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Franklin Merritt fire commission delays approval of hiring list after June 28 interviews
Summary
The Franklin Merritt Fire Commission on July 14 heard a report that 23 candidates completed interviews on June 28 and that one withdrew; commissioners agreed to defer formal approval of the hiring list because it was not on the meeting agenda.
FRANKLIN MERRITT, July 14, 2025 — The Franklin Merritt Fire Commission on Monday heard a report from the fire chief that 23 applicants completed interviews for an open hiring list on June 28, but the commission deferred formal approval of the list because it was not on the published agenda.
The matter arose during old business after the commission completed routine minutes approval. “The interviews were on June 28 and all the scores are in,” the Fire Chief said. The chief added that one candidate withdrew on the day of interviews and later requested another interview but was told the list was already complete.
The deferral means the commission will place the hiring-list approval on a future agenda and take formal action at that later meeting. No vote on the hiring list occurred on July 14.
Commissioner Kathy Stoles was excused and Commissioner Ralph Spiker was absent for the July 14 meeting; Commissioner Lisa Brown and K. Bridal Alvey were present. Legal counsel Michael Kyle was noted as associated with the commission but did not speak during the hiring discussion.
Before the hiring update, the commission approved minutes from its previous meeting. A member said they would abstain from that vote because they were not at the earlier meeting; a motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded and the motion carried. The commission then recessed to the hiring report, had no new business, and subsequently voted to adjourn.
The record on July 14 contains only the chief’s report about the interview date, candidate count and the withdrawal; commissioners emphasized that formal approval must appear on a future agenda for public disclosure and action. No changes to the hiring list were adopted at the July 14 meeting.
The commission did not specify an implementation timeline, hire names, or a date when the hiring-list approval will return to the agenda. That information was not provided in the July 14 discussion.
