Is firefighter morale low on the Key?

Is Longboat Key Fire Rescue in turmoil as negotiations for a new three-year contract begin Friday at Longboat Key Town Hall?

Not according to Town Manager Dave Bullock and Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi.

Last week, Bullock met with all three shifts of the Fire Rescue without Dezzi present to assess issues in the department following the resignation of former Deputy Chief Matthew Altman over how he disciplined another of the department’s three deputy chiefs. Altman resigned Dec. 31, after Dezzi criticized the way Altman disciplined fellow Deputy Chief Sandi Drake. The incident occurred over the holidays, when Altman was acting chief while Dezzi was on vacation. Drake shattered a glass picture frame and stormed out of the fire station, threatening to quit.

“I just listened to the firefighters to understand their concerns,” Bullock said. “We had very good discussions.”

Asked if his conversations led him to believe department morale is low, Bullock said: “I’m not going to get into that. We have some things to work on and we’ll work through them.”

More importantly, Bullock said any issues firefighters have with the department aren’t affecting the job they do.

“What I took from my meetings was every firefighter recognizes that above all else, they hold the first-class services they provide to the citizens first, and that’s not being affected,” Bullock said.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Union District Vice President Keith Tanner said firefighter/paramedics requested the meetings with Bullock and asked that Dezzi not be present so they could speak freely.

“Everybody expressed their concerns,” Tanner said. “The meetings lasted two to three hours for each shift, but I don’t want to talk about the issues addressed at this time.”

Tanner said he will meet with Bullock Jan. 29 to review contract issues and discuss the morale issue further.

Bullock said he will continue to meet with Dezzi, which he does with other department heads on a daily basis as needed, to address any concerns with the fire department. Bullock also said he doesn’t question Dezzi’s leadership as a result of the December incident.

“I talk to Paul every day,” Bullock said. “Whatever the issues are, we will figure them out.”

Dezzi told the Longboat Observer that a perceived lack of morale at his two fire stations is being overstated.

“When I first came here, the guys told me morale was as low as it ever was,” Dezzi said. “I worked to change that and change the culture.”

A three-year contract that expires Oct. 30, 2015, though, didn’t help to bolster morale, Dezzi said.

“Having the pension frozen didn’t help matters,” Dezzi said. “Some got a buyout, some didn’t and some were on the cusp. It wasn’t a happy place during that time.”

Firefighters have since been enrolled in the Florida Retirement System pension.

Dezzi said there will always be a few malcontents.

“When there’s a change, a couple guys are the ones stirring the pot,” Dezzi said. “I meet with the guys on a regular basis to address issues. I ask everyone out to lunch, and not everyone accepts.”

Altman and Drake
Dezzi said he’s gone through the incidents leading up to Altman’s departure in his head “over and over.”
Dezzi said there was another issue that led to Altman’s resignation.

“There were a list of issues that our medical director had with procedures Altman oversaw,” Dezzi said. “Altman wasn’t happy about the immediate changes that had to be made when they were brought to my attention.”

Dezzi said those changes didn’t include problems with care but were about administrative procedures involving firefighter/paramedics who review and sign off on patients and reports.

Despite the incidents, both Altman’s and Drake’s personnel files have nothing but satisfactory remarks. According to Altman’s file, he was prepared to retire in 2016 as required through the Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP).

Dezzi said he doesn’t show favoritism toward Drake.

“She knows all aspects of the department, even payroll and IT procedures, and no one works as hard as she does,” Dezzi said. “She will stay late on shifts and work extra hours on projects to do what it takes. If an employee wants to improve the conditions of the Fire Department and residents here and works with me, even while we’re at lunch, then call it favoritism.”

Altman and Drake did not return phone calls seeking comments.

Dezzi said the incident will bring about change. He is scheduling team-building and leadership exercises with all three shifts in Venice.

“I’m working to address any issues and am open and flexible to hear what my employees have to say,” Dezzi said.

Firefighter turnover
2014 — Deputy Chief Altman was the only sworn employee to resign

2013 — Four firefighters resigned; seven entered the Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP) and will have to retire in 2016. (Altman was one of the seven who entered DROP.)

2012 — Three resigned; two retired