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“The alarm is still out of service”, said Chief Marquis from his
office on Thursday, January 12, at 3:00 P M, twenty one (21) days
after Lieutenant Eddy Murphy delivered the letter to Mayor Michael
J. Sullivan.
By the time this edition hits the stands, the fate of Fire
Chief Joseph L. Marquis’ clean record will be on the table.
“The five days suspension the mayor put me in, is being
postponed”, said Chief Marquis Wednesday, January 11th, from his
office. The suspension was supposed to take effect beginning
January 12th through January 18th, 2006.
Chief Marquis explained that he requested a meeting with Mayor
Sullivan on a one to one basis which will take place on Friday,
January 13th. “Attorney Bowers will be in attendance and I really
hope the mayor will be present too”, said Marquis.
In this meeting, Chief Marquis wants to plead his case with the
mayor. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, then the
administration will decide if an official hearing requested by
Chief Marquis about his case will be granted, or not.
Mayor Michael J. Sullivan suspended Fire Chief Joseph L. Marquis,
upset because the chief did not return his call regarding a letter
he received, signed and delivered by Lieutenant Eddy Murphy on
December 23rd, threatening him with criminal charges if the circa
1958 high school fire alarm wasn’t fixed within 48 hours.
According to Chief Marquis the charges against him are:
1. He did not return the mayor’s call.
2. The letter should be addressed to the City Clerk not to the
mayor, and
3. The letter was sent improperly.
Chief Marquis defends his position stating that the letter in
question is nothing else than a form-letter the Fire Department
sends to everyone who is not in compliance with the law. “We treat
everybody the same way, private or public industry”, said Marquis
and added, “this is not politically motivated neither I wanted to
embarrass the mayor,” said Marquis who has requested a ruling from
the State Fire Marshall.
Mayor Sullivan expressed that, prior to receiving the letter,
conversations about the high school fire alarm situation were held
between his office, the Fire Department, DPW and the School
Department. “There was no need for that letter since he (Marquis)
knew that that was in the works”, said the mayor. “On top of that,
the letter was copied to every City Councilor, making me look like
I didn’t care,” said Sullivan.
“I realized that I should be more diplomatic in handling this
case”, said Chief Marquis. “But I want everybody to realize that
at the end, is neither the mayor nor the superintendent who are
responsible for the safety of those children. It is the Fire
Department! It’s me!” said Marquis. “All I wanted to do was
document the situation with the fire alarm. We sent him the letter
because he is the maximum authority in the city.”
According to Marquis, the Fire Department is keeping a watch on
the high school around the clock, five firefighters, and one for
each floor from 8:00 AM to midnight and three (3) from midnight to
8:00 AM. “The intercom doesn’t work at the gym or at the
cafeteria, neither the visual alarm for handicap students.”
“The alarm is still out of service,” said Chief Marquis from his
office on Thursday, January 12 at 3:00 P M, twenty one (21) days
after Lieutenant Eddy Murphy delivered the letter to Mayor
Sullivan.
Things get complicated
During an interview with Mayor Michael J. Sullivan on Wednesday,
January 11th, a very infuriated mayor declared to Rumbo that, on
December 23rd, before Lieutenant Murphy delivered the letter to
his office, Gary Thomas Keating erupted in his quarters, telling
everybody: ‘The Mayor is not going to have a good day today.
Lieutenant Murphy is taking him to court’, and went on to explain
what it was all about, said Mayor Sullivan.
Rumbo contacted Lieutenant Eddy Murphy who emphatically denied
taking to Mr. Keating about that matter.
Mr. Keating did not return a telephone call placed to his cell
phone.
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