Will Fire Chief John Wayne be fired at the upcoming board meeting Tuesday night or will the Fire Commissioners whitewashed it under the table just like most issues with personnel they do.
A formal complaint was filled by Richard Anglickis, President of the Lehigh Acres Jaycee Foundation, Inc. against Chief John Wayne and Chairman Larry Becker.
In Anglickis’ complaint filed with the Fire Department and the commissioners it stated: “As the chief of the department, he acted inappropriately by demeaning, berating, and embarrassing the speakers including myself at the recent “PUBLIC” hearing regarding the fire assessment held on May 26, 2015.”
The complaint also states pointed to the Chairman of the board: “As chairman, you and your attorneys seemingly have forgotten the purpose of holding a “PUBLIC” hearing. Simply defined, the purpose provides an opportunity for the PUBLIC to express their comments and opinions directly to the commissioners. It is not the place for you or your employees to express anything about each speaker’s comments.”
Also to the chairman, Anglickis writes: “Your inability to control a room filled with hooting, jeering, discourteous employees, and your total disregard for the opinions and comments from the public along with their comfort is also inexcusable. Suffice to say that by holding the hearing in an un-air conditioned truck parking garage, during the hottest time of the day, while subjecting the elderly residents to sit on metal folding chairs, after being made to walk as far as four blocks from the building without provisions for handicapped parking, all while trying to hear what was being said over the unruly fireman and using a sound system that was totally inadequate, may have accomplished what you intended. But you should know it sent a very clear different message to those who did attend.”
The Lehigh Acres Gazette has learned from the Lee County Property Appraisers office that Chief John Wayne or his designee interfered with the classification codes to the Jaycees Foundation building which could mean more possible legal issues for the district.
The Lehigh Acres Gazette editorial staff believes that the Fire Chief should be suspended until a formal investigation by an outside third party firm can be done and that Chairman Larry Becker should resign as the Chairman and be replaced immediately.
Meeting on Tuesday 6/30/2015 is at 5 pm at Station 104 on Sunshine Blvd.
Yes!!! This idiot should be fired. As well as the assesment repealed. That public hearing was a joke. Even when a current fireman spoke on his behalf as a citizen of Lehigh and why this assesment was wrong, the fireman was not given the proper courtesy when he was speaking. A respected Doctor spoke against the assesment and was also spoken rudely to by the chief and told he was calling the wrong number for assistance to his patients.
The fire department needs to be reminded that they are employees of this community. The so called public hearing was in reality, an arrogant presentation by the fire department; after all they had the vote in their pocket.
We need a second referendum, the purpose is to invalidate the previous vote.
Perhaps it is time to privatize both the fire department as well as ambulance service. What do you say “Lehigh Acres”.