Congrats Chief!

I think that the unanimous findings that the boro's case was not credible, not just "insufficient" should be emphasized. Not believable. And they didn't even have the guts to show their faces at the decision. The Gabriel brothers are incompetent and/or just interested in billable hours to let this debacle move forward as it was, now they want to appeal?! Mr. Gabriel, the commission stated that they have no dog in this fight because they wanted it on the record that this is a personal and political attack that is obvious to a disinterested observer. Is this your first civil service appeal? They clearly saw thru the lying testimony of council and the "manager" and your dog and pony show exhibits. You should be sued for legal malpractice for stealing taxpayer money and even further legal action as you allowed your clients to knowingly lie under oath. This isn't a political campaign smear literature drop or robo-call, this is testimony under oath.

Congratulations to Chief Ross

Good for Chief Ross. Voters - take note!

There is nothing in Commonwealth code that prevents a member of council from resigning in mid-term, or for that matter, the day after elections. I wonder how many of the council members who have been over-ruled will take the honorable way out and simply resign from council. I also wonder how many will continue to sully Dormont's reputation as the "Mount of Gold"; relatively intact since 1909, but nearly ruined by current council. Do the right thing and leave office early. You'll save face, and perhaps personal pecuniary liability, and make Dormont a better community.

Congratulations Chief Ross!!

A memo to council and boro managment:
In early 2010 you picked a fight with a well respected and very well qualified Fire Chief, all based on mis-information and really bad judgement on your parts. After the storm you created manifested itself into support from all over the South Hills as well as giving you all a solid dose of THE TRUTH, you did the right thing and unanimously overturned your decision and chose to support the Fire Chief.
Now here we are mid 2011, and the fight you picked with a well respected and very well qualified Police Chief just took a turn for the worse for YOU. Last night you got another dose of THE TRUTH, it's just sad that 95% of you were cowards and didn't show to take that dose. You made a decision based on mis-information (hence the over-ruling by the Civil Service Board) and worse than that, based on personality differnences. You are in the middle of the storm that you all created for yourselves. It it the 12th round, you are on the ropes, and you are about to go down.
So, please take the time to realize that you stand absolutely no chance in appealing your case. You now have a golden opportunity to show at least a little interest in doing the right thing here. DROP PHIL'S DEMOTION TO PATROLMAN AND DROP ANY BAD IDEA OF AN APPEAL OF LAST NIGHT'S DECISION. Another opportunity while you are at it, drop Dwyer and his budget busting $5500. You will need every dime of it to pay all of Phil's back pay!

I would think that if this Council goes through with an appeal it might be because of Gino trying to prove a point. He doesn't care about this borough he only cares about himself. He doesn't like Denny, look how that turned out. He doesn't like Phil look how it has turned out so far.

Nice to move forward. Would be even nicer if the court's time is spared of an appeal, and they all wiped to the slate clean to work better together. Also, shouldn't this reversal negate the demotion from Sargent to patrolman? He's chief of police now, so even if that demotion is upheld, they can't really demote him from sargent.... can they?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jeff & WOP2 very well said

It has been decided! The Chief is back! Therefore his demotion to patrolman should be negated No questions there. So,we no longer need an interim chief. I think $5,500 dollars should be enough for time served. Council should cut their losses now without costing the boro thousands more for useless attorney fees. I'm sure that if someone could get a pettition going for impeachment of certain council members and or the dissmissal of boro manager and assistant manager it would be filled with signatures!

Maria, good point. There is actually case law that shows residents have successfully sued council members for misappropration of tax payers money. This may be an aveune for the residents to take. I believe the boro is now $20,000.00 dollars over budget for legal fees for the year. Imagine that and we are just half way thru the year.

