I've just read the article that appeared in The Citizen newspaper dated March 23, 2008: “Firefighters may shun talks.”

Ever since Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh was hired, it's been one thing after another.

• First, he had a plan on garbage pickup, even though we the taxpayer said no numerous times (to the former city manager).

• Second, the late, lost grant money. That will cost us all.

• Third, the dog issue -- what a joke!

• Fourth, he had a plan for fire department overtime. If overtime money was saved, he would let the fire department buy a new truck. That wasn't one of his smarter moments, and I hope he reconsiders it.

• Fifth, the lawyer fiasco.

• Sixth, trying to intimidate Family Video.

We are fortunate to live in a city that has the best police and fire departments in the state.

Instead of our elected officials nickel and dime-ing them to death, maybe we should make some fast, aggressive changes at City Hall.

I ask you: If your house is ablaze with your children inside, do you care how many fireman are on the shift?

In a house fire you only have less than five minutes before it's considered a major fire and you may not get out.

We as taxpayers should demand that this dictator of a city manager be fired at once.

We simply can't afford him.

Robert Fitzmaurice

Auburn