If there are issues where county policy, state law, and collective bargaining agreements are not being followed in any county division, including EMS, I will always look into that. That's number 1.
And people know that.
The latest issue, EMS. (and by way of context, I offer this: when management badly mistreated and violated the rights of a former employee, a paramedic, I stood strong with him, the case was handled, and those who did wrong are gone. Funny how many of the same folks who have excoriated me for standing with a first responder, a Paramedic in that case are the same ones who are attacking me now for not immediately lapping up every accusation and claim they make currently?)
Over the last 48 hours here has been a lot of discussion surrounding the Union letter sent to commissioners this week stating "no confidence" in the EMS Chief and his deputy.
The media has picked up the story, and comments are flying on social media.
Fortunately I have a direct line to admin staff so I can ask direct questions.
One question I cannot get an answer to is this: How many employees does the Union's 99% support claim represent?
I know our EMS division is staffed for 64 EMT's and 64 Paramedics. I know we have a full compliment of EMT's and are short about 8 Paramedics.
Knowing this, did 120+ current employees really vote "no confidence" in our staff? (that is a rhetorical--my understanding is the number was 17 that voted "no confidence") But I'm waiting for the definitive answer.
So how does 17 = 99% of a department of 128? Answer--it doesn't. That is misleading at best--a lie at worst.
I know we have given a number of salary increases over the last three years to keep our department competitive with other area Ambulance services. I know we offered bonuses as well.
We've purchased new ambulances and spent significant sums modernizing our in-ambulance medical devices and equipment with a long-term contract for replacement of necessary tools and technology for emergency responses.
Are there issues in this department though? Yes. Will there always be issues in this division? Yes. But are the administrative leaders working to fix these issues and make this service better? Yes is the answer to that, as well.
Has the department held calls? Yes. Has that been a persisten problem? Yes. Are we working to resolve this? Yes. Have we dropped the ball on some calls--yes. I looked into two in particular and in those instances, we could have done better and lessons were learned from both. (long wait at a D1 restaurant for an ambulance, long wait for a fall and a hit to the head that was a stroke)
I asked about turnover--and yes there has been significant turnover in the last two years. But overall staffing and positions filled has dramatically improved (much fewer vacant positions that 2021).
Will strong management leaders that hold employees accountable generate angry letters, comments, and criticism from public sector labor unions and disgruntled former employees? Yes.
And finally--are there are protocols in place for the crews working in the field? Yes--of course there are.
The protocols are in the process of bing updated constantly though, and each one that is updated is done so after appropriate training and in-service of the staff. I'm told point blank that the idea that there are no protocols is a flat out lie.
So let's solve the issues we can with facts, logic and a plan--not attacks on leadership staff and allegations that are misleading and misguided.
Always know this, though: I won't stand by and be silent when staff are attacked OR when paramedics are blatantly mistreated and policies are not followed by management.
I'll look at both. Always have and always will.
19 comments:
Always deflecting. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see the EMS has been a disaster for years.
Commissioner Bergosh, I agree that they're still up to the same old tactics. I just posted the following to Rick's Blog, though, and however many voted for the no confidence is really so far beyond the point. It's just a Lord of the Flies scenario in there and an absolutely wretched place to work, across the board. Trust me, I know how frustrating it is to have put so much into getting the problems corrected with Edler Et Al. The problem is three-fold, and quite simple: (1) Current administration and "leadership" is horrible; (2) the people who set up the fake certification complaints were never punished and some are still there; and (3) even worse, there is intersection of those two problems. What does anybody expect when you've got part of the Edler hit squad in supervisory positions? Why on earth would it be any different?
Comments from Rick's:
Hopefully Mr. Moreno will get ahold of that mess once for all. Torsell, Stephens, and ALL of the remaining people who predated their arrival and contributed to the railroading of the innocent paramedics–and that includes Reid Jackson–need to go. I don’t know how Eric Gilmore ever thought that situation could just be smoothed over without weeding out the bad apples who contributed to that mess.
Cracks me up to see Burt now bitching about being on the wrong end of that medicine. He certainly didn’t mind it when innocent people were being framed on certifications while the people who actually had the expired certs received no disciplinary action whatsoever. Did those felonies that 1 person arrested pled to happen with nobody on the receiving end?
Of course they didn’t. Now the rats are fighting the rats. There is no good side/bad side left in that incredibly toxic workforce. There are two sides of thugs–administration vs union leadership–fighting for primacy with the good people still stuck working there just keeping their heads down. And it has been that way since Janice ushered Torsell in the door and he brought Stephens in behind him. Nothing changes til they’re out, along with the human pieces of garbage involved in framing their fellow medics.
