What Was He Thinking?

Johnson City, New York firefighter's union is vowing to take legal action against the village mayor for suspending their union president because of statements he made at two village board meetings.  Fire Captain and union president Marty Meaney was suspended for 30 days without pay for insubordination towards the village board and the mayor.

Mayor Dennis Hannon said Meaney's conduct reflected badly on the fire department and village officials, and charged Meany with insubordination, unauthorized communications and two other misconduct charges. The union's attorney, Gene Faughnan, says Meaney is being wrongly targeted for speaking out against cuts within the department.

The Mayor’s first problem is a little technicality thing called the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The second problem is that a public employee union representative speaking out on matters of public concern has a great deal of latitude in criticizing public officials – and rightfully so. The case will likely end up in court irrespective of whether the mayor realizes the problem he has created and reverses course.

For more details.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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