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January 16, 2005. He would like to attend the next meeting to be held on February <br />9, 2005, and placethis transferissue on that agenda. <br />FEO Ignacio stated that he has spokento Chief Oliveira regarding this issue. He <br />does feel that Chief Oliveira is doing a good job, but this particular issue has <br />raised a lot of eyebrows‚ within the department. He would like the HFC to visit <br />various Fire Stations to hear testimony among the numerous ranking officers. The <br />latest transfers did not go according topast administrative practices. In the past, <br />Chief Oliveira sent a memo stating that there were vacancies for different shifts <br />with various fire stations around theisland. All interested personnel were able to <br />send in a request for transfer. The administration would then pick and choose and <br />move people around to help benefit the department. On October 16, 2004, there <br />was a promotion where six or seven candidates were promoted to Fire Captain. <br />With the opening of the Volcano Fire Station and some personnel retiring at the <br />endoftheyear,therewereagainvacanciescreated.Therankingfiremenwerenot <br />given a chance to send in a request for transfer because many of them did not <br />know what vacancies were created. He would like the HFC to request that <br />Chief Oliveira do what was done in the past and let the membership know what <br />stations and platoons have vacancies. <br />Commissioner Fergerstrom thanked Mr. Ignacio for coming forward with his issue, <br />but because of the Hawai‹i Sunshine Law, his issue would not be discussed at the <br />present meeting and would have to be placed on the next HFC agenda. <br />FEO Ignacio requested that the HFC contact personnel at different stations to get <br />some feedback on this issue before the next meeting. <br />Commissioner Fergerstrom stated that the HFC would not be able to do that. <br />Commissioner Ward suggested that they contact the HFC instead. <br />FEO Ignacio thanked the HFC for allowing him to come forward with this issue. <br />Commissioner Fergerstrom asked Firefighter Christopher Langan if he would like to <br />make his statement to the HFC. <br />Mr. Sid Quintal introduced himself as Mr. Christopher Langan€s attorney. <br />Mr. Quintal stated that his client is a victim of workplace violence, which occurred <br />with another co-worker. Unfortunately, the HFD decided to resolve this problem by <br />what he and his client believe to be a punitive transfer. Mr. Langan was transferred <br />out of his North Kohala (B) Fire Station. After he and Mr. Langan examined the <br />situation it seemed that the department is unwilling and not equipped to decide <br />whether it is appropriate to determine which of the employees is wrong. As <br />documented, Mr. Langan was involved in a number of repeated situations with the <br />same co-worker, who was not disciplined and declined mediation. <br />9 <br /> <br />