Saturday, August 18, 2018

SHELDON: TAKE THIS FIREFIGHTERS AND CITY RESIDENTS

By Juan Montoya

As we have said previously on these cyberpages, things change, and in changing, they seem to remain the same.

it's not that long ago that former Brownsville Fire Department Chief Carlos Elizondo was strutting in his starched chief uniform flaunting his power and literally flipping the finger at the firefighters' union and his critics.

And when he was chief he had two assistants. One was Ernie Estrada, who through a manipulated union contract was able to be appointed asst. chief because he had connections with city manager Charlie Cabler. The other was the guy shooting the finger above,  Jarrett V. Sheldon.

Interim City Manager Michael L. Lopez appointed Sheldon (who himself was interim fire chief) as the new department chief. Lopez did not disclose what process he used to select Sheldon chief. There was no advertising of the position, no one was allowed to apply, and there were no interviews. The interim manager simply chose the interim chief and that was that.

But the whole firehouse is ablaze with indignation at the arbitrary selection of Sheldon as the new boss. They say that Lopez violated the city's personnel general provisions when he failed "to provide fair and equal employment opportunity for qualified persons" and to satisfy the objective to "promote pride and high morale among City of Brownsville employees by fostering good working relationships."

Specifically, they charge Lopez violated city policy (Chapter 2, Section 201) on appointments to job positions when he he did not make the fire chief appointment "based on the qualifications of applicants as ascertained through fair and practical selection methods, which may include testing of job knowledge, skills and abilities."

More seriously, they charge that his cozy relationship with a vendor of fire trucks – and his recommendation of specs for two new fire engines and one aerial ladder truck – seem to have been tailored through collusion to the specs recommended by the vendor of Metro Fire Apparatus. The representative of that company is a frequent visitor to the fire department administrative office and all the top honchos there have Metro Fire Yeti thermal cups and gimme caps.

That representative is Jesse Breedlove, a one-time volunteer to the Los Fresnos Volunteer Fire Department who manages his family's Chachalaca Bend Inn there. Breedlove has close ties with Los Fresnos town judge Gene Daniels and – more importantly – Los Fresnos Fire Marshal Geronimo Sheldon, Jarrett's father. All three are constant visitors to the BFD's administrative offices and have a free run of the firehouse.

This type of fraternizing with vendor sis clearly prohibited in the city's policy manual prohibiting contact by vendors with city officials and employees and its statement of non-collusion in preparing bids.

During a recent city meeting, Sheldon told commissioners that the specs for the new engines and aerial ladder had been sent out for bids, but failed to mention that the specs coincidentally are the same for the equipment handled by Breedlove and Metro Fire Apparatus. Using them, it almost guarantees that Metro Fire will get the winning bid

Normally, all fire apparatus bought by the city are to the specifications of the department making the purchase to fit their needs. In this case, if the purchases for Metro Fire go Apparatus go through, th city will end up with a fire truck that does not fit in the station stalls it was meant for. As a result, the city will have to spend more taxpayer money to accommodate the longer and taller truck in the Old Alice Street, Ebony Heights and Station 4 engine stall doors.

The specs, apparently, were for the stock Metro Fire Apparatus sells, and not those for the needs of the City of Brownsville. 

Rewind this scene to 1993 when then-city manager demoted fire chief Desi Najera for doing the very same thing Sheldon is doing now. AT the time, Najera bid out for fire trucks with specs that included the mud flaps for vendor EONE. Of course, no other vendors would have the flaps specified by the BFD. Now Sheldon is specifying equipment for bids that fit the vendor, and not the fire stations of the city of Brownsville. 

The relationship between the FD honchos and this vendor is even cozier. Lt. Joel Rodriguez, a relative of assistant chief Cesar Pedraza, assigned to Station 4, is also employed as a part-time assistant to Metro Fire Apparatus vendor Breedlove. And Sheldon himself moonlights with his father (the Los Fresnos Fire Marshal) and performs fire inspections there for him because he is too old to do them himself.

And need we remind our readers that Sheldon and Pedraza are part of the Elizondo regime that has brought so much discredit to the department? 

Lopez should have had the common courtesy of allowing the new city manager to choose the fire chief, as well as the new police chief. After all, the city is spending $150,000 to find a city manager as we speak.

Is the city commission and residents willing to allow this brazen disregard for the welfare of the city – and to the the personal benefit of vendors and fire department administrators – and bear the insult with a smile?

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

The city manager in san bene did the same think when he appointed the assistant police chief to the police chief position with not even a master peace officer license. No test ,no advertisements nada.Must be nice to know the right people.

Anonymous said...

Michael Lopez is for whatever reason allowed by the commissioners to make big decisions that goes beyond his job as only a interim city manager...The power of being temporary the big boss has gone to his head. He has been Making changes that don't make sense and firing/denoting employees for minor violations. Hopefully, the new City Manager is hired fast before this asshole does more damage to the city.

