TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WAND) – The Taylorville firefighter’s union has elaborated on why it took a vote of no confidence against a department leader.
Taylorville Professional Firefighters Local No. 3144 says Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Goodall created an “undermining work environment”. The union claims he gossiped about the performance of other firefighters instead of approaching them directly, questioned the decisions of Fire Chief Mike Crews behind his back and went to Taylorville’s mayor with an ultimatum against Crews.
In a letter to Crews dated on Aug. 7, the union said Goodall talked with department members about how to keep another person from receiving a promotion.
The union says Goodall’s actions created a “tense” work situation and low morale in the department. It says meetings with Taylorville leaders did not reach a conclusion it can agree with.
WAND-TV reached out to Crews on Thursday afternoon, who told the station he is working with the city and union on reaching a solution but declined to comment further. Mayor Bruce Barry previously told the station he has “all the confidence in the world” in Goodall, adding that the assistant chief has his “full backing”.
