6 email requesting his severance – more on that in a few moments – Quincey asked that “all furniture…all art, plants and related office decor and other belongings be assembled and delivered to my home.”
Dunn and the City Council weren’t inclined to make taxpayers foot the bill. Quincey rather naturally preferred to keep his distance from City Hall.
“We had asked him to pick up his stuff. He had asked us to move his stuff,” Dunn told me.
It was a stalemate. And when you’re worried a guy may sue for wrongful termination, you don’t want to also face a claim that you scratched his credenza.
Meanwhile, administrative assistant Colleen Sendldorfer continued as the sole employee in the city manager’s glassed-in area, her desk facing a locked office and her new boss, Dunn, working out of the Finance Department.
Between Jan. 4 and June 6, the period he was acting city manager, Dunn stepped into Quincey’s office only once, to take an inventory of the furniture.
Dunn, also the finance director, didn’t mind continuing to use his Finance Department office, especially when the council planned to embark on a search process to find a new city manager.
But after Dunn was named city manager on June 6, he forced the issue.
The resolution came the week of June 13. “Robb’s furniture was packed up by a moving company and taken to Robb’s residence in coordination with Robb. At his expense,” Dunn said.
City Hall hired the movers and Quincey will pay the bill. This may be less satisfying than stacking the furniture by the curb outside City Hall with a sign marked “Free,” but there’s no point in making matters worse.
You’ll recall that Quincey was fired after six years as Upland’s top executive after the council learned he had apparently paid up to $50,000 to settle a legal claim to cover up a domestic incident in which he was involved.
(The lesson that the coverup is always more damaging than the crime refuses to sink in among the elite set.)
It will be a long, hot summer in Upland, where 11 candidates will square off in an Aug. 30 election to fill a vacant council seat.
It may be a long, hot fall as well, what with a bribery trial for John Pomierski, the former mayor, scheduled for October, and another trial on whether Upland has to pay a portion of San Bernardino County’s $102 million settlement with the men behind the Colonies development.
“If we’re liable for a portion of $102 million, we’ll be in trouble,” Dunn told me. “We checked with our risk management pool some time ago. It’s a land use issue, and we’re not insured for land use issues.”
Then there’s the $3.4 million deficit, which Dunn began closing last week by axing three department heads: the directors of planning, human resources and public works.
Dunn has embarked on what seems to be an ambitious effort to remake City Hall. More heads are expected to roll.
“I feel I need to shake things up,” Dunn told me. “I think the citizens and the City Council are expecting change. They don’t want business as usual.”
He’s conducting his business-not-as-usual from his usual spot in the Finance Department. Even though Quincey’s old office is cleared out, it’s being prepped for its new occupant.
It’s been painted, by a city crew and by donated labor to save money, and the carpet will be replaced. Dunn will pick out office furniture, which the city will pay for and own.
The budget for all that, and a reconfiguration of the outer office space, is $10,000. Moving in might not happen until August, but Dunn said he’s in no rush.
Now, back to Quincey’s severance request. I got Quincey’s May 6 email through a Public Records Act request to City Clerk Stephanie Mendenhall.
“I request all final compensation due and payable to me, including salary, benefits and all contract obligations approved by the Mayor and City Attorney on behalf of the City Council, and that this be processed as timely as possible,” Quincey wrote.
In addition to the return of his possessions, Quincey, 51, also asked that Human Resources process his retirement paperwork, “as I intend to retire,” and asked for his “retiree medical benefits,” which would cover him the rest of his life.
(Mercifully, that was it. I’d been worried Robb Quincey would demand that the council buy him a third “B” for his first name.)
Seriously, though. His requests may sound benign, but they add up. Depending on how they’re interpreted, he might have been asking for millions.
Quincey was paid $368,529 per year. According to his contract, if he had been fired without cause, Quincey would have been due 15 months of pay and benefits.
Yet his contract was for seven years in perpetuity.
If he expected Upland to buy out his contract in full, that’s almost $2.6 million in pay – not counting the 3.5 percent pay boost he would be due July 1 from his “me too” clause in the police contract.
