We are ALL Relieved

The theatrics of Fire Chief Tom Burgasser would be most amusing if it were not for his dangerous level of misinformation.

In an effort to scare city council into passing the Extraordinary Mayor for Life's budget this past Friday, Burgasser was ready to call up the National Guard.

"With all due respect, I'd like to have one week's notice," Burgasser said. "I think that (Police) Chief (Robert) Williams would agree. We need to have time to call in the National Guard..." (Fire Chief Tom Burgasser, The Independent, March 26, 2011).

Council did pass an amended budget this evening that cut costs in the various city departments, thanks to the efforts of Councilman Larry Slagle, and without any help, whatsoever, from our Mayor for Life, and his Loyal Defender, City Auditor Jayne Ferrero.

Fire Chief Burgasser was relieved.

"I'm relieved I don't have to give the order I was going to give," said Burgasser, who discussed calling in the National Guard in the event of shutdown" (The Independent Web Site, March 30, 2011).

"I'm relieved I don't have to give the order I was going to give"

What order was that Chief Burgasser, your dinner order?

Because you have as much authority to call out the National Guard as Donald Duck does.

None.

Only two individuals may call up the Ohio National Guard.

The Governor of Ohio, in times of peace for state service.

The President of the United States for federal service.

The Presidential authority was established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States.

Our crack Massillon Review legal team has been scouring the Constitution looking for the clause that allows the Massillon Fire Chief to call up the National Guard. They just can't find it.

So Chief Burgasser, you were either trying to scare the town's citizenry so that members of council would roll over and rubber stamp the mayor's budget, or you are seriously challenged on understanding the scope and limits of your position.

Which is it?