Good point Educating, but to sue this council would require them to use more of our tax dollars to give to there laywers. I have not got a reply on how the councils doing on cutting the overtime for the police they were so worried about. Last I heard, it isn't working too well and the police are working hard and with more overtime. Who will council blame this on besides themselves? Vote them all out in November....We need a slogan, like " they all must go" or "give us our borough back"..something that hits all the constituants. Then hire a boro manager that doesn't have a vendetta against our great police force...

so...to sue this council for misappropriations of tax payers money they would then still be able to missapropriate MORE of the tax payers money? One would think they should have to use their OWN money for a defense?....and I guess a simple pettition is out of the question? Maybe a pettition would at least get them to fire the inefficient managers? I am not a lawyer or a politician but maybe someone can figure out a way to stop this before November? I'm sorry if all I have are questions but i'm hoping someone will come up with an answer. I've actually been kind of proud to be a Dormonter but this council is making it hard to remain so.

I am so happy that Phil has won this case, however this never should have happened in the first place.. Joan Hodson is the only counsil member that has defended the mayor, the defense of the police dept, as well as Phil, so when November rolls around I hope that we all keep that in mind when voteing. I have been to the council meeting and heard her defending them with my own ears . As far as I'm concerned I have never seen a borough that has been mismanaged as this one.. From the simple things from the wasted money on flower pots and murals for the pool to the demotion and humiliation of the fire dept and police dept. The whole council with the exception of Joan Hodson and Tom Lloyd NEED TO GO! You waste taxpayers hard earned money on legal fees and personal issues with the police department. the dormont council is a disgrace. I have seen more mature teenagers. Do us all a favor step down....We would be better off without a council at all because in my honest opinion it can't get any worse. Joan Hodson has been the lone voice of reason and professional behavior.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_748691.html

And there you have it. If you disagree with this action please go to council and tell them so. In person. Make them look you in the eye and express your opinion. Call them, write them. Make them know your position as a citizen and taxpayer. It is YOUR MONEY and YOUR RIGHT.

Dwyer says in that article that it is up to council and the attorneys as to whether CHIEF ROSS will act as chief? I thought the demotion from chief was overturned in Tuesdays meeting and Chief Ross was to be reinstated with full back pay. Why then would he come back as a patrolman. He needs to come back as Chief as was ordered by a unanimous vote. If council spends another dime of the boros money on their appeal it NEEDS to come from their OWN pockets and in the meantime they need to follow the decision by the commission. How is ANYTHING up to the attorneys? They are Nothing to the citizens of Dormont If they are wanting to appeal do it Pro Bono better yet just GO AWAY!! Aren't there any attorneys living in Dormont who would want to sink their teeth into this incompetant council and their attorneys? Dwyer really needs to go because our Chif has been reinstated by the Civil Service Commision. His services are NO LONGER NEEDED

Some have suggested that the Boro funds would be used to defend council members against a lawsuit for breaching their oath to serve the community. I'm not a lawyer, but I am a lobbyist. I would suggest to you that there are likely any number of lawyers in Dormont that would take this work on pro bono, find the particular section of Pennsylvania borough code that has been violated, and show how a citizen could file a criminal complaint against the individual council person, or council as a whole. That complaint would be at the magesterial level (Blase' office), who would forward it on to the Allegheny County DA for prosecution. ANY INDIVIDUAL could file a suit in civil court. In either scenario, I am fairly certain there is a way that personal pecuniary liability kicks in. That's a fancy way of saying that the council person would be forced to use there own cash to defend themselves.

Maria:
Bravo! How astute, and I take it you are a citizen, not an attorney. Frankly, Dwyer's services were never needed. The justification for hiring him was police experience (I got that), no arrest authority (me too), and he can carry a gun openly (me too, and any other person not prohibited from firearms ownership) with certain limitations (sterile area of airport, post office, federal buildings, courthouses). Get Phil back in the saddle, drop the absurd demotion from sargeant to patrolman, send Dwyer packing, vote in November, and fire Rizza. Its just not that hard.

