fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Gallo removes new fire chief Rea, blasts Sottile, hints at more to come

by Jesse J. Smith
April 14, 2016
in News, Politics & Government
2

Less than three weeks after he was appointed, Kingston Fire Chief Chris Rea has been demoted and suspended without pay based on what Mayor Shayne Gallo called issues of “time and attendance” — the same language used to describe the still-unspecified allegations against Rea’s predecessor, Rick Salzmann, who resigned abruptly last month rather than face termination proceedings.

Chris Rea.

Gallo delivered the news at a hastily convened press conference Wednesday afternoon, during which he hinted strongly that Rea’s would not be the last head to roll at the fire department and issued a scathing critique of a “culture of entitlement” which he says has prevailed among the department’s upper ranks.

“There is a culture of entitlement for some at the expense of the rest of the city workforce,” said Gallo before an audience of media and about 20 off-duty firefighters in the Common Council chambers at City Hall. “At the expense of people they work with everyday and at the expense of the taxpayers.”

Rea, an assistant chief, was promoted to the department’s top spot following Salzmann’s retirement on Jan. 23. Salzmann, who served 37 years with the department including 14 as chief, put in for retirement after he was suspended without pay and threatened with termination.

Gallo declined to give specifics about Salzmann’s alleged misdeeds except to say that they involved “time and attendance.” Gallo said the problems were revealed during a spot audit of fire department records by City Comptroller John Tuey as the city prepared to implement a new system to centralize accrual of time off. At the time, Gallo expressed confidence in Rea and said that he did not believe the problems went farther than Salzmann.

Page 1 of 3
123Next
Tags: Chris ReaKingston Fire DepartmentRick Salzmannshayne gallo
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Jesse J. Smith

Related Posts

Should Onteora start classes an hour later?
Education

Onteora trustees analyze vote defeat

June 11, 2025
Reported threats of violence punctuate rail-trail debate  
Politics & Government

Reported threats of violence punctuate rail-trail debate  

June 11, 2025
Shawangunk car crash fatal for Pine Bush man
News

Shawangunk car crash fatal for Pine Bush man

June 11, 2025
Kingston mayor Steve Noble wants 200 new apartments in the Rondout
Politics & Government

Kingston moves toward financing its own housing stock

June 11, 2025
Outer space clickbait
Columns

Outer space clickbait

June 11, 2025
Bill to legalize medically assisted suicide passes in New York State Senate
News

Bill to legalize medically assisted suicide passes in New York State Senate

June 10, 2025
Next Post

Diamond Mills Ribbon cutting

Please login to join discussion

Weather

Kingston, NY
64°
Clear
5:18 am8:33 pm EDT
Feels like: 64°F
Wind: 4mph SSW
Humidity: 74%
Pressure: 29.95"Hg
UV index: 0
FriSatSun
77°F / 59°F
70°F / 57°F
70°F / 59°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing