“Now the people running the department are the chief and the mayor,” said Tiano. “So where do the checks and balances go?”
But Gallo laid responsibility squarely at the feet of his predecessor, James Sottile. While he never mentioned Sottile by name, his remarks were laced with references to a lack of “accountability and transparency” that had allowed a toxic culture to take root where senior officials were allowed to police their own time off and overtime and were never called to account.
“A handful of individuals within the fire department have ruined the fire department’s reputation, and it’s part of a culture that has been created and institutionalized over the past ten years,” said Gallo before the press conference. “The previous administration did nothing, literally nothing, to put in place a system of checks and balances.”
I think it is high time that Sottile be named. But Carnright’s lack of agressive investigation over these past years must be considered as well… that was a campaign issue that didn’t get the traction it deserved… Holly is indeed a personable, presentable and very likable man… but his postion on this kind of corruption, past and present, was “What else could I do?”…
Mr. Gallo’s pain was evident, but he did not softpedal the offenses he and John Tuey were confronted with.
Holy crap, the Freeman story lacked this kind of detail. This proves the “Kirby culture” is only interested in scandal and bullying, not the facts. Kudos Kingston Times for the story.