Fire department audit cites ‘dysfunctions’
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Jan. 04, 2006

An independent audit the city commissioned of its fire department found “significant dysfunction” within the department and poor communication from the department’s leadership to the rank and file.

Illinois-based McGrath Consulting Group, Inc. was hired by the city to conduct a comprehensive independent audit of fire department operations, management structure, and staffing and facility needs.

Tim McGrath, a retired fire chief with 33 years of fire and EMS experience, reported the results of his company’s study to city council members at a special committee of the whole meeting Dec. 21.

McGrath, who interviewed the firefighters, called them “a very frustrated group.”

“With few exceptions, almost everyone who was interviewed recognized the organizational dysfunction currently occurring in the Westlake Fire Department,” McGrath’s 142-page report stated.

Who’s at fault?

McGrath and his report said there is enough fault to go around.

However, the report was critical of Fire Chief Richard Pietrick’s ability to communicate a clear vision to his employees.

“Communication is a huge problem and not one of the fire chief’s best attributes,” the report stated.

The report found that poor or bad behavior is often not addressed. The fire chief apparently believes that this is the responsibility of the line officers or shift commander, the report said, while shift commander or officers feel that there is no clear direction and question if they will be backed up if disciplinary action is taken. The result, according to the report, is that most individuals work independent of any master plan and feel there will be no consequences for their actions.

McGrath recommended the fire chief schedule twice-monthly meetings with all of the officers.

McGrath also called on the city to hire a second assistant chief from outside the department to assist with communication, administration and operations.

The report called Pietrick “a caring individual who is passionate about the fire service.”              

“The question is not about his character, but about his leadership style,” the report said.

Pietrick told West Life last week he was still reviewing the report.

“Obviously there are things that I do agree with and things that I don’t agree with,” he said. “We’re going to be working together as a team to see what we can agree on and move forward.”

Mayor Dennis Clough, who appointed Pietrick fire chief based on civil service test results, has asked him to present a response to the audit by the end of the month.

When asked by West Life if he still had confidence in Pietrick’s ability to lead the fire department, Clough responded, “I will reserve judgment on that until I get a chance to hear his response to the report.”

Clough questioned whether the addition of a second assistant chief was the best way to improve leadership and communication within the department.

Clough told West Life the audit was a tool to improve the quality of services provided by the department.

“I think it points out some of the great things the city’s fire department does,” the mayor said in an interview. “With respect to internal matters, obviously there are some improvement that can be made among all members.”

McGrath was optimistic about the department’s ability to bridge the rift between the leadership and rank and file, saying the two sides are not that far apart and want the same things.

“The infighting — you can get over it,” McGrath said to Pietrick and about 20 firefighters who attended his presentation in council chambers. “I’m confident you can.”

McGrath said all those in the fire department he interviewed agreed on one item: When the alarm sounds, the service provided is second to none.

Westlake currently has at least 10 firefighters on duty. However, McGrath recommended the city move to having 12 on duty at all times split between the two fire stations, a commitment which would require the hiring of nine additional firefighters / paramedics. He also recommended the department use a “company staffing” philosophy which establishes a set number of personnel assigned to each unit. Such an approach, McGrath said, allows more flexibility.

While many Westlake firefighters he spoke with called for the city to build a third fire station, McGrath said the city doesn’t need another full station. He did say each station needed to be expanded to nearly double each one’s size. And he said the city should partner with Crocker Park to build and a small satellite station at the retail/residential development which would house two units and be manned by two firefighters/paramedics.

 Clough questioned McGrath’s Crocker Park recommendation, noting Station two is located on Crocker Road.         

“How close do you need to be to Crocker Park?” the mayor asked.

The fire department needs to examine its high rate of false alarms, the report said. Nearly 15 percent of all calls are false alarms, McGrath said; the rate should be less than 4 percent, he said.

McGrath also recommended the city begin charging for EMS ambulance calls, possibly establishing different rates for residents and non-residents. The argument against charging, McGrath said, is that people in need won’t call for an ambulance because of the fee. But he said statistics have shown that calls don’t significantly drop once cities institute a charge.