Council hears extended criticism of fire department management; EMS reporting and waivers restored

The Mooresville Town Council devoted substantial discussion on Feb. 18 to complaints about management and morale in the Mooresville Fire Department, including a disciplinary case that was resolved by settlement and broader concerns raised by council members about leadership and outside reviews.

During department-head reports, a fire-department official told the council that a disciplinary investigation had been assigned to a senior officer and that the resulting disciplinary action was appealed. The council was advised by legal counsel to remain an impartial safety board during appeal proceedings; legal counsel told the council that any officer appealing discipline is entitled by law to an impartial hearing, and that the council should not conduct its own investigation or solicit testimony while the appeal process was under way.

Council discussion became sharply critical of the department’s management, with at least one council member characterizing the chief’s actions as “gross negligence” and saying the department’s morale was “as low as it can possibly get.” Council members cited previous problems they said included bid processes, information-technology work and the cost of hiring outside attorneys and consultants to assist the department.

Council members referenced a $5,000 engagement of an outside firm to provide department-wide leadership work and problem solving. At the meeting a speaker described that training as “Lead from the Bottom Up” (the firm and program name were discussed in the meeting record); council members said the outside reviewer interviewed personnel across the department.

The council also heard a staff report on the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division. Staff said the town discovered, after a software change in July of the prior year, that automatic submission of EMS reports to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had not been enabled. Staff told the council the issue has since been fixed and DHS confirmed the town’s reports are being received. Staff also said the town’s EMS waiver had expired in January but that the waiver status has since been resolved. The department reported two conditional hires who have progressed through initial steps and are expected to start in March, dependent on final testing results.

Public comment at the meeting included calls for the town to disclose reports obtained from outside consultants and for more transparency on the disciplinary investigation. A council member asked for the outside firm’s report and for follow-up information; staff agreed to look into providing relevant materials consistent with legal guidance and personnel confidentiality rules.

Nut graf: The Feb. 18 council meeting mixed procedural municipal business with an extended debate over fire-department conduct, discipline and morale. Town staff told the council that EMS reporting and waiver issues have been corrected, while council members pressed for more information and criticized management decisions.

Ending: Legal counsel told the safety board the disciplinary appeal process is concluded; the council said it will receive prepared materials and legal advice before taking any further public action on personnel matters. The council scheduled a public hearing on the fire territory and set its next regular meeting for March 4.