Detroit Fire Fighters Ass'n Local No. 344 v. Board of Fire Commissioners

366 Mich. 45

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: March 16, 1962
• Docket: Docket No. 62, Calendar No. 48,896
• Status: Published

Opinions

Kelly, J.

The Detroit Fire Fighters Association and its president, Robert Tighe, filed their bill of complaint (January 20, 1960) seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to restrain promotion of Harold C. Reinelt to the position of battalion chief, fire fighting division, of the Detroit fire department. A Wayne circuit court trial, primarily upon stipulated facts and exhibits, resulted in a decree holding the promotion of Reinelt -improper and decreeing its permanent restraint.

Appellants contend the court erred: (1) In finding the board of fire commissioners violated the charter of the city of Detroit in promoting defendant Reinelt to the permanent position of battalion fire chief; (2) In determining that the bill of complaint seeking a declaration of rights and an injunction was a proper remedy to review the action of the board in making a promotion; and (3) In failing to find plaintiffs guilty of laches.

Title 4, chapter 15, of the charter of the city of Detroit reads in part as follows:

“Sec. 1. There shall be a board of fire commissioners, consisting of 4'members, which shall have charge of the fire department. * * * •

“Sec. 7. The powers and duties of the board, ■which shall be exercised and performed as herein .provided, and in accordance with the general ordinances of the city, shall be. as follows:

“(a) It shall possess and exercise fully all the powers and perform all the duties pertaining to the government, management, maintenance and direction of the department and of the premises and property thereof; * * *

“Sec. 12. Promotions in the fire department shall be based on length of service therein. -The officers or employee thereof having served the longest period in any position shall be advanced to fill any vácancy in the next higher position, if he shall have the qualifications therefor.”

■■ The minutes of the fire commission’s meeting held November 15,. 1951, contain the following excerpt: '

“Seniority not affected by civil defense assignments

“Communication .from Captain Arthur M. .Rutledge, assistant fire coordinator, civil defense, approved and forwarded by Ninnian C. Higby, chief of department, requesting an opinion from the commission relative to seniority status of members of the firefighting division assigned to and/or temporarily promoted to the office of civil defense, and whether or not such members while holding the assignment or promotion would be entitled to maintain his rightful seniority in the 'firefighting division and be eligible for any higher position caused by vacancies.

“It was directed that members of the firefighting division assigned to or temporarily promoted to higher positions under the civil defense program of the department would lose no seniority because of such temporary promotion and that such members of the firefighting division will be considered for permanent promotions in their rightful order of seniority.”

December 18, 1951, members of the department were notified that if they were interested in joining the civil defense division they should submit applications to the chief of the department.

Reinelt, who had joined the fire department in 1928, promoted to fire sergeant in 1947 and fire lieutenant in December, 1951, submitted his application for civil defense assignment and on January 17, 1952, the board notified the civil service commission that Reinelt had been promoted to battalion fire chief of the civil defense division, snch promotion to become effective upon approval of the civil service commission. Approval was given effective January 21, 1952, but not to exceed January 1, 1954.

From this first appointment of Reinelt’s in January, 1952, to January 5, 1960, the several periodic requests of the board for civil service approval of extension of time for Reinelt to act as battalion fire chief of the civil defense division were each asked for and granted on a temporary basis.

The following is from the minutes of the meeting of the board of fire commissioners, held on June 14, 1954-

“Promotions, Fire Captain

“The commission then proceeded to fill vacancies in the position of fire captain caused by the retirement of Curtis F. Cline and temporary promotion of H. C. Reinelt to assistant civil defense coordinator. The names of the following eligible fire lieutenants who are at the top of the list were considered in accordance with section 12, chapter 15, title 4 of the charter of the city of Detroit, the rules and regulations of the civil service commission and the decision rendered by Judge Homer A. Ferguson of the circuit court, in the order of seniority:

“Harold C. Reinelt Harvey Rader

“The names of the .above eligibles were given careful consideration in order of seniority and their qualifications discussed. Chief of Department Blohm stated that Lieutenants Reinelt and Rader had'satisfactorily passed the physical examination ' and are recommended by him for promotion at this timé; and, further, Lieutenant Reinelt who has been assigned to the civil defense division, as assistant civil defense coordinator since January of 1952 will ■ continue in that capacity. ■. .

. “The following resolution was then unanimously 'adopted: i

' “On motion: Resolved, that Lieutenants Harold C. Reinelt and Harvey Rader be hereby promoted to the position of fire captain, effective on approval of the civil service commission.”