So if you read the trib article, you see the saga will continue. If Ross wins the 2nd appeal will Dwyer then step aside? I think not, who wants to pass up an admin job paying 5500 a month when you also have retirement income. Bing windfall. You can't blame him. Shouldn't Dormont's solicitor have a say in wether or not we should appeal these cases? We taxpayers really didn't lose any income while Phil was demoted until they hired Dwyer. Other than Attorney fees. I wish I could right out checks and have someone else pay for it! I think it is time to look for some where else to live this is crazy! But then you look at Obama and Congress and start to think maybe I should find a whole new country not just a community. Where is the sanity in all of this????? Sorry just a little rant. Doesnt matter where you are imperfect people make imperfect decisions. Lets hope this Geno character and his crew come to there senses before we end up like the dems and republicans.

So now we are paying for 2 Cheif's saleries. Still saving us money are ya ? Council is a run away freight train. They could stand to take some lessons from Joan Hodson. I feel she is the only voice of reason on this Council. She is dignified and respectful and acts in the best interests of Dormont residents. This crap needs to stop NOW. Take your appeal and shove it, Quit wasting OUR money now ! you lost get over it. Take the offer Joan presented and get mediation for FREE ! Better yet Council take your health benifits and go see a shrink. Your egos are out of control and maybe a few hundred hours on a couch will do you some good ! Face it you wont be short on time to do so because November is right around the corner and your services wont be needed, heck we dont need you NOW !

I agree Lorenzo

I also agree with you Lornezo..

What is the point of appealing, the borough lost and now they want a second chance as they were not prepared for the hearing so they want to spend more of Dormont tax payers money to take it to court, just accept it and get on with the business at hand. Chris Gabriel of course is Labor law Attorney and wants to get all the money he can get from the borough, is the Borough Solicitor in agreement with these going on's. Mr. Rizza and his cronies need to go. I have lived in this Borough for 34 years and have never seen anything like this. What is the reasoning of spending 17,900.00 on four GPS Trackers and Camera systems?

The panel stated [the evidence presented was], "...both insufficient, as a matter of law, and further finds that the evidence is not credible" This is a polite way of saying they thought they LIED. This group wants to continue to waste the taxpayer's money to appeal this? That's insane. According to the media the appeal was to have been filed either last night or today. What I want to know is who directed the attorney to file an appeal?

Let's hope patrolman Ross and chief dwyer get along!

I hope he won't be "patrolman Ross" for long and is reinstated as Chief Ross

According to Dan the appeal was filed. I would like to know when did Council vote on this? There has not been a voting meeting for them to vote. So there goes more money down the drain.

Let me remind everyone on just what a joke council made of themselves during the first hearing when council president who was sequestered and busted out right on receiving texts from a certain attorney during this hearing while being sequestered. Has any charges been filed on that ? And council thinks a appeal will hold water ? Their credibility is down the toilet, they need to just GIVE IT UP ! I think we should rent a fleet of donkeys so certain members of Council can follow Drew down West Liberty Ave when he rides his . Lets make it this November. Mary Pitcher, bring your camera ! And to Drew.......NEVER underestimate the POWER of an underestimated woman !

By the way when I see Phil Ross I WILL address him as CHIEF !

the .... is finally hitting the fan. why do you think tomasky retired with only 3 years left. he saw the writing on the wall and he was going down too. has not one of you heard about the blues overtime game. i say this is all karma. patrolman making over 150.000 a year in dormont is absurd. it is about time we clean out garbage in this police force. and again i wish mr drwyer would add up all the fines our mayor dimissed. with a lot of the same tickets being dissmissed for the same people, freind of your tom? seems the mayor takes care of his own. if we would have collected all this money maybe tom could have paid for the new acting chief, who seems to have his own agenda. Patrolman phil your are not above the law and you and that prehistoric mayor should just bow out with what little dignity you have left

Get over it dormont life timer. Your seat on council is comprimised by your actions. You are the minority with your feelings in the matter the majority will remember in November when they vote.. Enough is enough paying these attorneys and such. They need to take the free mediation being offered !

