Yonkers Fire Commissioner steps down after six months in office

[INIT915 1,119]

http://www.lohud.com/article/20120628/NEWS/306280114/Yonkers-fire-commissioner-stepping-down-after-6-months?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

YONKERS — Fire Commissioner George Kielb is resigning just six months after he was appointed by the new mayor.

[Just a guy 493]

lohud and the yonkers tribune are reporting that Police Commissioner Gardner will be the interim Fire Commissioner until a new fire commissioner is hired

[Dinosaur 844]

Sad that even the political appointees can't work with their masters.

[SmokeyJoe 161]

A real loss for the YFD

[tommyguy 104]

Tough time to be the Yonkers Commish.

[AMISHFF 26]

This is a great opportunity to restructure City services and have a unified public safety commisissoner. Sad to see Kelb go after such a short time. Great guy bad timing.

[Bnechis 3,961]

This is a great opportunity to restructure City services and have a unified public safety commisissoner.

If that was such a good concept there would be more than a few hundred communities out of the 33,000 fire depts and however many police depts in the us.

Most places one service becomes the bastard step child and there is no one to bring the fight to the elected officials. With a police and fire commissioner, at least they get to argue the depts case.

[SmokeyJoe 161]

If that was such a good concept there would be more than a few hundred communities out of the 33,000 fire depts and however many police depts in the us.

Most places one service becomes the bastard step child and there is no one to bring the fight to the elected officials. With a police and fire commissioner, at least they get to argue the depts case.

As always, the good captain is right on target. Good point, B!

[AMISHFF 26]

If that was such a good concept there would be more than a few hundred communities out of the 33,000 fire depts and however many police depts in the us.

Most places one service becomes the bastard step child and there is no one to bring the fight to the elected officials. With a police and fire commissioner, at least they get to argue the depts case.

It has to start somewhere. Obviously the administaration in Yonkers wants change and a good man has resigned. An outsider sometimes is not the best option vs trying something new. Hard days ahead are written clearly for the our brothers down there.

Edited June 30, 2012 by AMISHFF

[YFD216 2]

Usually there is a Chief of department under a unified Commissioner.YFD gave up the Dept chief to go to the commissioner,YFD now has neither. No Offense but a PD or uninformed civilian who is a puppet for the powers that be is a no win for the FD.The guys and gals are in for a tough fight but need to watch out for each other so everyone goes home.

[redtruck75 24]

Worked with Commissioner George Kielb as a firefighter,Lt., Capt., and Chief. He was a great firefighter and officer,always gave 100 percent never a slacker. Good luck in your retirement George.

[IzzyEng4 427]

This is a great opportunity to restructure City services and have a unified public safety commisissoner. Sad to see Kelb go after such a short time. Great guy bad timing.

It has to start somewhere. Obviously the administaration in Yonkers wants change and a good man has resigned. An outsider sometimes is not the best option vs trying something new. Hard days ahead are written clearly for the our brothers down there.

They tried the "Public Safety Department" concept at my place and it failed miserably. I won't get into details but the "Public Safety Chief" was let go. We are back to a separate FD and PD respectively and both chiefs report to a public safety oversight committee.

[1911 34]

+100 what Redtruck75 said. We both worked with George Kielb for many years and went to many tough jobs with him..

he is %100 for the men, a stand up guy and would never be a "yes man"...enjoy your retirement, Chief..you earned it..

[ny10570 745]

he is %100 for the men, a stand up guy and would never be a "yes man"

Why do I get the feeling this had something to do with his early and sudden exit.

[YFD216 2]

Totaly agree with comments about george ,great person,leader and am proud to call him my friend. Remember working with him when he was new at "THAT HOUSE" in the good old days. The dept is loosing a real asset. I wish him all the best, he deserves it

[JOB114 41]

It looks like Comm. Kielb was vindicated. I guess the new guy coming in also told the Mayor and Dep Mayor that he could not operate safely with only one Batt. Chief. The second Batt. will be open again 24/7. Safety first

[FirNaTine 370]

At least YFD appoints someone with a firefighting background and knowledge of the Fire Service not like other Municipalities. I still like NRFD's policy, have a Chief/Commissioner and due away the two individual positions.

[Bnechis 3,961]

At least YFD appoints someone with a firefighting background and knowledge of the Fire Service not like other Municipalities. I still like NRFD's policy, have a Chief/Commissioner and due away the two individual positions.

We no longer have a commissioner, just a chief.