March 10, 1958, plaintiff Detroit Fire Fighters Association sent a letter to the board of fire commissioners, reciting therein its resolution (adopted at an earlier March meeting), the first 4 paragraphs of such resolution reading as follows:

“Whereas, the chain of authority in the fire fighting division of the Detroit fire department has always been a matter of strict seniority, and

“Whereas, This chain of authority is being circumvented by the activities of the chief of civil defense who is a captain in his rightful seniority position, and

“Whereas, The office of civil defense was created solely to coordinate the efforts of the civil defense department and the fire department, and

“Whereas, The chief of department is using the chief of civil defense to formulate and promulgate department policies wholly unrelated to civil defense.”

Reinelt was promoted to the position of battalion fire chief at a meeting of the board of fire commissioners held January 5, 1960, and excerpts from the minutes of that meeting are as follows:

“Promotion—Battalion Fire Chief

“The commission then proceeded to fill the vacancy in the position of battalion fire chief, created by the retirement of Chief Donald Smead. The name of the following eligible fire captain, who is at the top of the list of fire captains, was considered in accordance with section 12, chapter 15, title 4 of the charter of the city of Detroit, the rules and regulations of the civil service commission and the decision rendered by Judge Homer A. Ferguson of the circuit court, in the order of seniority:

“Harold C. Reinelt

“The name of the above eligible was given careful consideration and his qualifications discussed. Chief of department Daly stated that Captain Rei-nelt had the required qualifications and being next in line for promotion, recommended him for promotion to battalion fire chief.

“At 1:05 P.M. Robert Tighe, president, John Dougherty, vice-president, Joseph Schwaigel, secretary, and Anthony Tata, treasurer, the executive board of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association, appeared before the commission and stated that they were opposed to the granting of seniority credit to Battalion Chief Harold C. Reinelt for the time from January 21, 1952, to the present time, this being the period when Battalion Chief Reinelt was assigned to the civil defense division of the fire department.

“The officers of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association stated that they based their opposition upon the fact that the minutes of the meeting of the fire commission on January 14, 1952, which record Chief Reinelt’s promotion as permanent and not temporary.

“Commissioners Paxton Mendelssohn and David Pollack, who were members of the commission- at that time stated that it was clearly understood and determined at that time that Chief Reinelt’s promotion to the civil defense division was to be temporary, and that this is borne out by all the promotional personnel letters submitted to the civil service commission in this matter, and further that every copy ■of the seniority list, published in the department since that time, clearly labeled his promotion as temporary.

“At 1:30 p.m. the members of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association left the meeting.

“The following resolution was then unanimously adopted:

“Motion by Commissioner Pollack, supported by Commissioner Harris, Resolved, That Fire Captain Harold C. Reinelt- be, and he is hereby promoted to the position of battalion fire chief, subject to the approval of the civil service commission and satisfactorily passing a physical examination.”

Subsequent' to the appointment of Reinelt as battalion chief of the civil defense and the passage of the board’s November, 1951, resolution hereinabove quoted, the Detroit common council and the State legislature provided protection for municipal employees assigned to civil defense work.

Ordinance 927-E of the city of Detroit provides in part:

“Sec. 11. Rights of City Employees.

“City employees assigned to duty as a part of the civil defense forces pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shall retain all of the rights, privileges and immunities of city employees, and shall receive the compensation incident to their employment.”

PA 1953, No 154, as amended by PA 1954, No 98 (Michigan civil defense act), provides in part as follows:

“Sec. 3. * * * No person shall be .ineligible for appointment as a member of the State or local civil defense organization, because he holds any other public office or trust, nor shall any person forfeit his right to any 'public office or trust by reason of his appointmént under this' act, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law.” CLS 1956, § 30.223 .(Stat'Ann 1961 Rev § 4.823 [63]).

Nothing in 'the ’record evén intimates that the board’s action was motivated by any improper intent or desire to show favoritism to defendant Reinelt.

In Wolgamood v. Village of Constantine, 302 Mich 384, this.Court stated (p 395):

“In Veldman v. City of Grand Rapids, 275 Mich 100, 113, we said:

“ ‘In order to warrant the interposition of a court of equity in municipal affairs, there must he a malicious intent, capricious action or corrupt conduct, something which shows the action of the body whose acts are complained of did not arise from an exercise of judgment and discretion vested by law in them.’ ”

The record'fails to disclose any objection by plaintiffs, or anyone else, to the November, 1951, action of the board of fire commissioners insuring seniority rights to members of the fire fighting division temporarily promoted to higher positions under the civil defense program, and that over 8'years have elapsed between said' action and the 1960 promotion of Eeinelt to battalion chief, fire fighting division.'

