BREAKING NEWS: Yonkers Fire Commissioner George Kielb Forced to Step Down By HEZI ARIS

UPDATED at 3:20 P.M. with Mayor Mike Spano's Statement.

YONKERS, NY – June 28, 2012 – Yonkers Fire Commissioner George Kielb, designated and appointed by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano as his choice for Yonkers Fire Commissioner was today forced to officially resign. Rumor to this eventuality has been circulating for some time. Many people familiar with this situation rationalize Commissioner Kielb being forced to step down because the Spano Administration, in particular Yonkers Deputy Mayor Sue Gerry has been dissatisfied Commissioner Kielb has not been able to silence the Yonkers Fire Department and specifically Local 628. The Spano Administration is miffed because the Firefighters’ perspective regarding Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s Adopted FY2012-2013 Budget was derailed when New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli concurred with the issues that illegally transgressed on their legally binding contractual agreements.

George Kielb is a 32-year veteran of the Yonkers Fire Department and a former officers union head. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2012 by Mayor Mike Spano.

Yonkers City Hall has yet to make an official statement with this regard.

ADDENDUM - Mayor Mike Spano said, "We thank Commissioner Kielb for his dedicated years of service to the Yonkers community. Before the Commissioner steps down next week, we will announce an interim commissioner for the fire department. In the meantime, we wish the Commissioner all the best in his future endeavors."

Comments

[NYC Union]

This is truly a shame. Comm. Kielb is a professional, not a politician. Now, he should retire and laugh all the way to the bank. The mayors secretary Sue doesnt like what the unions say, well thats their job to protect their membership. Its not a commissioners job to silence a unions voice.

[There Goes The YFD]

Please do not bring back either Pigano or Fatzy to the YFD.

[Holden Caulfield]

Godspeed citizens of Yonkers..if you think we are going to siy and take our leader being forced out because he stepped up for us......you have another thing coming....better make sure the smoke detectors are working

[Ben Winkler]

Best of Luck Chief, you were leader a who looked out for the safety of the YFD . Sue could care less about the safety of the job and will be on the other end of a wrongful death suit in the near future .

[union and proud of it]

Comm. Kielb would not cut corners when it came to the safety of the citizens and firefighters of Yonkers. Thank you for your years of service, you will be sorely missed. Mayor Gerry will now bring in a lackey that will have no qualms about making dangerous cuts to the Fire service. People of Yonkers should demand that they get their essential services and that the IDA stop giving tax breaks to the developers.

[Mustaffa]

Give them EH!!!!

[Big Rich]

Thanks George for your years of dedicated service.Its a shame Spanos lackies are pushing you out because you are standing up for the citizens and firefighters of the city of Yonkers.

[its howdy dowdy time]

the police will be next...just watch

[Yonkers Tribune]

POSTED BY THE EDITOR for someone who intends to maintain their anonymity.

The forced resignation of Comm. Kielb is a disgrace. Mayor Spano is further demeaning himself by pushing out a dedicated firefighter because he wouldn't push out lies put forth by this administration. I hope the people of Yonkers will not allow theie safety and the safety of firefighters to be compromised by cuts in the department. Good luck in retirement George, and thanks for not being one of Spano's lackies.

[rit]

George you went out with DIGNITY unlike the Spano family,enough said.

[Citizens with no clue]

The mayor is trying to cut a department that operates under budget every year and is working without a contract for 3 years. They risk their lives everyday and the Dept. never takes off. While citizens are sleeping every night, opening your presents on Christmas, eating turkey on TG, they are up at all times of the night helping people. If they cut the dept. staffing there is only one thing the Firefighters are going to put ahead of the good of the city and that's their lives because they are not going to be able to efficiently do their jobs so the city and the citizens will suffer and the last chance they had of avoiding the disaster thats going to happen was to keep this awesome Commissioner.

[slipp]

Good Luck Chief

[know the facts before you speak]

Thank you Cmsr for your many years of dedicated service to the COY-hold your head .

[Whipman]

Goes to show what this arrogant administartion wants. My way or the highway. I wonder if they already have some "yes man " lackey waiting in the wings???? What a friggin' disgrace! God help Yonkers.

[Chris]

Sue Gerry could care less what happens in the City of Yonkers RE; Fires as she does not live in Yonkers. What happen to Mayor Mikes statement that his administration would be comprised of City of Yonkers residents.

[Protect and Serve]

Hezi, here's an interesting idea: Once Commissioner Kielb is officially retired, interview him and find out all the things Mayor Gerry asked him to do. A little insight into the behind the scenes working of Mayor Gerry.

[Bonehead]

So much for workplace bullying! Way to go Mayor Gerry. Good Luck Chief, Thanks for standing up to the mutts.

[Jorhan Vander Sloot]

I know a volunteer chief that would be perfect for the job

[Party is over drug testing Mandatory]

Way to go Mayor bring in a NYC Chief that knows the job, It says in the charter that you can have a partial volunteer fire department. Tell the bully fireman to F off and congrats on a new boss for them

[Ha Ha YOU CANT WIN HOSE DRAGGERS]

Hey Bonehead!!!!!!! Mayor Spano Is adjusting you fools NYFD coming to Yonkers a professional department.

[about Time]

kielb did not put citizens first. He only took orders from mag gooey trying to screw the people of Yonkers. Make it 30 percent volunteers. That would save a boatload of money. the fire department wants to do this but the Mayor does not want volunteers. I feel he is makiing a huge mistake. Let's save money. Let's rally behind the fire departments idea and save the city money......

[NZ]

This is the City's loss. The mayor has dumped a very capable, caring professional. He will be missed by the citizens and the Fire Department of Yonkers long after the reign of Mayor Spano ends.

[My mom always told me never be a quitter]

Heh George in the 100 plus years of the Yonkers Fire Department no one has lasted only 6 months.... What a loser you are..... You cried like a baby over the last 8 years cause Pagano got the Commisioners job over you !!!!! and all you did was call my friend an asshole and the worst Commisioner we ever had...... You even quit as President of the Officers Union cause you couldn't handle it ..... Well tony last 8 years as Commisioner and over 15 years as Union President......what kind of a man quits a job after only 6 months....if My parents taught me 1 thing it was to never be a quiter. Why did you even apply for this job..... How could guys think you are a stand up guy, you couldn't take a little heat so you quit. ...???.?.?.?.???..?

[Yonkers25]

Why does this sound like a threat... it will behoove you to watch your comments because this sounds like a threat coming from a person who claims to have been led by the commissioner (hence a YFD employee).... an interpretation like this does not look good on the YFD

[proudly serving yonkers]

Yes and Pagano was absolutely a stand up guy, let's see.....we'll start with "As long as I'm commissioner there will never be a woman on the YFD". Hmmmmmm, anyway moving on.... " The day they close companies I will resign", Kielb did the right thing, for 30k why deal with these people in city hall. We didn't back you against Amicone and we shouldn't have backed you now. It's clear whose running the city, Mikes to busy being on News 12 all the time. The city should bring in volunteers, that's exactly what we need vollies flying across the city and getting to fires just in time to watch your house and the two houses next to burn down. So just like this administration you sir have no clue what to do.