Westminster : 6 More Firefighters Notified of Penalties

More city firefighters are facing disciplinary action stemming from alleged payroll violations uncovered during a review of Fire Department payroll practices by an independent accounting firm.

Several of the firefighters received letters Tuesday from Fire Chief John T. DeMonaco Jr. informing them of disciplinary actions that could be taken against them. The actions include reprimands and suspensions.

It was not immediately known how many firefighters are affected. Six received the letters Tuesday, but the firefighters union lawyer said “practically everybody” in the 53-member department could be disciplined.

Five firefighters, including two battalion chiefs, were dismissed last month on grounds of failing to provide required paperwork for sick leave, vacation and other time taken off work over the last seven years.

“What I’d like to do is to wrap this up so we can move on,” DeMonaco said Wednesday.

Alan C. Davis, attorney for the dismissed firefighters and their union, said the disciplinary letters were handed to the firefighters by a Fire Department consultant to coincide with Tuesday’s city recall election.

Ron Roberts, a captain, was among those who received the disciplinary letters. He was given a notice of city intent to suspend him for 24 hours without pay at a later date for failing to provide documents for 111 hours of sick leave, vacation time and compensated time off.

Also facing 24-hour suspension without pay are Don Blackburn, who operates a firetruck, and firefighter-paramedic Steve Rovano.

Dave Gilkinson, a captain, and firefighter James Blan were given written reprimands, and Steve Gorell, a firefighter, received an oral reprimand.

The firefighters maintain that they have done nothing wrong and that the paperwork requirements were not consistently enforced.