Maybe he left because of all this crap! This is still a small town and if the police and Mayor don't want to charge us 110 for the same ticket that can be charged 15 isnt that good cutomer relations? The Boro still makes the same off of tickets! The Mayor may cut people slack on tickets for good reason, have you looked at all the cases and asked why they were dismissed? Don't be so quick to judge others! Also I beleive your numbers are off on wages. Its easy to sit back and say that overtime is not needed until you are the one needing police protection! We border the city and it is important that we are protected! I feel safe in this community! Even if the leadership is in disaray.

Well, lets do the math $5500.00 x 4 =$22,000.00 WOW that's how much Dwyer will get if he stays 4 months not bad for a gig where so far he's going through old parking tickets?...PLEASE and as to Chief Ross's Aug 6 hearing about being demoted to patrolman over the dismantleling of GPS systems bought by Gino for $2000.00 (where they could have been gotten for free from Allegheny County) I thought i read that he was demoted from chief to sargent for that and if that is the case it already has been settled. Overturned by the commission He has been reinstated as Chief! He was the Chief of police when he directed officers to dismantle these. If anything Gino should be held accountable for the expense of these and the police department should get GPS systems from the county to be connected to 911 (NOT to Gino's laptop) After all the GPS units are for the safety and wellbeing of our officers...correct? And I too am a lifelong dormont resident. Just recently i had a minor incident that the police handled in a proffesional, courteous and timely maner. I have nothing but respect for our police department and what they are being put through right now sickens me. If nothing else this council does it should rethink the hiring of the boro managers and try to get it right before November.

wpoop2 you name makes my laugh also. why don't you worry about where you live. are you making threats to me? do i need an attorney i have read that you have had all kinds of jobs and keep repeating you carry a gun. does this make you feel manly to keep talking about your gun. and do you want a medal for all the jobs and knowlege you protest. you have said you don't even live in dormont, worry about your own town. and get off your high horse and pay attention to your community....oh and i see that besides all the jobs you say you've had your are now a spelling teacher. seems like you have so many connections in this boro, maybe nobody wants to hear your crap in your own town. you are a popular boy...you know cops, mayors and now constables. i have lived in dormont for over 30 years...and us old timers do know who the slacker cops are. so watching tv on the job and not wearing regulated bullet proof vests, passing by illegally parked cars. and disableling police car gps's is all in good faith with the dormont police. my question is what else are they hiding. maybe you could pictch in some tax dollars and maybe people will actually care what you have to save.

dormont life time residnet maybe you should try spell check befor you send something out? It sounds to me like WOP2 hit a nerve with you?

a fool, a pig, a nincompoop, low intelligence, no education ....annoyed by your comments, NOT AT ALL. i always consider the source of comments. and you seem to be a very lonely guy with a gun. waste of time am i...lol officer bill is just bill now...you really miss your power cop days. oh and now your a singing coach. watch you don't break your arm patting yourseld on the back. borm and raised i am waiting for the all power oz to teach me. and you are wasting all your talent and brains, on the patch, thats just ashame your knowlege is wasted on a comment blog. and your scare tactics don't effect me at all, they are so ex cop like. i can only guess your an ex-cop. because your surpreme attidude fits the bill. i am waiting for mr

dormont life time RESIDENT you are on this comment blog are you waisting all you talent, knowledge and brains on the patch?

Ok lets get the Bill retirement thing straight people. I know for fact that he chose retirement because another door opened for him at this junction of his life. so he closed the door on his employment here. He wont be sitting doing nothing as you would all like to think. He took this new venture in his life and I am happy for him and not so inclined to share with anyone here the details as they are Bill's personal business. I applaud him from stepping away from all the drama lama;s here. He has served this community well.......Thank you Bill !