Purzycki keeps ex-fire chief on to collect pension

Former Fire Chief Anthony Goode has been demoted, but not fired, the city announced Tuesday, a move that will allow him to work the additional months required to collect an early pension.

Goode will become a senior firefighter when he returns from vacation this spring, according to Mayor Mike Purzycki's office. He will be placed on "special assignment" for about five months until he is eligible to retire. He will be assigned a to-be-determined administrative assignment by the new chief and will not work in fire suppression, said John Rago,  Purzycki's deputy chief of staff for policy and communications.

Goode made $109,546.62 last year, the 12th highest paid employee in the city, according to Wilmington salary data. The agreement entitles him to half of that salary, plus benefits, according to Kevin Turner, president of the local firefighters union. The 43-year-old will get nearly two decades of paychecks ahead of the standard pension age of 62, Turner said, costing the State Municipal Police and Firefighter's Pension Plan over half a million dollars in the coming years.

"And that’s for the rest of your life," said City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh, chair of the public safety committee. "He’ll be collecting that until he’s 90 (or older)."

Purzycki said in a statement that he is anticipating push-back about his decision.

"I am well aware that the former chief has his critics, and some of them do not like the decision I have made," he said. "The former chief and I do not see eye to eye on the administration of the fire service, and that is why I made a change in command. But, those matters aside, I am comfortable that this decision is in the best interests of the city and of Anthony Goode and his family which includes his father who was a firefighter who died in the line of duty.”

Turner said the move is a "slap in the face" to the department from the mayor's office.

"They'll keep an engine closed every day but find money for a former chief that terrorized his men and women and brought morale to the lowest point in the history of the department," he said, referring to a cost-cutting measure implemented last year that closes Engine 6 during staffing shortages.

Turner said firefighters have felt "harassed" and "belittled" by Goode, who was appointed by Mayor Dennis P. Williams. The union submitted a "no confidence" letter to the city last March that stated the department is "broken" and requested help in removing Goode.

Goode did not immediately return calls for comment Tuesday.

Representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1590 refused to sign an agreement with the mayor's office, Turner said, calling the arrangement "a very bad precedent for the city,"

"They’re creating a position for him without going through the normal hiring process," he said. "If they do this, the city will have to ensure all the members of the current union are offered this benefit."

Purzycki said Goode's demotion "will not interfere with any member of the fire union in terms of any promotion or transfer for which any firefighter is entitled."

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The city code allows Goode's change of position, Rago said. He cited code sections 40-166 and 40-168, which states: "At the discretion of the department head(s) or commissioner(s) involved, employees may be temporarily transferred to any other position in the city service. Temporary transfer shall not exceed 30 working days, unless the parties mutually agree that such period may be extended."

Goode will need to retire on Oct. 13, according to the agreement proposed to the union. From now until then, Turner said, Goode could make a senior firefighter salary, which is around $59,000 to $62,000.

Walsh said she was "stunned" by Purzycki's decision.

"I think the mayor has a soft spot that shouldn’t be used in decisions such as this," she said.

Goode should have accepted there was a possibility Williams would not be re-elected, Walsh said.

"Every appointed person knows they could be fired a week, a month, a year after that job," she said. "If he was so worried about his pension, he never should've taken an appointed job."

City Councilman Bob Williams, a former firefighter, said the deal is fair.

"Honestly, the guy committed over 19 years of his life to the city of Wilmington," he said. "He doesn’t deserve a death sentence because he’s no longer the chief."

Williams called Purzycki "sensible."

"This was not a political foe he’s looking to exact revenge on," Williams said.

Goode will report to his replacement, Michael Donohue, the former deputy chief, whom Purzycki named last week. Turner said the department is pleased with that decision.

"He’s a very highly trained and experienced individual, and we look forward to working with him," Turner said. "He wants to have a cooperative relationship with the union and the union wants that with him."

As for Goode's retention, Turner said the union is prepared to fight.

"We will take whatever action we feel is appropriate to resolve this issue up to and including a lawsuit if that’s warranted," he said.

Contact Christina Jedra at (302) 324-2837 or cjedra@delawareonline.com.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited the city code section that allows for employee transfers.]