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Elkhart City Commission amends agenda to clarify firefighter Jason Lance discipline, bars paramedic pay
Summary
The Elkhart City Commission voted to amend its agenda to add a clarification that firefighter Jason Lance is prohibited from holding paramedic duties and from receiving paramedic pay; the union sought clarity and the city attorney said the commissionhad already decided the matter.
ELKHART CITY, Ind. — The Elkhart City Commission on Aug. 25 voted to amend its agenda to add a clarification about disciplinary action taken against firefighter Jason Lance, specifying that Lance is barred from holding any paramedic position and from receiving paramedic pay.
An unidentified commissioner moved to amend the agenda "to include a new action item. A clarification vote on firefighter Jason Lance's discipline," saying the clarification was needed "so we have a nice clear record." An unidentified member seconded the motion; the commission then voted in favor and the motion carried.
The amendment responded to questions from the Elkhart Firefighters union. Corey Brewer, president of Firefighters Local 338, asked whether the earlier disciplinary action that demoted Lance from driver-operator to master firefighter also intended "to demote and remove his ability to be a paramedic" and whether that change included removing paramedic pay.
Kevin Davis, deputy city attorney, told the commission the earlier decision had already been issued and that this meeting was not the appropriate point for reopening the case. "That decision has already been made by this commission. It's already been issued. This is not the point in time. It's not an agenda item," Davis said.
After the amendment was added, the meeting record shows the commission approved the clarified language that Lance is not to receive paramedic pay in addition to being barred from holding paramedic responsibilities.
The commission did not record individual roll-call votes on the amendment in the meeting transcript; a quorum of three commissioners was present. The transcript shows the motion passed after a vocal "Aye" vote.
The commission and the union discussed the scope of the earlier disciplinary ruling during the public portion of the meeting; the deputy city attorney advised that the matter was closed unless raised at the prior meeting.
No further disciplinary action or procedural next steps appear in the meeting record.
Less critical items at the same meeting included routine personnel notices and approval of minutes.