ECW afmin wrote this
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So are we phoning (or mailing?) it in this go round?
Is that what big development money allows?
Does he not want to go door-to-door and get a report card for his performance over the last two terms? (and his 10 years at the school board as well!)
Just do him a favor and be a campaign worker for him and mail in your signatures so he doesn't have to bother. 🙄 Puh-lease.
With that big campaign more chest, he has enough to pay the 5K fee without getting signatures!
I guess you can use the stamp to send back your thoughts on his performance?
The verbiage in the letter is very funny also! 🤣🤣🤣
He's been "managing growth intelligently" in Beulah and the rest of district one?
Anybody with eyesight can tell you that's not true.
Managing stormwater well? (When he's not insulting Flood Defenders there to address their leadership!) Ha!
Bergosh has improved public safety?⁉️⁉️⁉️🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Is that why ambulances are so often unavailable?
Is that why he threw the Selover paramedic case to make sure that guy, being disciplined by the Department of Health, got his fines and fees paid and a county settlement on top of that?
Is that why he insisted that Kenney, who entered pre-trial diversion after arrest, got a settlement also proposed by him?
Is that why he's embroiled in a harassment case for a whistleblower former medical director trying to fix public safety but he's attacking, most likely because she's a woman administrator?
Is that why it's taking him so long to get a fire station back in Paradise Beach?
That was an issue four years ago during his campaign!
He was the commissioner that was going after the firefighters because they endorsed a different candidate last election cycle!
And when any firefighter spoke out about the danger and critical staffing, he went after them personally and after their jobs!
That line truly is ridiculous! 🤥
He has done more to set back public safety than any commissioner in recent memory! ⁉️⁉️⁉️
"Listen to citizens and responds" you mean, insults! within 24 hours? !!!
Enough is enough! If you live in District 1, you HAVE to tell people about his real accomplishments.
Even if you live outside the district, you have to share so people that aren't paying attention and are busy with their everyday lives will understand.
His antics and legal fees and vindictive retaliation affects the entire county.
I don't care if anyone stands up to run against him!
Tell people not to vote FOR him, or Barry, or May! (Nor Bender, in my opinion!)
They will send out all manner of slick, glossy mailers that will be completely untruthful! Word of mouth is the only way we can comebat the lies.
I must say this person is not very kind
Remember when Mel Pino got her paramedic license and went on to work for 20+ years on the box and then became the Chief of Escambia Co EMS? Crazy...neither does anyone else. So many experts with zero background in emergency services. Opinions...(fill in the blank).
All the social media bashing and accusations are subjective. No receipts, just the manic ramblings of ex-employees that couldn't pass the state paramedic exam, can no longer frolic in vacant rooms on the clock, can't skirt the law, break the rules and are required to actually do their jobs in a professional and ethical manner. Yikes, what is this? 1989?...Boomers!
I fear the house of ill repute has been turned into a respectable business...Oh the calamity!
Besides raging non stop on J.Rogers mad hatter Facebook page, some of these people have been harrassing the Chiefs on their personal phones. They put out their personal information and encouraged individuals to hound and provoke them. They're driving by their homes, sending derogatory messages, etc. and these men have families. Yet, both Chiefs have remained professional, resolute and non reactive, that should tell you all you need to know.
These people have some significant deficits and I hope they get the help they need, mental health is important.
Not to mention, if only 17 people voted, does this union even have the numbers to remain an actual union? Desperation makes people crazy.
In order to be able to round up to 99%, you need at least 67 persons voting assuming 1 dissent. 66/67 = 98.5% — it’s basic math. At the minimum, this means more than half the department (66/120 = 55%) voted no confidence. MORE THAN HALF. Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Does it mean more to you now that you know it isn’t just 17? It’s at least 66.
New math means you can say whatever you want. But, it’s not true. This is all identity politics where Jaqueline Rogers has her one favorite commissioner and never liked you or any of the other commissioners from day 1. Which means if you side with one first responder, she will dislike him too. Anyone with a brain sees she’s a miserable person and those who read her blog are miserable too. They never liked Navy Federal or anyone else who moved to their part of town after they got to here. Too bad so sad. I do like th he new navy federal park. I feel it’s a gem out here. I’m happy just looking at the place. Your efforts there aren’t lost on me or most out here. Hang tough.