Plus there may be roughly $100,000 in compensatory time due him, on top of the $140,000 he cashed out in February. And Upland had earlier promised to boost his retirement time to 14 years of service, which would have an unspecified cost.
Mayor Ray Musser told me Friday he didn’t know what the damage might have been, but said: “It was not a reasonable amount. But even $460,000 wasn’t reasonable,” a reference to Quincey’s salary plus the cost of his benefits.
The City Council, needless to say, isn’t giving Quincey what he wanted.
The council fired him “with cause,” saying he had breached the terms of his employment contract, which in the city’s view negates any need to fulfill the contract’s terms regarding his departure.
My request for Upland’s written response to Quincey’s email was denied. Mendenhall cited Government Code sections relating to deliberative process and attorney-client privilege.
Quincey’s attorney didn’t respond to my request for comment or a copy of the letter.
Thus, what the city told Quincey he would get isn’t public. But my sense is that he got a legalistic version of “go jump in a lake.”
Dunn told me he expects Quincey to sue or pursue arbitration, noting that “people can interpret the same information multiple ways,” referring to the contract and under what terms it must be fulfilled.
“We took a narrow look at the contract. A very narrow look,” Dunn said. “I’m sure he’s not happy.”
But what was Quincey told?
Dunn chose his words carefully.
“If you think of what the citizens of Upland would want him to get,” Dunn said, “that’s what he got told he would get.”
Sounds to me like he got his furniture – and a goose egg.
Smitty, Need I say anymore?
g i n o – I know enough about your “beliefs and positions”…actions speak louder than words. Furthermore, I think I may have an idea as to why you don’t want to get involved with city atty curly…could it be because him and his firm helped you out with a personal legal matter (winery)? hmmmmm
Also, let me remind you of what you said a little earlier, “It is not my policy to address anonymous complaints.” But it is your policy to force many city employees to respond to anonymous complaints everyday, costing the city thousands of dollars to both respond to and research. Sounds a little hypocritical to me…the truth always comes out
W i n o L. Filippiflopper
transparentwino@hypocritesareus.gov
Wow Mr. Fed Up, sorry I got your panties all wadded up in a bunch. The point that I am trying to make is that you folks are leveling some serious accusations against the FD and Fire Chief and have been given a golden opportunity to meet with a Council Member to discuss these accusations (3 times, I believe he said), yet no one is willing to talk with him, which is highly suspicious to me. Why won’t you meet with him? Why are you hiding? Better yet, request to include the Fire Chief. Have any of you discussed these accusations with him yet? Maybe he could shed some answers that would make you feel differently. If he doesn’t, you have proved your point and can all dance around together like proud little roosters.
Didn’t mean to stir up your little blog site(well, maybe I did…)but I do hope I caused you all to think a little. It is easy to throw out accusations and bitch about people under the veil of a blog site. Meet with Mr.Fillipi, request to include the Fire Chief, have your “Facts” ready, be prepared to provide your sources, and just maybe you will get some results, or will have a better understanding of how the fire department operates.
Oh, and just because I am a good guy and wish to cheer you all up, this will be my last post, I do not wish to get caught up in this blog troll drivel as I have much better things to do with my time. Just wanted to make you think, hopefully I did.
Believe it or not, I hope you all have a happy and safe 4th, remember that the freedoms that we posess include my freedom to express an opinion that differs from yours…
Smitty, you bring up a very good point, but there are serious negative reasons why we can not, and several other individuals can not, reveal our true identities. You ask why we won’t meet with Mr. Filippi? The vast majority of our group is current and past city employees to include current Upland employees. It is called retaliation. We can not bring these issues to our city leaders, face to face, because of past actions by several executive management personnel. It has already happened (retaliation) and that is why we are pursuing all of the lies, half-truths, negligent twisting of the facts/truth of the fire chief and his inner circle.
We want the public to know what kind of deceitful, corrupt and incompetent people that the fire chief and his select few really are. We have presented the facts of a very dangerous and life threatening situation that is allowed to continue by our city leaders. No one has disputed the facts that we have presented, because they are the truth without any “spin” being placed on them. But yet no one has taken any action to correct this unacceptable, dangerous and undue public risk situation.
