| Councilman Chris Doherty is a lone
voice calling for Fire Chief Harvey Applegate's firing or resignation. There appears no
consensus on the Scranton City Council to seek Mr. Applegates removal, despite the recent
revelation that under his leadership a high number of hydrants in the city are dead.
Mayor Jim Connors also gives no indication he plans to take action against his chief.
Instead, he praises him for 30 years of service.
(Chief Applegate) has risked his life time and again to go into burning buildings to
save children and the elderly, the mayor said.
Chris Doherty is in public service for 30 seconds and hes trying to ruin a mans career.
Council President John Pocius said the council has no power to take any action against
the chief, even though he believes Chief Applegate should receive a written reprimand.
He bears the responsibility, Mr. Pocius said.
Mr. Pocius said what really bothers him is the failure of anyone to stand up and admit
that mistakes had been made. Instead, he said, Chief Applegate appears to be passing blame
on others, including Deputy Chief Terry Osborne and former hydrant inspector Ed Joyce.
In the past, the council has approved motions seeking action against administration
personnel but nothing comes of it, Mr. Pocius said.
This time, according to Councilman Brian Reap, blame must be shared by Chief Applegate
and the mayor.
The mayor, Mr. Reap said, bears some responsibility as the chief executive of the city.
Everyone involved in the lack of services has to be held accountable, he said. Wheres
the leadership? This didnt happen overnight.
The bottom line, though, is that pointing fingers will not solve the problem, he said.
Councilman Alex Hazzouri would stop short of calling for Chief Applegates immediate
resignation, even though he believes the chief was responsible for the debacle.
He would like to give Chief Applegate the opportunity to explain to council how he
could allow it to happen.
The mayor said the fire department got behind on hydrants after the Pennsylvania
Economy League called for the elimination of the hydrant inspector in the citys economic
recovery plan. The assumption was that the water company would take over hydrant
operations.
But that did not happen, and in the meantime the city was left without a hydrant
inspector for about two years, setting the stage for the high number of dead hydrants
today, Mr. Connors said.
We were just making due, he said. You cant lay that blame on Harvey Applegate. |
