Johnstown firefighter criticized at meeting
Chief defends employee in response to remarks from Mayfield residentBy MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN - City Fire Chief Bruce Heberer on Friday defended one of his firefighters who was criticized by a Mayfield man during Monday's Common Council meeting at City Hall.
Paul Czupryk of 9 Woodside Ave., Mayfield - a local public-access TV host - addressed the council during the public speaker portion of the meeting.
He said he wanted to speak about the work habits of a Johnstown Fire Department employee who lives in Mayfield and is a member of the Mayfield Town Board.
Usually, such discussions about employees' job performance are limited to discussions by council members during closed-door executive sessions.
Czupryk did not name the city employee he spoke of, but Mayfield Town Clerk Dorothy Hart confirmed Town Board member Shawn Humphrey is employed as a city of Johnstown firefighter.
Czupryk said the firefighter in question earns $35,000 to $38,000 annually and "seems to spend more time at his Mayfield home" than the Johnstown fire station. Czupryk claimed he has compiled some records of the firefighter's personal time habits based on what he's seen, and he presented them to Slingerland and Heberer.
He said he would be requesting a copy of the employee's work records from the city.
Czupryk said the taxpayers of the city of Johnstown should be aware of the employee's work habits and that the firefighter in question has allegedly been home on certain weekends he should be working.
"I believe he should consider moving into Johnstown," Czupryk said.
Earlier this year, Czupryk made an unsuccessful run for election to the Mayfield Village Board of Trustees. In a March 12 letter to the editor of The Leader-Herald, he criticized one of his opponents in that race, incumbent Paul Wilde, claiming Wilde had been absent from several board meetings. Wilde was re-elected.
After Czupryk's remarks Friday, Heberer defended the firefighter, though he did not confirm Humphrey is the person in question. He said the firefighter joined the department in October. The chief defended the employee's work habits.
"He's never missed a day of work," Heberer said. "He's an outstanding employee and we've never had any problems with him."
Humphrey couldn't be reached for comment.
Mayor Sarah J. Slingerland on Friday defended the city's policy of allowing members of the public to speak at the bimonthly Common Council sessions.
"I still think we should have a public speaker section at our meeting," the mayor said. "I would not like to limit that."
Slingerland said her administration encourages public comments and she tries to remind speakers that city officials may not always respond.
"Our employees and our department heads are in compliance with their work duties," Slingerland said. "We monitor it very closely."
She said she "supposes" she could have limited Czupryk's statements because he is from Mayfield, but that wouldn't be right. The mayor said anyone has the right to speak to the council on city issues, even if they don't live in the city.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
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Apollo2000
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06-23-09 3:57 PM
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RETAPDSGT, so Mr. Czupryk is lying and Mr. Humphrey doesn't party until 3 AM? Is that what you are saying? Funny since that would make his elderly mother a liar too.
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Watchdog413
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06-23-09 2:06 PM
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It would have to be “public access” because no advertiser would allow this patient to speak in a public forum for fear of a boycott. I hear this is the second time this mouth has opened against someone to which he lost an election. Sour grapes should not be confused for legitimate concern for the public welfare about public employees. This never has been legitimate or even concern. Salaries of public employees are public record, by law. The leave used by public employees is usually contractual, not that anyone’s use of their leave should ever be a concern to Mr. Sourgrapes of Mayfield. Is it true that Mr. Sourgrapes has never been able to hold a real job. Has he always just filled-in and substituted for real employees. Is it true that no one would hire him because of this irrational behavior. Is it true that other neighbors moved away from this person because he could be a nosey-nut. I’m amazed that I wasted my time talking about this. I’ve really got to get a life. How about you Mr.
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Glad2Bgone
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06-23-09 11:23 AM
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Seems like everyone feels the same way here. Czupryk seems to cost the tax payers more money by wasting police officer's time. Maybe Shawn should keep a record of what this idiot does in his spare time. How funny this all is...Just more FC drama.
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Jtown2005
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06-23-09 10:22 AM
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i got to thinking after my earlier post. how would this be settled in the olden days. it would be settled in the street face to face or under the flag pole after school. if Mr Czuprk has a beef with Mr Humphrey he should speak with him face to face instead of running with his tail between his legs and talking all this smack over the tv, editorials, blogs and now city meetings. be a real man put the gloves on sit down and talk about this man to man or get over the fact that this individual is doing something real with his life and move on.
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Musicel
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06-23-09 10:00 AM
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Mr. Paul Czupryk's slanderous comment is out of order and abusing the privilege of free speech. He should find something more constructive to do with his time.Unfortunately, there are individuals who are simply just mean.
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uzreason
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06-23-09 9:29 AM
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Anyone that has ever had to deal with this idiot should not be suprised. Any wonder why no school districts (and he's applied to them all) will hire him? Gee, I just can't understand why he wasn't elected to public office???
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RETAPDSGT
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06-23-09 9:16 AM
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The original complaint from Mr. Czupryk is that Mr. Humphrey parties often into the wee hours of the morning, 2 to 3 AM. Apollo2000 said...I would have to ask how this person would know this...if they were not there. I was there when someone called the police and reported a loud party. The police drove by and did not stop because there was no party. I had to literally yell for the poilce to stop and see for themslefs that there was no party. I asked the officer who made the complaint and I was told it came in anonymously.If this were a real complaint why then would the complaintant not want to give his name. If this is not harassment I am not sure what is.