"Besides raging non stop on J.Rogers mad hatter Facebook page, some of these people have been harrassing the Chiefs on their personal phones. They put out their personal information and encouraged individuals to hound and provoke them. They're driving by their homes, sending derogatory messages, etc. and these men have families. Yet, both Chiefs have remained professional, resolute and non reactive, that should tell you all you need to know."
If this is true, it's despicable.
I've also learned not to buy all the bullshit that gets shoveled by thugs and crooks. So I'll believe this statement when I see evidence of it, and then when they produce the evidence, assess it to decide whether I believe it's authentic, or a bunch of garbage produced on paper. Edler was a victim too, if memory serves. I've been on a court docket where such things were claimed of us, and they were brazen, boldfaced, lies that JJ Talbott dissolved with a snap of his fingers once she was under oath.
Same tactics, same mentality, same class of people driving this chaos. On both sides. Just a bunch of animals bullying each other to see who is going to be last ones standing. You don't have to be a medic to know bullshit when you see it.
Interesting they have the personal phone numbers of the chiefs. That wouldn't be because they were inner sanctum in their bully brigade until they weren't, would it? Nah....
Last night I was confronted by a county commissioners spouse about me Him and Little Bit were out town. I was told Little Bit means Little bitch
A little bit and a bit are common idiomatic phrases in English meaning "a small amount." Editor Neil Serven helps explain this idiom: This phrase may sound redundant because the word bit on its own can mean "piece" (as in "a bit of news"), so "a little bit" is often preferred to reinforce the idea of smallness.
a little (bit)
phrase
Add to word list
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slightly:
I was a little bit worried by what she said.
We'll wait a little longer and then I'll phone them.
There's only a little farther to go.
See also
little adverb (SMALL AMOUNT)
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
not great in size, amount, etc.
smallI live in a small town.
littleShe's a good little girl.
a littleI just want a little ice cream.
a little (bit)I was a little bit upset that she ate the last piece of cake.
tinyHis body was covered in tiny red spots.
FYI Mel she is also planing to pay you a visit she was highly pissed off and said I know Mel Pino likes running her mouth.
Funny, bashing percentages when you won the last election with only 38% of the vote, personaly i don't think you are they guy who should raise that question, should have let one of the other 3.
Eric, I have already explained that to Kohler. In detail. He knows. It's a very dishonest mindset that uses any angle possible to continue scrabbling their way up the social ladder. So far it has served him very well. If people would wake up to the fact that he's nothing more than another liar and manipulator in sheep's clothing, perhaps he'll scrabble on up and out of the D2 office after only one term. He was telling people he was going to run for Andrade's seat when it times out; don't know if that's still the case now that Chief Deputy Lyter has made it public he's running...I doubt Mike has the guts to go against Sheriff Simmons, unless he has friends up in the Tallahassee swamp that encourage him to do it for whatever reason. It will be interesting to see if he decides that he wants another commissioner term based on what happens with Stroberger, whose last day, to the best of my understanding, was this week. I'm sure we can expect an announce from him on the D1 race at any time.
His aide Sheila was at the Navy Point neighborhood watch meeting on Monday evening, talking out of both sides of her mouth and playing it as if she and Stroberger were both going to be Mike's full-time aide. I didn't say anything, as that wasn't the point of the Watch meeting, and I doubt anybody else had any idea, which is why it is so easy for their misrepresentations and disinformation to work. Clearly there's an acculturation of untruth that permeates that office and people who associate with it, as I doubt Sheila would have dreamed she'd be sitting in front of a room of people in a Sheriff's substation bold face lying for her boss a couple of years ago.
You may be, Eric--as I learned my lesson--an impossible person in some regards. But I can attest publicly that you coined the phrase "Lil Bit" for her, that it was a term of endearment when you coined it, and it NEVER had any connotations of "bitch." Moreover, Kohler had that from me, in writing, a long time ago. They're just working you over, pure and simple, because that's how they roll.
I know Tom Jardine did like me saying he has a yellow streak up his backside.
There is too much complaining at the BOCC meetings I will continue to promote being positive.
Next meeting I will the definition of Little bit im sure feathers will flying.
Even one of the deputies who sits inside does think your a nice person older white guy with glasses. Two former city council says you must have alot of money cause you being sued.
It was in regards to facebook comments on Melissa Johnson . The rumor has it by several sources your were banned from facebook. The former council members said you over the top in your comments regarding Melissa Johnson.
ps. I just realized I should make clear that I believe 100% the paramedic Ms. Stevens who was at the podium last night, and don't have any particular knowledge of her, have no idea how long she has been in the department, etc. I have zero doubt that all of the transfer stories she mentioned were as she depicted them, despite whatever excuses admin will come up with for their occurrence.
