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Arbitrator rules in Quincy firefighter hearings

by Bob Gough, editor, QuincyNews.org

The arbitrator has ruled that one Quincy firefighter will be reinstated, one will have a higher rank restored and one will remain off the Quincy Fire Department.

University of Illinois College of Law professor Matthew Finkin handed down the ruling today.

Assistant Fire Chief Mark Bigelow was suspended without pay for 30 days and demoted two ranks to lieutenant. He will be reinstated one rank to captain and will receive back pay since the demotion.  

Lt. Bruce Oitker will be fully reinstated.

Lt. Sean Dean lost his arbitration hearing.

The city began an investigation in October 2007 into allegations of violations of policies and misuse of equipment by the three firefighters and three nonunion employees. The three nonunion employees, who were all women, were eventually fired. The city's Fire and Police Commission had filed 16 counts against Dean, 10 counts against Oitker and five counts against Bigelow.

The city hired Chicago attorney James Spizzo and paid his law firm, Vedder Price, more than $138,000 through April of this year.

 

Showing comments 1 to 10 of 12 | Next | Last
aclifeisgood
Posts: 2
Comment
MAYOR'S CAMPAIGN WAR CHEST HITS 60K
Reply #12 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 13:33:01
The recent jump is attributed to a contribution made by an unknown Chicago attorney.

I'll be here all week.
aclifeisgood
Posts: 2
Comment
Spizzo
Reply #11 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 13:13:17
I bet the Spizzo's are having prime rib at Thanksgiving. The hell with turkey. Great job representing the city of Quincy, now don't come back unless the city needs you for Murphy.
Lefty
Posts: 2
Comment
And perhaps
Reply #10 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 09:03:19
this sets the stage for there being NO adverse action to take place on Murphy-gate.
Lefty
Posts: 2
Comment
Ummm.....
Reply #9 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 08:57:48
I've looked at this article and the comments 2 or 3 times now.

I've considered posting something about pro-union, or anti-union, or employees being held accountable for their actions or politicians being held accountable for their actions and well....damn....never mind.

There's just nothing positive to add.
Tspud1
Posts: 1
Comment
Re: Dean | Oitker | Bigelow | firefighters
Reply #8 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 08:09:04
Why should the women "pay up"? They were not part of this legal process. They got fired early on and had no union recourse. The ones that should pay up are the elected officials and their appointments that should be fired in next election.
jsk
Posts: 1
Comment
Re: Dean | Oitker | Bigelow | firefighters
Reply #7 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 08:03:27
So what did these firefighters supposedly do or I guess not do since they have been reinstated? Why didn't the other 4 get there jobs back? I guess those Union dues really came in handy. What a crock. They did not follow rules set forth by the city they should not have jobs or at a minimum they should of at least been suspended without pay and demoted. Does anyone else think these are great role models for our kids to look up to?
db1972
Posts: 1
Comment
my my my
Reply #6 on : Wed November 12, 2008, 07:42:46
It is mind boggling that we spent this money to hear this kind of outcome. Two of them should have been fired and sitting with the 3 non-UNION females. It is sad that Quincy did all this money spending to just fire 4 people - I believe that Sean Dean and the 3 females should pay up. I hear that the city needs some work done - how about some pro bono work folks? hahaha
onoucme2
Posts: 2
Comment
Read the last line.....
Reply #5 on : Tue November 11, 2008, 23:41:17
"The city hired Chicago attorney James Spizzo and paid his law firm, Vedder Price, more than $138,000 through April of this year."

It is now November. Want to bet it will be quite a bit more than $138,000.00? Seven months still unaccounted for. Well, there's another tax increase for next year.
Good work Doug Olson!
Beowulf
Posts: 1
Comment
WOW
Reply #4 on : Tue November 11, 2008, 21:28:25
WOW that was good work by the lawyer, all that money and a few get reinstated.
any private business, these tools would be out on their asses, no questions asked.
onoucme2
Posts: 2
Comment
Now what????
Reply #3 on : Tue November 11, 2008, 20:34:08
Hey Doug O.,
You spend $138,000 of the taxpayers money only to have it thrown back in your lap?? Maybe that $138,000 could have been used to pay for cell phone usage. Another waste of taxpayers money.
Bet your going to add some new regulations for city employee conduct-NOT!
Showing comments 1 to 10 of 12 | Next | Last
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