Anonymous said...

The new interim city manager is a clown hired by the city commission to juggle their agendas around. You would think the city might want to distance themselves from another circus act given the last one that forced cable to retire.

Anonymous said...

If you're going to publish a photoshopped picture to tell a story next time make sure you fix shadows on the arm and double check that there aren't 2 logos overlapping in the picture.

Anonymous said...

These complaints sound more like a Chihuahua barking up a storm cause it cant be a big dog. Lesson you must have skipped, you must learn to follow before you can lead, little Napolean!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Really? Again same shit again!!!

Anonymous said...

Cyber Weenes for city manager!

Anonymous said...

The Normal process is to open the position to give everyone applying a fair chance of being selected as Fire Chief. The same thing happened with the assistant city manager, this position was never advertised, it was just given to Aruro Rodriguez. The new city manager should have been giving the opportunity to select his assistant. Why is the city commission allowing all this to happen? This is out of control, way too many city employees were given positions that never existed, they were created for them without opening them up to the public to apply. Nothing but double-standards, what a shame.

Anonymous said...

I'm a firefighter and have personally worked with Jarrett ;he's a good guy. The pic, just "locker room talk" and please don't take it out of context. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone this behavior, but come on, really, give the guy a break. As per hiring him without their being open to any other applicants, I'm pretty sure their is some timeframe where you could hire someone if you recently hired another head of a department and it didn't work out. I'm sure the Interim city manager went through legal advise and they gave him the ok. As per the apparatus accusations, I wouldn't be able to comment, as this is the first I hear of this and really don't know much but if this is true, I also think that this is illegal and Jarrett, like anyone else, would be guilty and should not be immune to "That beautiful blind Justice." I hate to brag but I think my rebuttal is pretty good; I guess not all firefighters are dumb knuckle draggers. Just defending my profession. I take pride in what I do and love it. If you don't like it get off you ass and run into a burning building to save a life or clean the vomit from the back of an amulance in August in a hospital apron when your a/c doesn't work cause old admin. Doesn't care about you or your unit. Now I'm rambling, so I'm out.

Anonymous said...

So what's new 😒🐎 oh yeah.

Anonymous said...

The logos are NOT "overlapping"....the under t-shirt has reflective emblems...& if you take a picture the camera flash will pick up those reflections even when theres another shirt over it. Thats what happens to mine.

Anonymous said...

Somebody should ask the chief if the photo is actually photoshopped and see if he tells the truth or not.

Anonymous said...

Never endinf

Anonymous said...

Plain and simple, this is favoritism at its best. Why was this position opened so other qualified firefighters could apply? There is no question that the new Chief is capable of performing the job, but many others are also qualified. It's a shame that the city is not following its own hiring practices.

Anonymous said...

Definate photo shop
Wow
L.O.W.

Anonymous said...

content://media/external/file/43072

I didn't know 'Biff' (Back to the future) was a firefighter......

Anonymous said...

Take a look at the fire chief in Harlingen. He once filed court papers saying he was indigent, when he was evicted from his home in McAllen. How did he lose his gig as McAllen Fire Chief. How was he picked over better firemen for the Harlingen gig? Ah Camval County!

Anonymous said...

08/19/18 7:02

Yes BUT Carlos Elizondo takes the cake for the most corrupted AND actually went after the fire personnel to try to fire them for any reason.....and his ambulance scam c'mon....what other chief in the valley has done this ?? Your mom ??

Anonymous said...

Fake photo, Montoya? smh

Concerned Citizen said...

Only people who jump on your band wagon are allowed and approved to make comments?

Anonymous said...

If you look closely, Jarrett is making fun of Carlos and Sammy's motorcycle club the "dragon slayers." The irony.

Anonymous said...

The photo is definitely not 'shopped. Anyone with even a little experience in graphic design and Photoshop can tell you that. Still, if he's doing something crappy, call him out on that. This is obviously just a picture between him and some work buddies. The kind of stuff we in the Valley call "cagando el palo" or "pendejadas."

Anonymous said...

There is more brains in a Jewish meat pie,all his brains are between his legs.

Anonymous said...

Mediocrity breeds mediocrity. That's how BV rolls.

Anonymous said...

Corrupt &corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt$corrupt

Anonymous said...

They should make Hector Valdez chief he's smarter than Jarred, physically fit and handsome a trifecta. Problem solved.

Anonymous said...

NOW THAT'S FUNNY SHEIK AND DONKEY

Anonymous said...

Does 1993 have something to gain???

Anonymous said...

Mr.Valdez a man of wisdom and integrity and a knowledgeable individual.One who seeks justice for the weak and is superb with a paint ball gun he is the most interesting man of his generation.good day

rita