Here is another untruth and falsehood given by the fire chief himself. The Grove Theatre. Did you know (numerous sources confirm) that there were at least three fire inspections of the Grove Theatre in the past four years, by three different fire inspectors. All three fire inspectors identified the same fire safety issues that have now been identified. The previous three fire inspections were not pursued for corrections at the direction of the fire chief and the division chief. The point is, that the fire chief and the division chief were fully aware of the Grove Theatres fire safety deficiensies over four years ago. Now himself, his best friend (Battalion Chief that made over $200,000) and his little minion (fire inspector that failed his fire inspector certification) are trying to act like they are the saviors of the Grove and the city. And we, as a group, believe this is unacceptable behavior from a public organization.
Just ask the fire chief why so many firefighters were so concerned about the rooftop fireworks during the annual lemon festival? He was informed annually by his staff of the Grove Theatres flaws and risks.
We believe the residents of Upland deserve an open and transparent governemnt with fair accountability of it’s employees. Not the current, “you say something bad against me and I’ll get rid of you”. The city government has lost it’s integrity with the public. And several individuals continue to displace that integrity for the city with nothing being done about it.
WINO – I have made attempts to discuss the issues with you and you have rejected the offer. That is your choice. The offer still stands. However, you stand corrected, it is not my policy or belief to force city employees to do anything. You call me “Flopper”, which I do not understand. I stand behind my votes.
I am one member of a 5 member Board as you probably can understand. In addition, Mr. Curley, Mr. Markman and their firm have no relationship with me. Their firm is under contract with the City as you also are aware.
Gino L. Filippi
Ginoffvine@aol.com
The City needs to hire an inde expert to provide report on ladder truck. Keep it or sell it. Period.
When it comes to public employees none are as worthless because they feel so entitled as are firemen. Get rid of them all and either go voulnteer or paid call.
Seriously, the conspiracy fans are running wilder than ever!
@Deborah DiCrasto – How’s those answers working out for you now?
40.Deborah DiCrasto on June 2nd, 2011 10:19 am
The truck was moved up to station 2 approximately 4 months ago in an effort to resolve the warranty issues. Station 1 did not have the necessary room to accomodate this, thus the reason for the temporary relocation of same. The city is hoping the truck will be in service by July 1 of this year. At the time the truck is placed in service, it will permanently reside at station 1 to service the southern quandrants identified as low to moderate income households, pursuant to CDBG regulations.
The picture of the truck portrayed in Upland Today was taken at station 1. For inventory purposes, the finance dept. has tagged the truck P162, as that is where it is at PRESENT. The truck will reflect the appropriate identification once it is transplanted to its permanent home..station 1.
The truck was purchased with ARRA funds and appears to be in full compliance with CDBG/HUD regulations. I hope this clarifies all concerns referencing CDBG non compliance issues.
1. Item #1 – Type IV fire engine – Upland Today
a. Upland Today (Spring 2011)
New Fire Equipment Adds to Readiness
The Upland Fire Department has purchased a new Type
IV firefighting vehicle, perfectly suited to serving Upland’s
historic neighborhoods, as well as the narrower streets that
are often present in historic areas.
Fire equipment has grown in size over time as equipment
has advanced and become more complex. While
these innovations are well suited to most suburban environments,
many modern engines are a tight squeeze for
Upland’s smaller streets. The Fire Department’s identification
of the need for a Type IV vehicle came just as the City’s
Redevelopment Department was notified that the City
was to receive additional Community Development Block
Grant funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009. The new Type IV is a welcome addition
to Upland’s existing fleet of firefighting vehicles and makes
up an essential component of Upland’s overall firefighting
arsenal.
In accordance with the above article that was published in the Upland Today, Spring 2011, the new Type IV Fire Engine was purchased for the “historic neighborhoods, as well as the narrower streets that are often present in historical areas” This new Type IV fire engine is currently stationed and assigned to fire station #162 at 2046 N. San Antonia Avenue as “Patrol 162”. No Upland historical areas are located within this response district.
Eligible Activities (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
Over a 1, 2, or 3-year period, as selected by the grantee, not less than 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. In addition, each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.
