Letter to the Editor: No Room for Personal Vendettas, Unprofessional Behavior

As a resident of Egg Harbor, it is my right and responsibility to attend open meetings of the Egg Harbor Joint Fire Commission when I have concerns. Those concerns are about the decisions made by the new Egg Harbor Fire Department chief: promoting his wife and brother to command positions, demoting a qualified and experienced EMS chief and a higher-level lieutenant, multiple resignations, and leave-of-absence requests leading to firings.

I chose to attend two commission meetings for more information. I learned that this is not a recent situation in the department: There have been complaints over several years by former and present department members brought before the Joint Fire Commission, with no actions taken. In fact, the source of those complaints was promoted!

Attending the commission meetings was eye opening. The members provide their time and service. What several commission members provided were attitudes of derision and disdain toward the Egg Harbor residents in attendance:

First, a commission member sent a text to someone filing a grievance that began, “Next meeting, I think your friends’ group should lay low for a while.” What? Is that a commission member’s place to intimidate?

Second, during an Egg Harbor resident’s passionate voicing of her concerns, a commission member snickered and laughed at the resident’s comments. Why do other members of the commission tolerate these behaviors by one of their own?

All we are requesting is a serious accounting for the recent actions of the new fire chief. So many changes have resulted in a shortage of personnel for the excellent service we have always received. Our health, our lives, our families and our homes are at risk.

As a former emergency department/trauma/flight nurse for more than 30 years in a large, inner-city hospital, I appreciate and understand the importance of prehospital care. The dedication, knowledge, expertise and professionalism of firefighters and EMS personnel are a necessity. There is no room for personal vendettas and unprofessional behavior.

Pat Gilday

Egg Harbor, Wisconsin