GOLDEN VALLEY - The Golden Valley Fire District will hold a meeting tonight in which the board will figure out how to proceed after the fire chief walked off the job Tuesday.
Neal Bellew was serving as interim chief after Chief Rudy Barboa retired in April after more than 20 years with the department. Bellew, who previously served as a firefighter with the district as well as a board member, was chosen by the board to serve as acting chief for 90 days. At the time he was chosen, Bellew was not in either position but rather serving as a "person on call" with the department.
Board Chairman Marc Frederick said he had not received a formal resignation from Bellew and was unaware why he resigned his position. "The fire department is functioning as normal," Frederick said.
The same day that Bellew resigned, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office took a report in which two firefighters alleged they were struck in the backs by Frederick after a heated board meeting. Frederick was not aware of the allegations and the incident remains under investigation.
The Golden Valley Fire Department employs 23 firefighters in three stations. At a district meeting in August, the board discussed advertising outside of the department for the chief position. Board members Noel Labonte and Lovelle Barnett voted to appoint Bellew as the permanent fire chief, while Curt Hardy, Bill McCarter and Frederick voted against the motion.
During that meeting, the board received a letter from some of the employees of the department in support of Bellew being appointed chief. Frederick said the board has not made a statement either in support or against Bellew as chief. According to minutes of the August meeting, the board was concerned about following proper hiring procedure.
Attempts to reach Bellew and additional board members Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Residents of Golden Valley you are awesome. The last board meeting was so packed people had to stand outside. That is exactly what the citizens of the Valley need to do. Please get involved, go to the meetings and support the fire department members. This is your Fire Department, so stand up for them. The Fire board needs to be monitored by the community. Again, way to go, great turn out.
Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Article comment by:
some who cares
People of our community we need to involved this fire board has ran off 3 chiefs and several employees with more to leave I'm sure. This is a very good fire dept. They care! So we should to. This board is coming into area they don't belong. We hire a chief Neil Bellew is great with the guys & understands what it takes to run 3 fire dept's with everyone getting along just fine. Then we have some members on the board that think they can run it better. Are they firemen NO!!!! They need to do their job & let the chief & firemen do theirs.
You need to take the time to come to the meeting. See for yourself. The board doesn't want to hear what the publc has to say.
Don't let them run anymore good people out.
If you need help this fire dept is who you want to call on. Thank You Golden Valley Fire Dept. I think your doing a good job.
Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Edna
The residents of Golden Valley do not honor our fire department fire personnel, shame on you. The residents/taxpayer need to stand up for the fire personnel. After attending a few board meetings I have decided that no one in power is representing the interest of the taxpayers. Chief Bellew inherited a lot of headaches and the fire board showed him no respect, in fact one board member called Chief Bellew a liar. . This board has shown no leadership and very little initiative to do so other than having their own personal agenda’s.
A sense of duty, of doing an important job and a responsibility to the community is all part of what it means to be a firefighter. The feelings of responsibility and duty extend to coworkers as well. Fire fighting has a close-knit, proud culture often called a brotherhood and an extended family. Firefighters are not simply co-workers, they spend days and nights in each other company, living and working together in shifts that are usually at least twenty-four hours long. Group harmony is extremely important, both for mundane reasons of the pressures of living together and the vital reasons of working effectively as a team in a life-threatening environment. The bravery, dedication and a good job goes un-noticed.
At this last meeting an office employee receives a raise ($2.00 per hour). I don’t think it was based on “merit”, rewarded for good work performance evaluations, our elected officials created a milieu where favoritism reigned. One board member questioned the board that they have not had a chance to review anything that merits a raise. This board member stated that the department had a raise freeze. The chairman stated that the office person is doing extra work. So the raise was given....what about our fire personnel? Needless to say, firefighters risking their lives did not meet the raise definition of receiving a raise, I assumed based on not doing extra work. The three board members that gave that raise to the office personnel showed the fire fighters that they are nothing and showed favoritism towards this person. I just don’t understand how this person could accept a raise based on favoritism not performance, where is the pride of doing a good job? To the firefighters I honor you, thank you for the service you give to our community and I am sorry that the residents of this valley do not support you by attending board meetings.
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Citizens of Golden Valley, please go to your Fire Board meetings before it is too late. The Chairman of the board as well as other board members are running your fire department into the ground. Please call 565-2164 to find out more about the board meetings. If you have concerns, and you should, find out how you can get on the agenda. The firefighters have been there for the community, and now the community needs to step in to help the firefighters. Thanks for your time.