Also the Type IV fire engine was purchased with “Community Development Block Grant funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.” No areas within fire station 162’s response district are designated as CDBG qualified areas and does not meet the above “Eligible Activities of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development”, thus violating Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
Fact: Upland Today notified the public that the Type IV engine was “perfectly suited to serving Upland’s historic neighborhoods, as well as the narrower streets that are often present in historical areas.”
Fact: The Type IV engine is assigned and stationed at fire station #162, 2046 N. San Antonio Avenue as “Patrol 162″.
Fact: Fire station 162 response district is all newer development with NO recognized historical areas.
Fact: Intentional Misinformation
Fact: Community Development Block Grant funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was used to purchase the Type IV engine.
Fact: The Type IV engine is assigned and stationed at fire station #162, 2046 N. San Antonio Avenue as “Patrol 162″.
Fact: NO declared CDBG areas are located within fire station 162’s response district.
Fact: NO areas within fire station 162’s response district are considered low-and moderate income as required in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Eligible Activities.
Fact: Violation of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
Fact: Misuse of funds
New Fact: Someone informed Deborah the reason the Type IV engine is at station 162 is because of “warranty issues”.
New Fact: Upland fire department has had this piece of fire equipment over a year now.
New Fact: According to Deborah, the Type IV engine has not even been put in-service yet
QUESTIONS:
(1) What was the justification used in-order to purchase the Type IV fire engine using CDBG funds?
a. Is a written justification for the CDBG funds on file?
b. Was the written justification for the historic areas of Upland? As stated in the Upland Today article?
(2) Why is the Type IV fire engine assigned and stationed at fire station 162?
a. Why is the Type IV fire engine not stationed at station 161 for the historic areas as noted in the Upland Today article?
(3) How is this piece of fire equipment being utilized as stated in the Upland Today article of the written justification of the CDBG funds?
a. Are there written policies and procedures designating response procedures for the Type IV fire engine?
b. Is this Type IV fire engine manned or a reserved piece of equipment?
i. If it is a reserve piece of equipment, how can it meet the partial response criteria as stated in the Upland Today article?
i. If this piece of fire equipment is “perfectly suited to serving Upland’s historic neighborhoods” due to “many modern engines are a tight squeeze for Upland’s smaller streets. The Fire Department’s identification of the need for a Type IV vehicle “, why is it not a part of the primary response for identified historical neighborhood areas?
(4) Why was this misinformation of the Type IV fire engine published?
a. Why is misinformation by the fire chief still being tolerated?
(5) Did the city (fire chief) violate any statutes or laws by not employing the Type IV fire engine as stated for justification of CDBG funds?
a. Yes, Violation of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
(6) Is this type of misuse of CDBG funds criminal?
a. Very probable, AG’s office investigates.
(7) Can city leaders correct this misuse of funds and misinformation by the fire chief?
a. Yes, initiate internal investigation and hold responsible parties accountable, or AG’s office can conduct investigation.
@ FedUp – Exactly correct on #7.
It sounds like there are alot of legal experts on theis site that extole their combined knowedge on items that would have any real attorny chomping at the bit to sue the crap out of Upland if there were a real case to be made.
File a claim against the city and the Upland Fire Department for negligence and for hostile work environment for not letting you so called anonymous whistle blowers stand up and do what is right.
If you really think any of this crap is valid you should file a suit. If not its just a fart in a windstorm.
Sorry the spell check and brain dont work right. Im not the attorney. I which I knew one. This all sounds to good to be true.
Sorry all. I should not Drink and Blog.
A little advise for Upland Fire. The union needs to support Dunn and what he wants to do. Don’t play yourself out of a job. Why stick up for someone that has ran your department straight into the ground?
You have made one bad move thinking you know best. Bad move, you need to help get rid of the problem instead of making deals with the problem.
Antonucci is leaving with his lifetime health coverage.
A little advise for Upland Fire. The union needs to support Dunn and what he wants to do. Don’t play yourself out of a job. Why stick up for someone that has ran your department straight into the ground?
You have made one bad move thinking you know best. Bad move, you need to help get rid of the problem instead of making deals with the problem.