Hamtramck Star

I think its kind of ironic that in one of the PICs it shows a brand new unit heater installed where a steam supply pipe was. It would take HOURS to remove a boiler that size. No one seen anything??

Someone saw enough to call the EPA.

We may have a picture of the boiler around here somewhere. It must have weighed several hundred pounds and hadn't been used in a long time. There was an interesting story about the acquisition of a forced air furnace in The Citizen around 1985.

I just got word that an appeal of this decision was heard in Circuit Court about an hour ago. The judge ousted Szafzarczyk as chief, and he is no longer allowed at the fire station without escort.

Some elected officials or appointees seem to believe that the law does not apply to them as it does to the rest of us.
Enough of this arrogance and looking the other way.
The spotlight should shine even more on everyone in City Hall and all the public services in every city.
Time to weed and seed.
I feel for the firefighters exposed to asbestos and the lawsuits have just begun.

The fire station and it's contents, no matter how outdated, belong to the people of Hamtramck.

If the boiler was in fact stolen, it seems like a criminal charge is in order.

What ever happened to the bid process ? It seems that the chief and city council do not play by the rules they create. Remember this one, "Any work being done in the city shall go through the bid process, and be done by a licensed contractor" Who were these people who removed the boiler from the station ? Were they licensed ? Were they trained in asbestos removal ? Did they have a scrappers license to dump the iron and asbestos removed ? Where did the money go from the sale of the City of Hamtramcks property ? Who authorized this ? Somebody better wake up to this chiefs antics !!!

So, just to get it straight, the fire chief sent the guys in the station out on "unscheduled training" and then (allegedly) proceeded to remove the boiler while his own personnel was out of the building? Was there any intention to replace the boiler or was it just stolen? I'm just trying understand what's happened at the fire station.

The boiler has been out of service since the 80s so I don't suppose there was any intention of replacing it. It was simply removed leaving the asbestos mess and a $3,000 fine.

Our sources also indicated that the evidence locker was cleaned out.

Bill: I heard that a bid for the work was submitted by another company not long ago. (Langley, maybe?) It would be interesting to see what their proposal was.

rh: Yes, as unbelievable as it is, that is what we heard. Several people were involved in the removal. Though some say he was fired, some say he resigned, and others say he was ousted by a judge, I am 100% sure that Szafzarczyk is no longer employed by the city.

I'm just a bit confused as to why the city gets the fine rather than the people who obviously did the deed. Are there any charges pending? Why isn't the city making a big deal out of this, as in, "hey, jerk-off, you owe us $3000 and a replacement for the boiler you took, and while you're at it, clean up the mess with the asbestos?" It can't be much of a secret who's responsible.

stealing a huge boiler and leaving

The former chief has been stealing from both the Department and the Union members that occupy that space since 2000 when he got promoted.
I can say with all confidence that if it is not nailed to the floor szafarczyk would find a way to turn a profit for himself. He would even steal a few bags of ice,out of a ice machine that was purchased with Union funds most days and take them to his favorite eatery in exchange for free food.

And I have yet to speak of all the overtime he generated for himself. As citizens I would like to think that you are aware that all the overtime the chief got due to crawford cutting the workforce in half in 2006(on szafarczyks advice) was by court order given back to the Union members. And I am talking about many 10's of thousands of dollars!!!

Was the chief ever asked to repay that money... Anyway he is gone,finally,....As the HIGEST PAID RETIREE IN HAMTRAMCK HISTORY,BY THE WAY!!

As a side note,in his unparrelled vindictiveness,before he left, he found the time to cut the firefighters festival booth canvas top to pieces with a razor knife. And this was crawfords #1 guy(spy)
The city would have been better off if both had never came to Hamtramck!

I would be willing to bet that if he were charged with STEALING that furnace,if called to testify,the
Firefighters working the day of the incedent would be more than willing to help nail his azz to the wall.

Also...next time you see a City official,ask them if they know if there are any sets of turnout gear that the Firefighters wear as protection missing. They will say "I don't know". But the fact is that there are. At a few thousand dollars a pop...well I think you get the drift!

Why do I get the feeling that nothing will be said??? And yes I am a proud member of the best fire department in S.E Michigan... H.F.D.!

Who can prosecute this guy and why haven't they done it? Isn't there someone responsible for like, law and order?

The city or county prosecutor would have to bring charges.

Why haven't they? Good question.