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I agree, that our GOLDEN VALLEY FIRE AND EMERGENCY TEAM ARE THE GREATEST.
I LIVED IN CONNECTICUT FOR 25 YEARS, PALM SPRINGS FOR 10 YEARS AND THE BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN VALLEY FOR 14 YEARS.
THESE ARE THE BEST I HAVE KNOWN AND THEY CARE AND RESPOND QUICKLY SOMETIMES OUR ROADS ARE FLOODED OUT.BUT THEY STILL RESPOND.
GOD BLESS OUR GOLDEN VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FROM A TRUE CITIZEN WHO CARES FOR YOU AS YOU CARE FOR US.
SUSAN
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2009
Article comment by:
GV citizen
This Board is voted in by the people. They are supposed to be our voice. We need to attend meetings and let them know how WE want them to act... not let them act how they want! A special meeting regarding Chief Bellew and his proposed replacement is coming up on Tuesday. Call the Fire Dept. and ask what time, 565-3479. If you can't make the meeting write how you feel here and maybe someone will bring this into the meeting.
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I KNOW NEAL PERSONALLY. AS A FORMER VOLUNTEER FOR GOLDEN VALLEY FIRE DEPT. HE IS A SEASONED FIREFIGHTER AND KNOWLEDGABLE MAN. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPOINTED CHIEF EVEN BEFORE RUDY BARBOA. IF THE BOARD DOESN'T SEE THAT AND RECOGNIZE THAT THEN WE AS GOLDEN VALLEY RESIDENTS NEED TO GET THEM OUT. AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR TOWN IS SAFE. LETS KEEP NEAL AS CHIEF HE WILL MAKE US ALL PROUD.
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Article comment by:
C.C.C.
From the comments it sounds like Golden Valley Fire Department has the same problem that Hackberry School District has!
Board President/Chairperson who thinks they can't be touched!
From all accounts I have ever heard about G.V.F.D. as a retired firefighter I would say they have a good department, and they can be proud of that, wish we had such in our area!
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Greatful and proud
Is this another one of those "Good Ole Boy's" running are wonderful fire dept. into the ground????? I for one am so very proud and happy to have such a fantastic group of fire fighters just down the road from me. Comming from the big city (yes a Cali transplant) i have nothing to give but praise for the GVFD, Los Angeles has nothing on these guys, they should take a lesson or two from them. Living in such a rural area we have the best response time, the most knowledgable and courteous personnel ever. When i fist moved here back in August of 2002, wasn't here but a few weeks, my son , then 14 was riding his bicycle out on Estrella and was hit by a car going down that road.was a young boy driving who probably should have not been behind the wheel. Not only did one fire truck show up but two and two seperate units of the paramedic team, being a nurse myself i had to stand back and watch my son being taken care of. Let me tell you they were wonderful, they tried to get lifeflight out to get him but at the same time there was that bad accident over in the grand canyon and it was not able to come, they worked hard on him getting him stable and then transporting him to KRMC, not only did they stay with me until i coould get to my house to get my car since my hubby went with my son, they came by the ER after just to check on him. He is just fine now and is serving in the USMC, two tours of duty in Iraq and is thinking about making it a career. I honestly feel to this day if it were not for the fast response and the experince of this fine group of men and women we call the GVFD my son may not be with me right now. Since we here in Golden Valley do live so far out from the main town we all depend on the GVFD to be there for us, and they all have. We need to get our heads out of the perverbial behinds and support this town and the GVFD for whatever they may need. Are you listening Chairperson and Board members???????
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Proud family member of Golden Valley Fire
The chairman of the board thinks he's untouchable because he's the chairman. He's doing things in meetings that are illegal. He's doing things outside meetings that are illegal, like assaulting firefighters. Maybe the newspaper as well as the citizens of Golden Valley Fire need to start going to these meetings. Let's keep this Chairman of the Golden Valley Fire Board from running the department into the ground. Our fire department is one that we can be proud of, including the "Chief". Let's not let this board member ruin what has been finally built into a great fire department.
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009
Article comment by:
Concerned
Golden Valley Residents- Your Fire Department needs your help! The Fire Chief did NOT quit, although 3 people on the board wishes he did. Shame on this paper for publishing rumors! There are some truths in this article, like no written or formal resignation and the Chairperson of the Board assaulting Fire Fighters. Does this board go on rumor? If so, Golden Valley is in big trouble.
