A firefighters union takes a vote of no confidence against the Monterey fire chief.

On Nov. 7, 87 percent of the 71 members of the Monterey Firefighters Association Local 3707 took a vote of “no confidence” in Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer, the union announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The public announcement was sudden but the discontent has been simmering for years, says MFA President Ross Pounds. After two significant injuries earlier this year and the departure of an experienced and respected firefighter to another agency, the situation came to boil.

“As opposed to moving in a more positive direction, it seems that things continue to deteriorate,” Pounds says. “Our morale is at an all-time low. We have people who have left the department and people who are looking to leave.”

The resolution – passed following guidelines outlined in state law and after months of discussion – lists numerous complaints against Panholzer’s leadership, including a failure to communicate the needs for new vehicles, equipment and station maintenance to the City of Monterey and contract agencies Pacific Grove, Carmel, Sand City and Monterey Regional Airport. The result, the union contends, is an aging fleet with substandard equipment that shuts down or malfunctions while fighting structure fires, as well as stations with mold, sewage leaks and leaking roofs.

Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar issued a written statement pointing out that the city has purchased two new fire engines and other vehicles at a cost of $4 million. While stating that he and the Monterey City Council take the vote of no confidence and firefighters’ concerns seriously, he also noted the timing of the vote coincides with a “contentious” binding arbitration process between the city and the union over a contract that expired in June 2022. Arbitrators are set to meet in December.

Pounds says the vote on Panholzer’s leadership is a separate issue from the union’s disagreements with city management over wages and benefits.

Both Pounds and Uslar emphasize that the no confidence vote will not affect service to the community.

Union representatives have met numerous times with Uslar and members of the City Council about their concerns, Pounds says. They decided to go public with the vote after seeing little response from city officials. Panholzer did not respond to a request for comment.

Panholzer was hired as chief in 2013. Four years later, he was fired by then-city manager Mike McCarthy in November 2017. A few weeks later, McCarthy was fired by the city council. Uslar, acting as interim city manager at the time, reversed the decision.