Council removes deputy chief from budget after dispute over hiring process

At a Flat Rock City Council meeting, the council voted to amend the city budget to remove funding for a newly created deputy fire chief position after members said the hire was not approved by the council and should have been presented first for administrative hire approval.

Councilman Roble moved to create a budget amendment to remove the deputy chief line item; the motion was supported and carried on a voice vote. Council members who opposed the hiring process and removal said the council should not alter the budget before a pending contract vote with the firefighters' bargaining unit, and that the position should be reviewed for whether an emergency manager — not a deputy chief — better fits the city's needs.

The debate focused on process and budget timing. Councilman Roble said, "I think that's wrong, and I don't think we can afford it," arguing the city should prioritize firefighters and paramedics over additional administrative positions. Several council members said they had not been informed the hire would proceed before council approval. "It should have come to council first because this is anticipated to be a non union position," said Mister Zeck, describing the position as administrative and saying the hiring step was missed.

Others said the money for the position had been placed in the budget and that the council could later amend the budget to restore funding if it chose. One council member noted the individual in the position had already been on the job for about two weeks; another described firing the employee as a heavy-handed option and said the council could instead nullify the budgeted position and restart the hiring process.

Council members repeatedly raised the pending firefighters' union contract and overtime funding as complicating factors. Several said they would not support additional hires until the union contract was settled. The council also asked for a legal opinion on whether the city charter requires council approval and interviewing authority for an administrative hire in this role.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the following by voice votes during the same meeting — a permit request from the Knights of Columbus to sell Tootsie Rolls in October (approved); acceptance of a smart-contract credit for $9,870 for parks and recreation (approved); sale of a heavy rescue fire unit to a buyer whose offer the chief said better preserved equipment for department use (approved); a $6,471 insulation contract with Ace Insulation for the Munger store (approved); four ordinance revisions were read for first reading (trespass/entry without authority; certificate of compliance term updated to three years; zoning performance-guarantee posting language; sidewalk elevation/trip-hazard definition) and advanced as first readings; and the council voted to go into closed session to discuss the firefighters' union contract and an HCMA offer to sell a dam to the city.

The council's action on the deputy chief funding was procedural: the amendment removes the budgeted line until the body can consider proper authorization and related budget impacts. Councilmembers who favored removal said it preserves the council's hiring oversight; those opposed said the practical effect on department operations and overtime needed fuller review. The council directed that the issue be revisited after legal counsel provides guidance and that the union contract negotiations be resolved before any final decisions on additional staffing.

The meeting recessed for a five-minute break and then entered closed session to continue discussions on the union contract and the HCMA dam offer. Mayor Beller had earlier said the HCMA had offered to sell the dam to the city for $5 and indicated there was an associated $3,000,000 tag related to fish ladders that the council must review as part of any potential purchase. The council did not vote on the dam purchase in open session.