The people I have give zero credence to are administration, who are liars and toxic bosses. The people I have zero sympathy for, even though what they're saying right now may be factual, are union heads and other toughs who have a long history of making their fellow workers' lives miserable and are now crying about being on the receiving end. A POS speaking a fact is still a POS and what he's speaking is still a fact.
The hypocrisy level of the ones that were complicit through even just their silence, let alone their actions, when they knew that people were being framed up and having their lives systematically ruined by Edler and her posse is just sickening. If theMs. Stevens who spoke last night contributed to any of that horrendous business, then in that event I hold no sympathy for her current troubles. That doesn't mean she was lying about the call holding and toxic culture. It's every bit that bad and worse.
You may be, Mel--as I learned my lesson--an impossible person in some regards I will be the first to admit im not perfect. I will stand up for what I believe in. My main message has been lets be positive think about the good things. I like making people I had Mike Kohler laughing
when i said Mel Pino and Steven stroberger should get married. It was said in a joking manner.
The entire union leadership has changed since everything that happened a few years ago. I may not agree with everything they do or say but I can say with 100% confidence they are only doing this because they want better treatment for their people and want this to be a better place.
clown show 7:21. Tell us how many voted total. Easy question but you won't answer because the number is 16. I'm told by a reliable source that 17 people primarily from B shift pushed for this no confidence vote, and 16 voted for it and one person wanted no part of it. If this source is wrong, by all means feel free to correct me by providing factual data that supports your contention that 98.5% of the EMS personnel voted for this no confidence vote. You see, the thing about saying "99%" support that vote is that it is untrue. You are wanting folks to believe that practically everyone in that department feels that Admin leadership is failing. But that isn't true. Again, prove me wrong by sending me the vote tally that was taken. I doubt you will. Meanwhile--I'll be the first to admit there are some legitimate concerns expressed and I'll also say these are being looked at one by one as I write this. But in a large dynamic organization there will always be issues and there will always be strife. I just don't support running people down and trying to assasinate the character of hard working managers that are trying to do the best they can--I absorb enough of this garbage in my elected position, and I can take it. Hard working employees don't deserve that, the cheap shot of it. Make no Mistake: this was a cheap shot aimed at Wes, Eric, and Torsell. I don't do cheap shots that's why I called you out with this post and have yet to receive a real answer to the all important question: How many people total from 128 paramedics and EMT billets in the division voted for that no confidence letter to be sent to me and my peers on the BCC. How many? Answer that with specificity or you have no credibility. I'll have Eric, Wes, and Torsell on my coffee with the commissioner this Wednesday and we will hear the other side of the conversation surrounding the accusations made. Beacuase like Paul Harvey said there is always the "rest of the story....."
Do you really think people will vote for more corruption? Your time as commissioner is over, look at 2002, 4 commissioner indicted due to their corruption and judges brought in from Okaloosa county due to commissioners connections to Escambia judges.....like your brother? The public that voted for you are older and getting older, the younger guys won't play your games...I'm waiting on a commissioner to wipe their hands clean and openly bring up the issues with public safety in order to secure their attempts at being voted back in office, however I see others flipping on you before you turn on EMS with your cocky attitude.
Maybe you should actually ask the union for their numbers. Or actually ask them…. Anything. Since no one from the county has bothered to speak with them about any of this. Instead of just continuing to only care about one side of the story. But you don’t want to do that because you might find out that they’re telling the truth about everything and Torsell has been lying to you all along. I guess it doesn’t matter how many people die waiting for an ambulance as long as it’s not you or your family.
The union rep at the public forum seemed very young and idealist. Good. A passion for saving lives is fine but not realistic.
BCC is not to be involved in union negotiations.
All the name calling and appeal to emotion demonstrates a difficult function the county government currently provides of emergency medical services to the public. It's also a vulnerable function open to lawsuits.
Harpies screaming about it isn't helpful. Different people are in positions so maybe it's not the people, it's the nature of the beast.
Maybe privatization is the answer. If someone wants a transport perhaps their insurance will pay for it.
627 didn't they speak at 9 AM To management. At a scheduled meeting. That's how that works. BCC doesn't negotiate with the union. Actually getting up,at the public forum was against employee policy.
Like we rally need another employee to ignore their own handbook.
Conflict and tantrums aren't to be responded to.
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