In 2005 when City Manager Don Williams appointed Mike Chard as Loveland’s fire chief, Williams made an interesting comment. He was quoted in a City of Loveland press release saying, “Mike is appreciated and well respected for his emphasis on operations, his efforts to build efficiency without exceeding resources and his creative, most-bang-for-the-buck approach” To many, the statement appeared to say more about his ability to follow orders than to provide a high quality of public safety. Nine days ago Chard resigned his position after being placed on administrative leave beginning August 1, 2008. While the reasons behind his resignation have not been released, the interim fire chief said something equally telling. Merlin Green, who is filling the position temporarily, was quoted in the Loveland Connection saying, “We were all shocked at the announcement, but our focus is to maintain a positive image.”
For those focused on public safety instead of public image, this blog is for you to comment. Our story on this topic points to an incident some years back when Chard requested changing the city’s emergency response policy to reflect a “goal” of arriving in five minutes instead of the previous “requirement.”
Any comments?
Why does this not surprise me? The issues brought up – a fire chief standing up for his professional responsibility to protect the community – is fired by Don Williams. Kudos to the Loveland Connection for looking into this. Much different picture than the Reporter-Herald repeated – I mean reported. No doubt, some of Mr. William’s developer friends saw the need for adequate fire protection as an obstacle or cost to some of their plans. It is also well-known that Mr. Williams is uncomfortable with having educated, ethical professionals around him.
This reminds me, in a different way, of the firing of Mike Hart, the former finance director, shortly after the Reporter-Herald reported on the “purchasing card” scandal. Mr. Hart was on leave for months and no reason was finally given for his departure, but rumor has it he was given an undisclosed severance package larger than Fire Chief Chard’s. The Reporter-Herald at the time wrote about the purchasing card scandal, but agreed with the city government not to report on certain items being purchased by city employees as this would make the city look bad. My guess is it goes much deeper than this – why else the need to buy Mr. Hart’s silence with the taxpayer’s money? The city reporter for the Herald shortly thereafter took a job in PR with McWhinney enterprises, as this website has previously reported.
I have watched city government for sometime and it seems there is something rotten in Loveland … what is surprising is that the City council and us taxpayers have let it go on this long,
The Reporter-Herald covers up for the McWhinneys and this blog covers up for The Reporter-Herald.
Life goes on.
Get a life buddy. This website is hardly a cheerleader for the Reporter Herald.
Besides, they could be going out of business in the future like so many other small daily papers. Some advertisers I know are swithing over to Loveland Connection. Not for any political reasons but because the ads are nearly the same price and the Connection gives you not only Loveland circulation but they run your ad in the Ft. Collins Coloradoan for the same price.
It is a tough business and I hope the Reporter-Herald survives because I think we need a daily paper in town. Unfortunately, they seem to think very little of their readers and glorify the city council. People are tired of the lazy one source reporting they do on controversial stories.
Stan
I do think that Don Williams runs the city like a fiefdom. Buzz at City Hall (where neighbor works) is that you’re either a “team player” (you do what Don wants) or you’re dead meat. It’s hard to be a professional Fire Chief if you have to serve WIlliams’ personal agenda at the same time.
If there’s any other reason why the CM would pay $50k in hush money, I sure can’t conceive of one.
And “Ed” must not be reading very well… this blog is the only counterpoint to the Repeater-Error spin. I appreciate it, for you tell the facts and story behind the headlines; facts we might never get otherwise. I’d like to think the “Error”s reporters try to report the actual news, but instead what comes across seems like barely rehashed press releases from the usual suspects out at Centerra, the Chamber, etc.
And why is the local paper not joining Loveland Connection in pursuing public emails?
I am outraged that Mr. Williams has $50,000 to pay hush money to employees he may have mistreated.
Who the hell does the counsel think they work for? He tells them what to do, even to pay him employee benefits if he quits and gives hush money to the fire chief?
This Mayor and his cronies are a joke! Williams is laughing all the way to the bank and giving our money to a fire chief who quit? What next?
Finally the Herald decided to chase the hush money agreement. Thanks for bringing this story to light. I was afraid Don would create enough mystery to make people think it was Mike who did something wrong.
I would never sign such agreement but instead speak-out to the community about how their safety is being jeopardized by an irresponsible city manager.
Well that is it.\
Johnny