Letter to the Editor - City needs to clean up fire department administration

Editor,

As a former resident, I’ve tried to keep abreast of the local events and happenings, especially when it comes to the functioning of local government and its officials. From what I’ve seen lately, I’m disappointed in the functioning of the city, especially as it comes to its relationships within the Havre Fire Department.

Over the past three years, since Mel Paulson moved up in rank and eventually took over as chief, the fire department has had an unusually high turnover rate. At least 11 firefighters have left for different reasons. Recently, a local firefighter was fired, and now Chief Paulson and Assistant Chief Kelly Jones are trying to lay the blame of three years of personnel problems at the feet of that one individual. This is even though three other firefighters have quit since he left. Paulson and Jones are trying to make a scapegoat out of this former firefighters’ union president to make up for their poor management skills and styles.

The personnel issues at the fire department are fixable management problems. What can’t be fixed as easily is the danger that these problems pose to city residents. Inexperienced and untested firefighters and ambulance drivers may be easier for Paulson and Jones to control, but the risks that are created to property and people shouldn’t be acceptable to any resident.

The mayor and City Council need to step in. A clean sweep of fire department leadership is in order. If the problems at the fire department are the results of one person, that one person is Chief Paulson. The problems began with him and will continue with him at the helm. The mayor and City council should ask Paulson to resign or retire. Assistant Chief Jones is tainted with the stench of the Paulson administration and he should be asked to resign or retire also.

Good government doesn’t happen by accident. The closer government is to the electorate, the better government works. City government is about as close as it gets so the citizens of Havre need to demand that their elected officials, and their appointees, behave responsibly and with the common interest of the residents in mind. Even though you might find it distasteful, make the necessary changes to the management of the fire department.

Dallas Reese

Helena