Citing the California Public Records Act, Anderson watch dog group Concerned Citizens for a Fair Local Government submitted a list of public information requests to the Anderson Fire Protection District, according to a copy of the e-mail sent to the district on Sunday from the group.
"We want to make everything fair and above board," said group spokesperson Linda Beldon. "We would begin a recall procedure on certain members of the fire board depending on what some of the answers are."
The e-mail, addressed to Deputy Chief Andy Nichols, asked for financial details of Neil Purcell’s investigation of the district which began on May 12. The watchdog group asked for Purcell’s charges, per diem, charges for lodging and airfare to and from Anderson, charges from the City of Anderson for the use of an office, and vehicle and transportation to and from the Sacramento airport.
"Why pick this gentleman from so far away?" Beldon asked. "We feel hiring someone from out of the area isn’t fiscally responsible."
The group also asked how Purcell was selected for the investigation and whether any local investigators were contacted for cost estimates.
"He (Purcell) is not truly independent. It’s not like hiring an investigator who nobody knows. He has been in the playpen and knows who the players are."
Board members Norma Comnick, Keith Webster and Butch Schaefer all served on Anderson City Council while Purcell served the city as police chief. Schaefer and Webster were both previously asked why the board would choose an investigator known by three board members when an unknown investigator would preclude any potential bias.
"It means everyone trusts and respects him," Schaefer said, adding that Purcell has 41 total years of law enforcement experience.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 7
ForAnderson writes:
It means the unholy trinity knew what kind of report they could get from their good friend, Purcell. It would be the kind of report Comnick wanted.
AndersonMom writes:
"It means everyone trusts and respects him," Schaefer said, adding that Purcell has 41 total years of law enforcement experience.
And Chief Joe Piccinini has decades of Fire fighter experience...why don't you trust him and let him do his job as well Mr. Schaefer?
sickofit writes:
I bet everyone else wishes they could pick their own investigator. One who you had previously employed makes for a one-sided investigation. After all, he or she may just feel they owe you something.
LuvAnderson writes:
This truly seems a travesty of justice, something I am sure a man with so many years of police work behind him, has to know. Why didn't Purcell say, "Thanks, but no thanks." Instead, he has put a huge blemish on his illustrious career in this area. Allegedly without the proper licensing, he jumped into the middle of something bigger than he or his unholy trinity pals (including V) even began to know. (Read big time Brown Act violations from the very conception of this whole mess. I see bigtime law suits in many people's future.)
The problem with such doing without thinking first is just that. Too many things have been done at the behest of Comnick's smoldering anger for far too long. If she gets a "bee in her bonnet" or someone "does not behave the way she wants", then here we go. (That's her sign.) Her campaigns to get rid of people and ruin careers in this area are notorious. (For example, anyone remember the rumors she started about Les Baugh during their campaigns for County Supervisor?)Don't mess with Comnick or you are done, sooner rather than later.
It will be interesting to see whether this fire board is smart enough to shelve this whole mess and put Chief back to work since fire season is upon us. I shudder to even think about it without the Chief at the helm. Unfortunately, the acting fire chief does not have the education or skills to take Chief's place, even though he may think he does.
I say if this fire board wants to leave office with any modicum of dignity at all, they should leave this for the elected fire board to decipher and fairly deal with. If they ever hope to be politicians again (recall,anyone?), they would make the smartest move of their careers and recuse themselves from this whole unholy mess.
McGruffTheCrimeDog writes:
The one thing that nobody is taking into account here is the motive for all these actions. Butch and Keith may have at one time been good hearted people who wanted the best for this town however that changed. They are now sitting there looking for the one thing that they want and that is Power! Why do you think Schaffer, Webster, and Comnick take turns playing Mayor and Vice Mayor. It is a power play and they will never allow Anderson to decide who their Mayor is as long as they are together and control the city council. Chief is on the chopping block because he stood up to Norma and challenged her authority and Power. So now she is using her city counsell seat and her place on the fire board as a billy club and is thumping anybody she can. I believe that there is enough info in place at this time to get an injuction to place a hault on this investigation and to begin an investigation into our threes counsell members and Purcell who has committed multiple crimes by acting as an investigator without proper licensing in the state of California. Lets put a stop to this slanderous campaign against a good man. Of course that is how it always works in Totalitarian Regimes kill those who stand and oppose.
BlueSuedeShoes writes:
Yes, McGruff, you are definitely sniffing out the ___here in Anderson. Funny how it leads right back to Purcell and the unholy trinity.
Too many Anderson Citizens have overheard too many of the conversations of these 4 about this whole mess--even a secret meeting in Red Bluff? Wow!! Double wow!! Bet it made them feel important to have to drive all the way to RB to discuss their plans. Can't wait to hear more about the topics at that meeting!
Talk about your premeditated game plan to rid the Fire District of Chief simply because he refused to sign off on "no sprinklers" for Comnick's friend, Mr. Brown. I heard through the grapevine that there was also a certain Kenworth building that Scott Morgan wanted passed without proper water flow--"I promise we will do it later." Of course, Chief refused. How could he in good conscience allow the law to be bent when lives could be a stake? That is just plain dumb. Here's your sign!!!!!
The house of cards is falling down around these people. I bet Purcell wishes he had never agreed to do one more favor for his buddy Comnick. They are all in the stuff up to their ears. They need straws to breath these days cause it is geeting deeper all the time. Pretty soon they will be out of air space. The suffocation of illegal politics in our community is a good thing. Let it die. It has lived long and prospered far too many years. Spock would be aghast.
McGruffTheCrimeDog writes:
Norma's actions now go beyond fire board. She has carried them over to her position as city councilwoman by giving Purcell a Police vehicle to drive. Andersonmom pointed this out. Since when did the fire board have control over police vehicles. They don't. James Yarbrough and Melissa Hunt were cut out of this decision that should have been made by the entire city counsel. Norma overstepped her bounds on this one and abused her power as a counsel woman. I think it is time to flood city hall with complaints about Comnick, Schaffer and Webster and see how quickly we get a investigation into them. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. For the record It is time to get in front of a judge and get an injunction halting any ruling by the fire board until an investigation into the allegations of wrongdoing can be conducted and until it is determined as to if Purcell's investigation was even legal as he has no authority in California by way of licensing of any sort. I believe he is involved in wrongdoing here as well. So if we are going to bring the den of iniquity down lets get everybody, The little three, the attorney, the union, the acting fire chief, the investigator, and the businessman who doles out bribes. To quote the old saying you have made a nest and the chickens are coming home to roost. Now sit on that one and hatch it!
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