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LoBuglio defends EMS survey

King George Supervisor John LoBuglio defended his survey that was emailed anonymously last month to at least 40 former EMS volunteers, targeting Fire and Rescue Chief David Moody.

At the June 5 meeting, LoBuglio appeared determined to go forward with obtaining and reviewing results from the survey despite public criticism from King George Fire & Rescue leadership. He also said whether he brings the results to the board depends on the responses to the survey.  

(See related article in this issue outlining EMS volunteer and Board member comments. Also, view the June 5 meeting at www.journalpress.com (click on “Links”), along the complete text of the controversial survey.)

LoBuglio’s comments had a large audience containing at least 20 uniformed EMS members and another 10 plus supporters. 

Read more: LoBuglio defends EMS survey

email from former supervisor Steve Wolfe

Mr. LoBuglio,
 
I am writing to express my dismay at your participation in the fire and rescue “questionnaire” matter as reported yesterday in the Free Lance-Star.  I assume you were quoted accurately, if not then perhaps you might want to correct the record. That the people you are working with on this matter harbor ill will toward Chief Moody is not in doubt, but it is not my purpose here to pass judgment or express an opinion about the validity of those resentments because as an outsider I am not in a position to do so. Do you seriously believe however, that a document prepared by people with a grudge against the Chief, containing pejorative questions that reflect those grudges, and sent to an audience that likely harbors many of the same grudges is going to produce balanced and objective data?  Do you really believe that?  You might get one or two answers supportive of the Chief, but it goes against all common sense to believe that that the majority of responses will be anything but critical of him.  I’m hardly an expert in public opinion polls, but I do know enough about the business to know that polls can get almost any result they want depending upon the wording of the questions, and in this case I’m willing to bet that the results will largely be a self-fulfilling prophesy.
 
Your role in this matter is also unsavory because, as you are well aware, the County has a process in place, involving both paid and volunteer staff and officials to address the concerns raised in the consultant’s report you received on the issue. I share many of those concerns as a citizen, but as a government official who had a hand in fashioning that response, you would do well enough to let the process run its course and then deal with it at the appropriate time.
 
I am also dismayed by your constant blindsiding of your colleagues on the Board, which you seem to enjoy. Of course you had no legal obligation to inform your colleagues of your actions in this matter, but I find it incredible that you didn’t have the common courtesy to inform them of your leadership in an issue that has County-wide ramifications. At a minimum, you should have informed your Chairman, but instead Mr. Brooks apparently had to find about it from a newspaper reporter.  You offended Mr. Brooks two-fold, first by not informing him in his role as Chairman, but also in his role – of which you are well aware of – as the Board’s liaison to the fire and rescue services.  As a former supervisor myself, I am well aware that you had no legal obligation to inform anybody, but you did have a gentlemanly, and I would also say, ethical,  obligation to inform your colleagues of something so important.
 
Finally I am puzzled by your statement in the very last paragraph of yesterday’s article in which noted that “LoBuglio said neither Sullivan nor any members of his family, who currently volunteer in Port Royal, were involved in the questionnaire.” As you are aware, the article had a link to the questionnaire, which I downloaded to read for myself.  I have a question for you however:  Are you not familiar with the “Properties” function on a Word file?  If you right-click on a Word document’s icon, a box will pop up with a “Properties” box which you can click to get information such as file size, the date it was created, and also….the AUTHOR.  Imagine my amazement when I saw that the author of the questionnaire was none other than Pete Sullivan, just seconds after reading your statement that neither Mr. Sullivan and his family had anything to do with it!  Care to explain, Mr. LoBuglio?
 
As a private citizen I want to express my dismay with your behavior in this matter, and as a former county supervisor and board chairman, I am doubly dismayed that you cannot seem to show your colleagues the respect and basic common decency they deserve as duly elected public officials. I think you owe them, and especially Chairman Brooks,  a public apology for going behind their backs, but hey, that’s just my opinion.
 
Steve Wolfe

Volunteer Questionnaire

King George Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Questionnaire to assist in the review of the Volunteer Program in
King George County, Virginia.


This questionnaire is provided to you in the hope that you will take a few minutes and answer the questions completely, honestly, and without fear of any type of reprisal.   Additional space is provided for your comments. If more space is needed, please feel free to add as much paper as needed to explain your answers and/or explain your point.

All answers and comments will be held in confidence and will be only used as a means to review and improve the Volunteer Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services of King George County. Individual names are only to be used as a means to verify that you were a member of the King George Volunteer service.

 It is intended that only former Volunteer personnel of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services participate in this effort Again the name is used only to verify you were a Volunteer in King George County, the Information that you provide is the important issue.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a former member of King George Fire & Rescue would you like to participate in this questionnaire;
(  ) Yes  
(  ) No

If No, thank you for your time and we request that you respond back with your answer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 A.  When did you last serve as a member of King George Fire & Rescue _____________________________


2 B.  How long were you a member of King George Fire & Rescue _________ years.


3.  As a former member, you were an; (check the appropriate box or boxes)
(  ) active firefighter,
(  ) active EMS responder,
(  ) administrative,
(  ) Junior,  
(  ) Auxiliary,
(  ) Honorary member,
(  ) Special Category,
(  ) Other ____________________________________________________________________________  
____________________________________________________________________________________


4. As a former member of King George Fire & Rescue; what did you see as a problem with the Volunteer Organization that caused you to leave;  
(  ) The Volunteer Operational Officers,  
(  ) The Volunteer Administrative Officers,
(  ) The County Fire Chief
(  ) I don’t think some of the Operational Officers knew what they were doing,
(  ) I don’t think some of the Administrative Officers knew what they were doing,
(  ) Some of the Operational Officers didn’t have the training I did but they were promoted   
(  ) I wasn’t allowed to take the Training Classes that others were allowed to take
(  ) The County Fire Chief had two sets of rules - one for the Volunteers and one for the Career
(  ) Other _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________


