[OPINION] New details surfaced this morning on the radio show about the action taken against Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks that makes me wonder, have we reached a point where taxpayers should be asking for Mayor Rob Palmieri to resign?

Unless there's some smoking gun that would justify walking a 40-year veteran of the city disrespectfully out the door and stripping him of his command, I'm afraid this is much bigger than we all previously thought. Keep in mind, that's without considering the fact that he's loved by the community, he's a firefighter who has saved lives, and he's managing cancer that the World Trade Center Health Organization has certified that he contracted while helping recovery efforts on 911.  The fact is, it will indeed take a 'smoking gun' to justify the Mayor's actions and so far, the only person who thinks that exists seems to be the mayor himself.  On the surface, being insensitive when it comes to Chief Brooks is not impeachable; however, wasting taxpayer dollars and putting the city in a financial vulnerability over a personal vendetta - this is a completely different story.

The new information we learned this morning isn't anything new actually; It was just a matter of putting two and two together.

In New York State, public officials such as police chiefs, judges and fire chiefs reach mandatory retirement at the age of 70.  In the case of Utica, the sitting mayor could offer the official a three year extension, which according to Brooks, he never expected he would get from Mayor Palmieri.  Brooks is currently 68 and will turn 69 in September and in 16 short months, he would have been forced to retire as chief of the fire department.

Did the City's Doctor Say Brooks Had To Go Immediately?

No, according to Brooks. This week he told WIBX that the city's doctor recommended that he simply 'consider' retirement based on his age and health.  This morning, Brooks told WIBX that he has been planning to retire in 2018 and that he was already underway with a training program for the next fire chief in order to make the transition as smooth as possible. Additionally, the position of fire chief in Utica is an administration position and does not require Brooks to enter dangerous situations.  Recently, Utica Budget Director Peter Fiorillo died following a battle with cancer. According to Comptroller Bill Morehouse, Fiorillo, 56, was working right up until his death at city hall because he was so valuable to the city's financial outlook. The difference in this situation is that Brooks, according to his doctor, is managing his cancer and is able to handle the position. So, why did Brooks have to be fired in such a speedy and disrespectful manner? The absence of a logical reason prompts questions like, "Is Mayor Palmieri's dismissal of Brooks all about some petty personal grudge?"  "Is he settling a score over an old political dispute?" "Is this a case of Mayor Palmieri pounding his chest and saying, I'm going to take Chief Brooks down?"

The Mayor Firing Someone Because he Doesn't Like Him is Not Impeachable

It's true that a mayor of a city can't be forced to resign because he decided to legally get rid of one official in favor another. And even when you put all of his recent controversies together, like the mayor's severed relationships with the county executive, legislators, business people like Rob Esche, the botched storm response that resulted in an emergency room visit and the surreal confrontation with the district attorney over being able to speed through traffic with a red police light on his car and clumsily disturbing evidence at crime scenes, I still don't think you have a situation that is impeachable. However, the action taken against Chief Brooks is quickly looking like it was an impulsive move by Palmieri who refused advice from his staff and decided to go rogue and get rid of his political rival once and for all. We have not been able to find one government employee, on or off the record, willing to take some credit for either crafting this action, assisting or supporting it. The people closest to the mayor seem to be carrying out the unpleasant task of trying to find a way out of the mess, while the mayor secretly still has people close to his inner circle carrying petitions that would eliminate the current term limits restrictions, allowing him to run for another term in 2018.  I've never seen such a quick collapse of a political figure, absent of some sort of scandal involving something seedy or illegal.

And, A Case for Impeachment?

It's hard to see a scenario in this mess that doesn't include Chief Brooks getting a large amount of cash in a settlement, enormous legal fees incurred by both the city and by Brooks (who will have his attorney fees reimbursed by the city), and additional payroll for additional staff needed to cover the position. This means, without a mayor pulling a 'smoking gun' out of his pocket, thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars will have been wasted on this entire situation that never had to happen. And if there is no smoking gun, the mayor just used a whole lot of taxpayer money to settle a personal score and that, is impeachable. The people of Utica should be furious and should demand a conclusion.

 

More From WIBX 950