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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, June 07, 2023

Bethlehem Firefighters Have No Confidence in Their Chief

Brian Salabsky, a Bethlehem firefighter for past 26 years and President of Bethlehem Firefighters Local 735, told Bethlehem City Council last night that his membership has lost all confidence in Fire Chief Warren Achey, During a recent vote of the union's 95 members, 88 indicate they've lost confidence in Achey.

Salabsky accused Achey of creating a toxic environment with threatening behavior and poor communication. He noted that, during budget discussions last year, Achey failed to inform Council that the Civil Service list of applicants had expired. This meant that there was insufficient time to send anyone to Allentown's fire academy in February. He added that Achey has denied 100% of all grievances filed, something no other fire chief has ever done. He concluded that poor moreale in the fire department has created an "infectious plague."

Chief Achey was appointed in 2017 by former Mayor Bob Donchez.  

18 comments:

peterjcochran said...

Wow, sounds like someplace else I can site. ,

Anonymous said...

Police should hold the same vote for the bully deputy chief. His ego is bigger then all of Bethlehem

Anonymous said...

Hmmm does the tail want to wag the dog!!!

Anonymous said...

Whether or not these accusations are true, I will probably never know. What I do know and have seen is a change in the work environment. I feel badly for anyone in his/her late 40s and above who have to manage people in their 20s and 30s. The sense of entitlement, the hurt feelings if corrected, the unwillingness to change and adapt, etc. has created a “toxic” (I hate that word) for others. The lazy, holier than thou generation is going to create a lot of problems they aren’t willing (or capable) of solving.

Anonymous said...

Achey has been there 6 years and is doing just fine. Some bad actors in the department that don't like to be held accountable and this is their tantrum. Weed the garden and let the positive energy flourish. Too many grumpy greedy old union men pushing desperate buttons.

Anonymous said...

Current administration has the entire workforce in a terrible mood

Anonymous said...

Same goes for the Bethlehem Area School District, new superintendent and newly announced asst superintendent, don't have the support of the ground troops.

Anonymous said...

12:11 pm: BASD’s new assistant super has gotten very far on her last name. Didn’t teach for too long before beginning her upward mobility.

Anonymous said...

88 of 95 voted for this. That’s not a “few bad apples”. That’s nearly everyone being against him. Of the 7 who voted against this some had to believe the result would make it more difficult going forward. So the number of his true “supporters “ is probably less than 5 out of 95 employees.

Anonymous said...

BASD new super is a mansplaining bully, people will tell you if you ask!

Anonymous said...

Amen

Anonymous said...

Ah, my naive friend. You know how this "voting" works. C'mon man.

Anonymous said...

There is simply no respect for any manager anymore. If they don't get what they want especially with a union then the first thing is to get rid of the leader.

Anonymous said...

The Mayor and his arrogant admin has set the worst workplace environment I have seen in my 20 + years in City Hall! Its beyond tolerable. Over worked and Low morale in every department!

Anonymous said...

I understand the argument that todays workers are soft. But 88 0f 95 fire fighters don't have any respect for the Chief? Time to make a change. No leadership can handle those numbers.

Anonymous said...

Do some easy research, in whatever searchbar you use, type Bethlehem firefighter arrested, then try Bethlehem firefighter drugs, and Bethlehem firefighter fired. If that was a volunteer department people would be going crazy. Looks like the Chief spends more time in court than running the department.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a bunch of whiny snowflakes. ❄️❄️❄️

Anonymous said...

Do you realize that most of the firefighters are in their late 30s to early 50s??? Do you’re homework and quit that entitlement narrative because it doesn’t apply here!