Curmudgeon's Corner

Maybe Mr. Kempinski and Mr. Langer would prefer to defend themselves through newspaper or television. I am sure that an arrangement could be made.  In fact, it's time for the residents of this village to start demanding answers and hold this Village Government accountable.

I agree.  I would love to hear their reasoning for things having occurred the way they did.  And these are just the things we have been alerted to by the firefighters! How many other things did we entrust to them that have fallen astray?  How far does the corruption spread?  Where are the whistle blowers in the community that give a crap about what happens at village hall?  And when are we going to demand that this corrupt administration be removed from office?  Are we going to wait until some firefighter dies from a heart attack due to his weakened cardiac muscle (from old age or obesity)? Or worse, that someone in the public falls victim to a fire because the chief was mandated to park outside and could not provide proper direction on the fireground?  Why is he parking outside?  So you can supposedly checkup on him? If you want to check up on him, GO INTO THE STATION!!! If you're after this guy so badly, the burden should be on your shoulders, and not risking the LIFE-SAFETY of the firefighters and the people they've sworn to protect!!!

SHAME ON YOU!

SHAME ON YOU!

SHAME ON YOU!

As a member of the Germantown Fire Departement, I can only hope that disciplinary hearings continue to bin in "closed door" sessions, not only for whoever is being accused of something, but also the person filing the grievance. If I am the person being accused of somethings, I would prefer to be able to defend myself or my actions outside of the "court of public opinion". If whatever charges filed against me are found to be flase or unsubstantiated, how would I be able to redeem my reputation if I was already convicted in said Court of public opinion. If it is found that whatever charges filed are held up, shouldn't I have the chance to fix whatever I did, before every community member has the opportunity to read about it on a blog opinion place.

If I am the person filing a grievance or charges against another member of the fire dept, don't I have the right to not be persecuted for said grievance by the public, who may not have all of the facts.

If your response to this is that it is the public's right to know, I have two questions for you. 1. Where are you going to get the information? Is there a source that you have that can be completely unbiased during what will probably be an ongoing investigation in which frustrations and varying opinions may be running hight? 2. Why do you think that the Germantown Fire Dept. should not be in "closed doors" for these types of issues? I'm sure that the public does not know about all or any grievances that occur at the GPD or DPW.

Not everyone is going to get along all the time. That's life. As long as we make sure that we do our jobs to the best of our abilities, we are doing what we were hired to do. This is a job. What happens behind closed doors is there for a reason and odds are should probably stay there... instead of on a blog where things may not always be what they seem, and information is being delivered, sadly, by people who want to share their opinion, but not their name.

Niki Brandt

Niki- I'm not sure where you are going with your post. Please elaborate.

On the Guard- I guess I'm not sure what you don't understand. In Mr. Campbell's blog he wrote "Another closed door session was scheduled for last evening and apparently that related to possible disciplinary action for five members of the Germantown Fire Department.  

I wonder if the Chief was invited to attend this session or the first?  I wonder if any of the five were represented by counsel?  I wonder if any were accompanied by their union representative?  I wonder when we'll learn what this has been about?".

I was simply stating my opinion as to why I do not believe that these meetings should take place under the public eye. I was also stating that I feel that if you are going to post some of the inflammatory statements and opinions that people have been posting, then these people should at least sign their name to it. Otherwise there is no way to verify what they are typing. Since we don't know who is writing these opinions (and that does include you), we have no way to verify where they have gotten their information from. That can very easily lead to false information being written, and no way to correct it. Please let me know if this has helped your understanding of my opinion, or if you would like to know more.

Niki Brandt

I think the point that is being missed about Al Campbell's blog is the fact that I think we need to be concerned about any closed door hearing involving GFD personel.  I agree with Nikki's points about needing to keep an investigation private until all the facts are known, however; given the history this village has had in carrying out vandettas against personal (ie Chief Pollpeter) the communtiy has a right to question the village to make sure these proceedings are fair.  There seems to be some in the village and on the department who seem intent on ruining the lives and careers of thier brothers and sisters and my concern is that these proceedings are a fair investigation rather than a witchhunt.    

Good comment iceboxwarrior.  We need to becme more vocal and make the citizens of Germantown aware of what is happening in the GFD.  This is a witch hunt, has always been a witch hunt and needs to stop!!!  

Why don't were turn the witch hunt AROUND on the people we REALLY need to get out of office? The corrupt politicians who think they can get away with anything they want, and then go after the innocent hard working employees of the village!  The corrupt politicians who put their friends on commitees,knowing full well beforehand and afterwards it's a conflict of interest!  The corrupt politicians who illegally negotiate a contract (that it appears NO ONE in it's union even wants... No rebuttles on THAT, I've noticed), pass it, and implement it without it being signed! I'll say it again... This is just the corruption we've been told about! Who knows how far their crookedness has spead?

Here, here Runaway Bunny!

Regarding the recent

Events we are experiencing in our

Community, we must be ready to

Assemble the facts and present them to a higher

Legislative board.  How long will we

Let these crimes go unpunished?

Very creative, Runaway Bunny!

But now we need to get serious....

How can we allow certain members of the village board to continue what they're getting away with?  The lies, the deceit, the cover-ups, the silence, the conflicts of interest, and whatever else they're guilty of.  And does it stop at the village board?  Wasn't the village administrator sitting in on the illegal contract negotiations that have passed without being signed?  What else is HE guilty of? And what lies are he in on?  Who really are the guilty ones here?  How widespread IS the corruption?  Do the villagers need to demand an investigation?  And who do they go to? The State Board of Ethics?!?!!? I would start there, and find out what they need to do to have justice served!!! How can they claim to be saving the village money after voting themselves an illegal pay raise, and one of their assistants a 22% raise!!!!  TWENTY TWO PERCENT!!! And it wasn't like she was making minimun wage to start!  Where else have you ever heard of a 22% raise?  And then to deny only ONE employee of the village a raise: The Fire Chief.  How DARE you?!?!?

Where do we go to get the answers we deserve as residents and taxpayers?

I am investigating this issue for a story for the Germantown NOW newspaper. I would really appreciate it if you anyone who has participated or will partcipate in this blog would be willing to share information, comments, frustrations or concerns with me for the story.

I can be reached at tfinke@cninow.com or (262) 446-6621.