The record discloses that 2 other members of the department (Durham and Penczek) received temporary promotions while serving with the civil defense division and that their positions on the seniority list of the fire department were retained and not disturbed because of their civil defense activities.

The board of fire commissioners periodically published seniority lists and these lists establish that from January, 1952, to January, 1960, Eeinelt was carried on the seniority lists, first in the grade of lieutenant and after June 14, 1954, in the grade of captain. It was stipulated “that these seniority lists are available to all members of the department.”

The fact that plaintiffs had knowledge in March, 1958, that Eeinelt was serving as a temporary battalion chief and was a permanent captain on the seniority list is established by the resolution referred to above.

We agree with appellants that:

“If the plaintiffs had a right to complain., about the promotion of defendant Eeinelt, that complaint should have been made in 1952 when he received a temporary promotion to battalion fire chief and certainly no later than 1954 when he was promoted to permanent captain while serving as a temporary battalion chief. In our view, Reinelt’s promotion to permanent captain in 1954 clearly set out the-course of action the board of fire commissioners intended to follow. The action of the board has been consistent as reflected in the changes in status of Durham and Penczek. The plaintiffs, by failing to-take action, at least since 1954, are guilty of laches and for this reason the bill of complaint should have-been dismissed.” v

In the trial court’s opinion deciding that the board of fire commissioners violated the charter, the court referred to and relied upon our decision in Brady v. City of Detroit, 353 Mich 243. In the Brady Case we stated (pp 245, 246, 248-250) :

“The bill of complaint avers that in accordance-with charter provisions of the city of Detroit the plaintiffs made applications for positions in said department and otherwise complied with the provisions-of the charter. Thereafter they were duly certified and placed on the eligible list by the civil service-commission of the city. In the meantime this-country became engaged in World War II and at the time of certification plaintiffs, with the exception of Piontek, had been inducted into the armed forces. Piontek was likewise so inducted prior to receiving-notice to appear for the required physical examination.

“Following discharge from the military service plaintiffs were duly appointed as members of the-fire department and began active service therein. It is their claim that under charter provisions relating-to the civil service commission, Rule 14 of said commission, and Ordinance 38-E of the city of. Detroit, they have seniority and promotional rights based on .the dates of certification. * * *

“In construing provisions of the fundamental law ■of the city the general rules recognized in cases involving the interpretation of statutes are applicable. 'The inquiry must be directed to ascertaining the intention of the people of Detroit in the adoption of their charter. * * *

“Title 4, chapter 15, § 12, of the charter of Detroit, on which appellees rely, is clear and specific in its •direction to the board of fire commissioners. It is limited in its application to promotions in the fire ■department. Said section reads as follows:

“ ‘Sec. 12. Promotions in the fire department shall be based on length of service therein. The officers or employee thereof having served the longest period in any position shall be advanced to fill any vacancy in the nest higher position, if he shall have the ■qualifications therefor.’

“The language of section 12 is not ambiguous in any respect. The reference to length of service in the department can be taken in no way other than as meaning actual service as an employee of the city. ■One who is merely on the eligible list may not be ■considered as in actual service.”

We do not believe the Brady decision supports the trial court’s opinion that the board of fire commissioners violated the charter provisions.

Reinelt had served longer in the fire department than any other captain at the time he was given a permanent position as battalion chief, fire fighting ■division. Appellants point out:

“If the position of plaintiffs is correct, the defendant Reinelt would upon removal from his position in the civil defense division become the most junior captain in the fire department. Thus, he would be irreparably harmed and would be deprived of his right to promotion for many years. It is unfair and unjust for the plaintiffs to sit by for a long period of time and lull the defendant Reinelt into a sense of security and then challenge his right to a permanent promotion.”

\

We conclude that the board of fire commissioners did not violate the charter provisions. The decision and decree of the lower court is reversed and the bill of complaint is dismissed. This Court declares that the action of the board of fire commissioners in promoting defendant Reinelt to the position of battalion chief of the fire fighting division on January 5, 1960, was valid and proper.

Reversed. No costs, a public question being involved.

Dethmers, C. J., and Carr, Black, and Kavanagh, JJ., concurred with Kelly, J.