5. As a former member of King George Fire & Rescue; why did you leave the organization;
(  ) The training requirements were too much
(  ) I didn’t have the time
(  ) Too much going on that I didn’t agree with
(  )  The fact that the County Ordnance (of 06/17/2008) was unduly imposed on the Volunteers
(  )  The fact that, anything I purchased to use on calls became property of the County
(  )  The fact that the Volunteers had absolutely no rights of Grievance under the (06/17/2008) Ordnance
(  )  The fact that I could be tossed out for any reason by the County Chief without “Due Process”
(  )  There was no avenue of appeal of any decision of the County Chief
(  )  I don’t think the County Chief had idea what he was doing
(  ) Other  ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________


6. As a former member of King George Fire & Rescue, would you consider rejoining the organization;
(  )  NO,
(  )  Yes, if some real changes were to be made


7.  You said “Yes, if some real changes were to be made), what would be the changes you would like to see;
(  ) Dismiss Current County Fire Chief,
(  ) Keep Current County Fire Chief but severely limit his authority,
(  ) Create a Fire, Rescue, and EMS Advisory Board,
(  ) Abolish or amend the Fire, Rescue, and EMS Ordnance of 06/17/2008,
(  ) Keep the Fire, Rescue and EMS Ordnance of 06/17/2008 but rewrite it with Volunteer Input as well as Advisory Board Input.
(  ) Give the Volunteers the same rights under “Due Process” as the Career Personnel
(  ) Give the Volunteers the right to a fair hearing if/when they were accused of wrong-doing
(  )  Other ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________  


8.  Do you think a Fire, Rescue, and EMS Advisory Commission should be created in King George County;
(  ) Yes
(  ) No


9.  If a Fire, Rescue, and EMS Advisory Commission were to be created, how would you suggest it be staffed;



 
10.  Do you believe this Fire, Rescue, and EMS Advisory Commission should be granted authority to answer or report only to the King George Board of Supervisors.
(  ) Yes
(  )  No


11.  Do you believe it is “Very Wrong” that the Volunteers are granted absolutely no rights under the Fire, Rescue, and EMS Ordnance of 06/17/2008.
(  ) Yes
(  ) No


12.  Do you believe it is “very wrong” that a Volunteer shall not be allowed to Grieve any action taken against them, but shall be allowed to file a petition of appeal with the County Administrator, the County Administrator may determine the appeal at his/her sole discretion and in his/her timeframe.
(  )  Yes, I believe that is “very wrong”
(  ) No, I don’t believe that is “very wrong”
(  ) Other ____________________________________________________________________________



13.  Do you believe that a Fire, Rescue, and EMS Advisory Commission would be a fair and reasonable way to resolve an accusation of wrong-doing,
(  ) Yes,
(  ) No



14.  Is there anything you are concerned with that has not been asked on the questionnaire
(  )  Yes
(  )  No
Please explain ______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________


15.  If you return to King George Fire & Rescue what Certifications do you currently have;
(  )  Firefighter I
(  )  Firefighter II
(  )  Basic Pump Operator
(  )  Driver/Pump Operator
(  )  Rural Water Supply
(  )  EVOC - _______
(  )  Basic Vehicle Rescue
(  )  Heavy and Tactical Rescue
(  )  CPR
(  )  First Responder
(  )  EMT- _____
(  )  Instructor - _____
(  )  Officer - ______
(  )  Safety Officer
(  )  NIMS- ____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____,
(  )  Other _________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________


16.  As a former member of King George Fire & Rescue what Apparatus were you released to Drive/Operate;
(  )  Utility - _____, _____, _____
(  )  Ambulance - _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____
(  )  Brush - _____, _____,
(  )  Response - _____, _____, _____
(  )  Engine - _____, _____, _____, _____
(  )  Tanker - _____, _____
(  )  Rescue Squad - 1
(  )  Ladder Truck - 1
(  )  Boat - _____, _____, _____
(  )  Dive Support – 1
(  )  Other ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________



Name of Individual completing this Questionnaire

Print Name - _______________________________________________  

Sign Name - ________________________________________________
    



Please return this form within 10 Calendar days to:

By US Mail to;
Clarence “Moose” Dobson
P.O. Box 437
King George, Virginia  22485


Note – All returns will be held by Mr. Dobson and will be used as a means of assessment of the Volunteers of Fire, Rescue, and EMS of King George.  None of the names of individuals who supplied information will be released.  The honest information is what is important.   

LoBuglio’s answers spawn questions about EMS survey

The complete text of emails between Supervisor John LoBuglio, The Journal, and the one to him from Steve Wolfe, former supervisor, can be found here, along with the text of the EMS survey.

LoBuglio’s answers spawn questions about EMS survey

King George Supervisor John LoBuglio is taking responsibility for a May 14 email survey to “All Former Members of King George Fire & Rescue” that went out anonymously.

The survey was authored by Pete Sullivan. Sullivan was a long-time volunteer who was fired by Chief David Moody back in 2009. Sullivan appealed that decision to the county administrator and the firing was upheld. Sullivan had publicly aired his grudge at the time and at other opportunities since.  

But LoBuglio first went on the record denying that Sullivan had any involvement in the survey. He then backtracked when presented with evidence to the contrary, admitting Sullivan was involved in a limited way.  

LoBuglio’s answers have spawned additional questions. One big question is in regard to LoBuglio’s motive for working behind the scenes with Sullivan on a survey that provides answer-options that largely point blame at the county chief. 

Read more: LoBuglio’s answers spawn questions about EMS survey