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resident69
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06-23-09 8:32 AM
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Sounds like someone is a sore loser and does not know the work schedule of the Johnstown Fire Department. If this firefighter was missing from work people would notice. It's not like he was spending time at a girlfriends house in Johnstown. I agree with someone else that this clown should be sued by the firefighter.
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chiseler
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06-23-09 8:31 AM
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Wow! Are we talking wack job here or what?
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RETAPDSGT
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06-23-09 7:32 AM
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I agree with Mayor Slingerland, people do have the right to voice their opinion, and this right for Mr. Czupryk to voice this opinion comes from the all the Dedicated Public Employee's who dedicate their lives to keep these rights for all of us to enjoy. After having read all these comments, I believe these tell the True story. "Czupryk claimed he has compiled some records of the firefighter's personal time habits based on what he's seen, and he presented them to Slingerland and Heberer." Last I knew Firefighters also have their right to their private life. Mr Czupryk really needs to respect peoples private life's. Mr Czupryk has crossed the line with his invasion of privacy which we are all entitled to. I am not a lawyer but I believe this is Harassment.
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ohjuststopitnow
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06-22-09 11:19 PM
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"I believe he should consider moving into Johnstown," Czupryk said. <---- Ummm this has to do with his work hours HOW? This attempt at getting the man fired is WAY over the line IMO. And that above quote pretty much bottom lines it at to what the "public speaker" has been attempting to do. He posted on the local message board asking if there were residency laws for Johnstown Firefighters, which there are not. And now he goes after the man at his place of employment, as a Firefighter who according to the Chief is a good employee who has a great attendance record? I mean really...........c'mon. Imagine *GASP* if Mr Humphrey and his wife had a baby that cried at night, or was colicky? Would Czupryk be rallying for laws to ban newborns in Mayfield too? (A reach I know, but sadly it doesn't seem like much of a stretch now that he's gone after the man at his job.
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paytonsmom
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06-22-09 10:57 PM
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I would LOVE to see Mr.Humphrey sue Mr.Zooprick for defamation of character, because he's done it a million times. Zooprick should move and see that people everywhere have lives...its not just the hardworking Mr.Humphrey who enjoys his time off outside in his PRIVATE yard! This twisted neighbor (zooprick) is disgusting and needs to get slapped on the wrist for the **** he does. Consequences should be given!
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ginterman
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06-22-09 8:41 PM
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This time Mr. Czupryk has gone to far with his personal issue with Shawn. People like him should not be allowed to waste other people's time in other towns like he has here in Mayfield. This kind of behavior is why has always he never wins anything he runs for here in Mayfield. He's a NUT CASE that has no clue what is really going on in this world and needs to get the facts before speaking out and making a total ass of himself.
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Shadow224
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06-22-09 7:22 PM
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This guy is a tool!! He doesn't live in Johnstown and should mind his own business! Just because he has a problem with his neighbor Mr. Humphrey it doesn't give him the right to voice his opinion in front of the City Officials that employee Humphrey. I have a great idea....Why doesn't he move!!!
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Scarecrow57
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06-22-09 7:02 PM
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This ZooPrick is an idiot. If he has a personal problem with the individual in question he should seal with it there. Going to Johnstown to complain there only show what a real moron he is. Sounds like he need s to get back on the meds.
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CJmajor
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06-22-09 5:43 PM
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don't the firefighters around here work 24 hour shifts when they stay at the station then have 2 days off before working again.... this guy is a moron....if the guy wants to party it up on his days off let him....he runs into burning buildings for a living...hell id drink!
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lizzie
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06-22-09 5:42 PM
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Apollo2000 - the voice of reason.
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woody10112
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06-22-09 5:08 PM
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Are you kidding me!! This guy is a joke i guess he has to get attention somehow i guess his own slot on local tv isnt cutting it so he has to go a common council meeting and talk dirt on a public offical.GO LAY DOWN Czupryk!
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Apollo2000
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06-22-09 4:57 PM
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Tragically, what was a legitimate complaint has turned into a circus. The original complaint from Mr. Czupryk is that Mr. Humphrey parties often into the wee hours of the morning, 2 to 3 AM. If this is true, Mr. Humphrey is at best being inconsiderate and a bad neighbor, and at worst is causing hardship for Mr. Czupryk and his elderly mother. Has Mr. Czupryk handled the matter properly? IMO no. But neither has Mr. Humphrey. The parties should stop at 11 PM. Then if Mr. Czupryk complains, it's illegitimate.
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Frmerres
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06-22-09 4:41 PM
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OOPS! It's supposed to be "WHAT", not "shat"....
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Frmerres
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06-22-09 4:40 PM
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What a colossal whiner Czupryk is. Hasn't anyone ever told him that he should have outgrown that tendency in his early teens? He must be under the (false) impression that people give a tinker's*****about what crazy splat (Ha! They'll print that, Glad2) comes out of his piehole when he opens it. In stead of stalking Humphrey, why isn't he doing something POSITIVE for his community? Shat a bozo.
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Glad2Bgone
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06-22-09 4:30 PM
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you can't say*****so I'll say toot....but you can say butt?
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Glad2Bgone
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06-22-09 4:30 PM
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Is Mr. Czupryk a stalker? hey Shawn, don't*****because Mr. Czupryk's nose is right up your butt!
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nonmondaymornqrtrbck
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06-22-09 4:18 PM
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Humphrey should sue...give a guy a local TV program and he thinks he is Geraldo!! IDIOT!!!
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IKnooow
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06-22-09 2:53 PM
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And bravo for J'town City Council keeping the doors open and the floor available for people to participate in their local government, even if the occasional blowhard slips in.
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